Political Survey Question 8 - Do you think the current tax system is FAIR?

Question

Tax Brackets 2007
Taxable Income ($) Tax Bracket (%)
Single Filers 0 - 7,825 10
7,826 - 31,850 15
31,851 - 77,100 25
77,101 - 160,850 28
160,851 - 349,700 33
349,701+ 35
Head
of Household 0 - 11,200 10
11,201 - 42,650 15
42,651 - 110,100 25
110,101 - 178,350 28
178,351 - 349,700 33
349,701+ 35
Married
Filing Joint 0 - 15,650 10
15,651 - 63,700 15
63,701 - 128,500 25
128,501 - 195,850 28
195,851 - 349,700 33
349,701+ 35
Married
Filing Separate 0 - 7,825 10
7,826 - 31,850 15
31,851 - 64,250 25
64,251 - 97,925 28
97,926 - 174,850 33
174,851+ 35

Answer 1

I'm fine with it , but wouldn't object to improvements .

But more importantly , I'd like much stricter regulations on who gets and how they get government aid / my tax dollars . I really liked what Tommy Thompson did for Wisconsin / Welfare years ago .

Answer 2

No, I think the current tax system is kind of messed up. I know they cleaned things up a few years ago, and tried to close some of the loopholes for those in the highest brackets, but they've simply developed new strategies.

I know a lot of people complain about a flat tax, but I really would feel better if everyone was paying the same percentage of their income in taxes, and if the write-offs went away.

I live in a very conservative state, and the average family size is quite large (a lot more than the "2.2" children average), and the people who have a lot of kids (6-8 is very common) get all sorts of benefits and credits because they have large families. The thing that sucks is that their kids still have to go to public schools, and a disproportionate amount of other people's taxes are paying for their kids' educations. So, not only are they a greater tax burden, but they pay quite a bit less than other people do. The whole system is screwy.

Flat tax!!!! Hit everyone for 8%-10%, and I would be a happy camper.

Answer 3

Ill be the first to admit that fair dosent always equal best. If we did have a system that would be more "fair". There would be chaos, rebellion. The rich would have a hard time holding on the there heads.

"Let them eat cake"

As a conservative I see the necessity of a progressive tax. To burden the middle class would kill our economy. I for one am not willing to let that happen.

There are also certain times when it becomes necessary to lower taxes on the rich to spur capital investment. No one actually watching the economy/markets will refute that the recent tax cuts did just that.

So its necessary to find a balance. As the needs of the country change we MUST change in order to meet that demand. That's what make our democracy and the free-market system we have so great!

Answer 4

What I think is lousy is that people who work hard to earn money are FORCED to support government programs. We're FORCED to pay for politicians who sit on their @sses and put out useless garbage they want to make law but know will never pass. They're pushing through pet projects and paying people for their votes by sticking in funding for more useless things.
C'mon, do you think we'd really HAVE to pay so much in taxes if our government was just even a tiny bit less wasteful?? Let's stop complaining about the symptom when we can do something to fix the DISEASE. Why do we just accept that their lazy @sses don't do a bit of good, yet we complain about something that's a bi-product of the REAL problem.

Answer 5

I think it is progressive and that is good. I think the people at the very top need to pay more.

What is fair? I don't think it is true to say that everyone paying the same percentage is "fair." You need to define "fair" for this question to mean anything.

By the way, I say this as someone who just got a raise that will put me in a higher tax bracket.

Answer 6

The easiest way to get the country behind changing the tax code. Make everyone write a check for all your taxes. No more withholding. No more hidden taxes. You pay the full 15% for Social security/Medicare with a check. Then you pay your Federal bill. Then you pay your state bill. Then you pay your county bill. Let's see how long it takes for people to realize they're getting hosed.

Answer 7

No. Every bracket is taxed too much. Every bracket should be halved and the number of brackets cut to three like the Canadians have. This is a minimum.

What is this with everyone wanting to tax the rich? What do you define as rich?

Along with cutting rates, lets start cutting these failed programs. Too many people are reliant on the state.

Cut taxes and cut programs more until you have a balanced budget.

Answer 8

Hell no. We need either a 'flat tax' or even better the 'fair tax', and we need to nearly, if not totally, abolish the IRS and simplify the tax code. We could drastically cut taxes and spending if we got rid of the pathetic social programs like welfare, medicaid, public housing and all the other socialist programs.

Answer 9

No - but then again if people need to put the word "fair" into thier proposed solution's name in order to try to hide the fact it is regressive, and then fudge the figures to make the flat rate look lower - I think we'll stick with what we have for now.
When Congress vote not to make Bush's giveaway to the rich permanent and we get back to actually funding our spending rather than just borrowing it from our children we will be back on the right track.

Answer 10

No of course not, socialism is not fair, nor is a progressive tax system, it punishes those who work hard and succeed and rewards ne'er do wells.

If you want fair go to a sales tax, no deductions, everything you buy is taxed, and all of the black market money in America is taxed as well.