It seems like almost everyone is in favor of a simpler tax system, and a change really would save Americans a lot of time and effort. Is it the H&R Block lobby? Do the super-rich benefit from the current system? What is the problem here?
2007-05-25 06:37:17 · 9 answers · asked by Clarence 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
My guess would be fear of the unknown. True, the current system has problems and no one really likes it, but we are comfortable with it. We know how it works. If we do away with this current behemoth it might make things better but it might not. It's one of those things that we can hypothisise about, but until we actually try it how can we know if it will work. No one wants to put a new system in place and then take the blame if it turns out to be a bad idea.
Several alternatives have been proposed, but the two best known are 1) the Flat Tax which would tax everyone over the poverty line at the same rate and 2) the Fair Tax which would completely replace income tax with a national sales tax and includes a prebate for families that are below the poverty line.
Democrats (the politicians anyways) actually prefer the current tax system as it is easy to manipulate into heavily taxing the rich (such as your boss) to pay for the non-producers (welfare moms). The Democrats fear that the Fair tax and the Flat Tax will be regressive, placing a disportionate tax burden on the poor. Also, Dems believe in big government and fear that such fundamental changes to the tax code will reduce revenue, forcing the government to reduce funding for many programs. Also, if they simplify the tax code to many it will look like a tax break for the wealthy and that goes against the Democratic platform.
Most Republicans would love to simplify the tax code but they are split on how to do it. Many prefer the Flat Tax as it is merely a modification of the current system and as such may be easier to get pushed through. Most who have actually studied the economy and the tax system are in favor of the Fair Tax but this would require a constitutional amendment to revoke the 16th Amendment. As the Constitution is difficult to change this would be very difficult to achieve. It's easier to simply work within the current system than to put a whole new system into place.
Also, simplification of the tax code would put many if not all IRS agents and tax accountants out of a job. No politician (Democrat or Republican) wants to be responsible for putting that many people in the unemployment lines.
2007-05-25 07:57:47 · answer #1 · answered by Nianque 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because if we had a simpler tax system the libs couldn't penalize the hardworking segment of society that go to work every day and makes a comfortable living. I like the idea of doing away with payroll deductions and making each and every citizen pay their taxes on a monthly basis. If the average citizen had to write a check every month for the taxes the gov't takes the call for tax reform would be deafening. That is why they won't change the system.
2007-05-25 06:46:41 · answer #2 · answered by LIL_TXN 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
human beings have tried this lame excuse whether it extremely isn't any longer real. The sixteenth modification authorized the number of income taxes and the tax code is the regulation that states how a lot and once you pays those taxes. in case you do no longer opt to pay taxes, then i think you do no longer opt to apply any of the centers taxes pay for. not extra driving on paved roads for you! in the journey that your place burns down, we are going to tell the police and hearth branch to no longer respond. we are going to turn off your sparkling working water and desire you will hit upon a pass or dig a properly. i'm hoping you're making stable money because of the fact which you will might desire to pay for inner maximum school on your toddlers. etc..... Yeah, it sucks to provide up a ingredient of your troublesome earned money. (fairly while the politicians spend a good type of it on stupid issues) yet taxes extremely are needed for the rustic to function and to furnish elementary centers.
2016-11-05 08:58:15 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CONTROL.
Money is power. Congress uses the tax system to take your power and use it for their personal desires.
Congress also uses the tax system to reward or punish people, corporations and groups according to their whims.
All those facets of our society combine to make a complex web. The tax system, being the child of their compromises and their greed, plus the influences of those who OWN Congressmen, has become complex also.
2007-05-25 07:06:01 · answer #4 · answered by Philip H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because with a simpler tax system, then congressmen wouldn't be able to pander to their constituents, by giving them a special tax break.
That would mean less campain contributions and a chance the Congressmen might not get reelected.
And lets face it, job one for any congressmen or senator, is to get themselves reelected.
2007-05-25 07:32:01 · answer #5 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lobbying from corporations. Remember the top 5% income earners pay in 50% of all taxes collected. Been a fact for 40 years.
2007-05-25 06:50:57 · answer #6 · answered by $1,539,684,631,121 Clinton Debt 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem is that coming up with a new system would require a lot of work, research and creativity and our elected officials are far too lazy to do it.
2007-05-25 06:58:10 · answer #7 · answered by BOOM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
our society is too complicated to have a simple system
remember, it started out simple, it had to be changed little by little over time in order to work properly
starting over would do little good, it would just start the complication process over again and it would end up in the same place where we are
2007-05-25 06:41:25 · answer #8 · answered by anonacoup 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Entrenched Federal bureaucracies and the groups that profit from them.
2007-05-25 07:17:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋