Because iPads really do anything for us as a society?
Do we “need” an income tax? Nah, the government could raise revenues other ways. But we don’t “need” TV sitcoms, Movies, MLB, NFL or any of that shit either. How much do they drain the economy?[/quote]
Although I agree, the people that buy that shit say otherwise. That’s a cultural issue, not a mandate issue. I can at least opt out of that shit.
[quote]
You just descripted every published statistic ever… lol[/quote]
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Because iPads really do anything for us as a society?
[/quote]
Beans, I’ve seen you type this a few time. Isn’t there an economic benefit to a product like the iPad? Ya, the product itself is a lot of hype, but how much money is generated by the iPad? Apple makes a lot of money off that one product, which in turn allows for Apple to employ a lot of people. What about apps? Companies like Zynga wouldn’t exist without the tablet innovation. That’s basically a whole sub-industry created because of one product.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Because iPads really do anything for us as a society?
[/quote]
Beans, I’ve seen you type this a few time. Isn’t there an economic benefit to a product like the iPad? Ya, the product itself is a lot of hype, but how much money is generated by the iPad? Apple makes a lot of money off that one product, which in turn allows for Apple to employ a lot of people. What about apps? Companies like Zynga wouldn’t exist without the tablet innovation. That’s basically a whole sub-industry created because of one product.
[/quote]
You are kind of making my point for me:
Isn’t there an economic benefit to a product like the IRC? Ya, the product itself is a lot of hype, but how much money is generated by the IRC? Accounting firms, publishers, newsletter producers, software engineers, colleges, etc make a lot of money off that one product, which in turn allows for these companies to employ a lot of people. That’s basically a whole sub-industry created because of one product.
Because iPads really do anything for us as a society?
Do we “need” an income tax? Nah, the government could raise revenues other ways. But we don’t “need” TV sitcoms, Movies, MLB, NFL or any of that shit either. How much do they drain the economy?[/quote]
Although I agree, the people that buy that shit say otherwise. That’s a cultural issue, not a mandate issue. I can at least opt out of that shit.
[/quote]
I’m really just arguing against the notion that taxation drains the economy. I would say the money taken by the government certainly is a drain, however, the money velocity created by the sub industry surrounding taxation is anything but a drain.
Is it a value added sub industry? Yes because of the taxation, but no if there were no taxation. However we as a society pour tons of money into dumbshit that adds no value, like the movie “jackass”. That isn’t art, it is people pooping in funnels on camera…
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Because iPads really do anything for us as a society?
[/quote]
Beans, I’ve seen you type this a few time. Isn’t there an economic benefit to a product like the iPad? Ya, the product itself is a lot of hype, but how much money is generated by the iPad? Apple makes a lot of money off that one product, which in turn allows for Apple to employ a lot of people. What about apps? Companies like Zynga wouldn’t exist without the tablet innovation. That’s basically a whole sub-industry created because of one product.
[/quote]
You are kind of making my point for me:
Isn’t there an economic benefit to a product like the IRC? Ya, the product itself is a lot of hype, but how much money is generated by the IRC? Accounting firms, publishers, newsletter producers, software engineers, colleges, etc make a lot of money off that one product, which in turn allows for these companies to employ a lot of people. That’s basically a whole sub-industry created because of one product.
[/quote]
I guess my question then is, what should we produce then? Should we only produce essential goods to life?
Apple employees are able to eat because they make iPads. Isnt’ that a benefit to society?
I’m not sure I’d call the IRC a product, but I get your point.
I guess my question then is, what should we produce then? Should we only produce essential goods to life?
[/quote]
I’m not saying we should make sweeping changes to anything really. I’m trying to put into perspective this notion that the tax code is the end-all be-all of evil.
People that complain about disparities need to either point them out, or explain the changes they want to see. Because this complaint comes mostly from lazy thinking individuals and lefties. They complain that the code favors the rich, with is utterly false, otherwise they wouldn’t pay the vast majority of tax dollars taken in.
Do they want a flat tax? Consumption tax? VAT? What? (I don’t expect an answer, because they don’t understand what we have, let alone how to change it.)
I guess my question then is, what should we produce then? Should we only produce essential goods to life?
[/quote]
I’m not saying we should make sweeping changes to anything really. I’m trying to put into perspective this notion that the tax code is the end-all be-all of evil.
People that complain about disparities need to either point them out, or explain the changes they want to see. Because this complaint comes mostly from lazy thinking individuals and lefties. They complain that the code favors the rich, with is utterly false, otherwise they wouldn’t pay the vast majority of tax dollars taken in.
Do they want a flat tax? Consumption tax? VAT? What? (I don’t expect an answer, because they don’t understand what we have, let alone how to change it.)[/quote]
I guess my question then is, what should we produce then? Should we only produce essential goods to life?
[/quote]
I’m not saying we should make sweeping changes to anything really. I’m trying to put into perspective this notion that the tax code is the end-all be-all of evil.
People that complain about disparities need to either point them out, or explain the changes they want to see. Because this complaint comes mostly from lazy thinking individuals and lefties. They complain that the code favors the rich, with is utterly false, otherwise they wouldn’t pay the vast majority of tax dollars taken in.
Do they want a flat tax? Consumption tax? VAT? What? (I don’t expect an answer, because they don’t understand what we have, let alone how to change it.)[/quote]
True true. Even if there was a change in the tax code, it just means a higher percentage of the rich’s income would be taxed, but it wouldn’t change anything to the low income people.
I do believe there is an inherent problem with the wealth amassed by the 1% though. Approximately 450 people control as much as wealth as the bottom half the US. THAT is a problem. I don’t know the solution.
I guess my question then is, what should we produce then? Should we only produce essential goods to life?
[/quote]
I’m not saying we should make sweeping changes to anything really. I’m trying to put into perspective this notion that the tax code is the end-all be-all of evil.
People that complain about disparities need to either point them out, or explain the changes they want to see. Because this complaint comes mostly from lazy thinking individuals and lefties. They complain that the code favors the rich, with is utterly false, otherwise they wouldn’t pay the vast majority of tax dollars taken in.
Do they want a flat tax? Consumption tax? VAT? What? (I don’t expect an answer, because they don’t understand what we have, let alone how to change it.)[/quote]
True true. Even if there was a change in the tax code, it just means a higher percentage of the rich’s income would be taxed, but it wouldn’t change anything to the low income people.
I do believe there is an inherent problem with the wealth amassed by the 1% though. Approximately 450 people control as much as wealth as the bottom half the US. THAT is a problem. I don’t know the solution.[/quote]
I’m not sure there is a solution. You could add tax brackets I suppose. Over $10MM 50% over $100MM 75%. Is that fair, probably not. What’s the alternative? Someone will become a trillionare at some point while others starve to death. It’s ineveitable at this point.
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
You could add tax brackets I suppose. Over $10MM 50% over $100MM 75%. Is that fair, probably not. [/quote]
It isn’t always the wealthy that have high incomes in any given year, and just because someone is wealth doesn’t mean they will have a high income year over year.
It has been inevitable since the dawn of civilization.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
It isn’t always the wealthy that have high incomes in any given year, and just because someone is wealth doesn’t mean they will have a high income year over year.
[/quote]
Right, so in a, we’ll call it a good year lol, they would hit the higher bracket and in a “bad” year they don’t.
Like I said, I’m not sure it’s a solution or that I even agree with it. I’m just spit ballin here.
Like I said, I’m not sure it’s a solution or that I even agree with it. I’m just spit ballin here. [/quote]
Fair enough… I’m trying to work through it with you.
So… What does giving more money to the government (or taking more away from “wealthy” individuals if that is your perspective) accomplish to solve the proposed issue of to few people having too much wealth?
Like I said, I’m not sure it’s a solution or that I even agree with it. I’m just spit ballin here. [/quote]
Fair enough… I’m trying to work through it with you.
So… What does giving more money to the government (or taking more away from “wealthy” individuals if that is your perspective) accomplish to solve the proposed issue of to few people having too much wealth?[/quote]
First, let me be clear, the government doesn’t need more money imo, we need to spend less. W need to clean up our practices. At the same time we, as individuals, need to tighten our belts. I don’t want to hear “I’m a 99% and only make $30K a year” while a big screen LCD TV is hanging on a wall in their single family home. That to me is ludicrous.
All that said, to answer your question, Nothing really. I don’t look at it as “too few with too much” more along the lines of “too many with too little”.
Personally I’d rather see more foundations like the Bill & Melinda Foundation continue to appear and grow. That is a better solution to an unsolvable problem than higher taxes or more tax brackets.
That said, can we shift more of the burden to the wealthy? Yes. Is it fair? no. Is it going to happen? Probably. I expect to see the brackets skew right further and further over the next few decades. I expect to see the bottom say 25% not pay anything, the middle 26-99 pay about 15%-20%, and the top 1% to pay around 50% or more. It isn’t fair, but it’s how I see the progressive future. That I am not for, but I’m sure it’s avoidable. The top 1% can only push their agenda against the other 99% for so long.
In America, if you make over $25K as an individual, I don’t think you have anything to complain about. Yes, cost of living is more expensive than in Kenya, but you will have things Kenyans can only dream about. Namely clean water, a roof, clothing, and the availability of food. After that, it’s all luxury in my book.
I would rather see voluntary distribution of that wealth, and not in the “take from the rich and give to the poor sense.” Why hold on to all of that? To what end? Why not start more non-profits. Hell, start a non-profit construction company that goes around and repairs roads and towns and cities.
Invest in R&D towards things that will better society. Invest in more small businesses. Just anything. Don’t just sit on all of that wealth and swim around in it Scrooge McDuck style.
I personally have no problems with people taking care of themselves and their family. I aim to do the same, but if I was worth a Billion dollars, I’d do a lot more with it than buy an apartment on park avenue
[quote]Pushers wrote:
Literally in many cases knocking down doors with guns in hand. Thieves - much!
[/quote]
Does it happen? Sure. “literally in many cases”? No.
The vast, vast majority of taxation issues are resolved through mailings and phone calls.
Then there are audits… Still no guns or kicked down doors.
Then, if there is fraud typically, comes court. [/quote]
Maybe so… but taxation is still theft. At the end of the day you the individual cannot opt out, you cannot say “no”, so in essence it stealing - just by “the authorities” rather than some individual lowlife. No matter if it is “the government” who does it or some thug on the street the act itself is the same - they are taking your money agreement or no.
[/quote]
Sure you can, just move to Somalia. Enjoy.[/quote]
Sorry… sure I can what? And what has Somalia got to do with anything?
