Why do Republicans Think Paying Taxes is Voluntary?

Question

Republicans always speak of accountability and responsibility but they don't always practice what they preach. If you walked into a convenience store, took a bite out of a candy bar and then put it in your pocket, you'd still have to pay for it, wouldn't you? You used it, so now you have to pay for it. Well, that applies to our public schools, our police, firefighters, first responders, emts, our US military, our Courts, our roads and bridges and the list goes on and on. So if Republicans are willing to give up all of these benefits, then we'll be happy to excuse them from paying taxes. Thoughts?

Sway,
If the wealthy and the huge corporations (like Walmart) in the US paid their fair share of taxes, your taxes would go down. And I'm not advocating a redistribution of wealth. That's already happening in the US, except it's being distributed UPWARDS to those who need it least.

PNAC
If Republicans who are supposed to be "conservative" would start acting like it and stop spending borrowed money, I'm sure the Democrats would love to cut taxes. Republicans spend like crazy with no way to pay for such spending (see: Iraq war) and then when the Democrats are RESPONSIBLE and try to pay off that debt by raising taxes, they're chastised by the IRRESPONSIBLE Republicans.

Regerugged, the waste that takes place can be attributed to both parties, but Republicans are the ones who wish to privatize everything. What goal would this accomplish? They'd pay less in taxes. Wealthy Republicans and Democrats already send their kids to private schools. So they're paying taxes for OUR kids to go to school and their kids to go to a private school. If public schools fail, as NCLB ensures, then they'll be privatized saving the wealthy more money. And the poor and middle class will struggle to find the money to get their children a quality education.

Rotorhead,
The top 60% of Americans would include those making millions and billions of dollars per year all the way down to those making $37,500.00 per year. And the bottom 40% of Americans still pay state taxes. and only those in the bottom 20% don't pay any federal income tax. The lowest 20% make an average of $11,200.00 per year. Exactly how much of that should they have to pay in taxes? The second lowest 20% of Americans average $22,900.00 per year. And how much of that should they have to pay in taxes?

Bwana,
So then you're opposed to Corporate Welfare? Because "Nowhere in the Constitution is Congress granted the authority to spend funds to directly subsidize industry, or to enter into joint ventures with automobile companies, or to guarantee loans to favored business owners. Yet, since the New Deal, by applying very expansive
readings of the General Welfare Clause, the
Supreme Court has allowed Congress to redistribute wealth from taxpayers to favored business interests. Some spending that benefits businesses, such as infrastructure spending and the funding of courts to enforce contracts, also benefits the population as a whole. But those are expenditures that benefit all companies and
citizens generally and are usually not geared to a specific activity or industry. The programs of the corporate welfare state, on the other hand, do not fit this definition.

East Coaster, why do you and the rest of the Conservative Republicans go after the poor people, who at most are defrauding the US government of maybe $5,000 to $10,000 per year? Especially when there are those who are cheating the government out of MILLIONS per year? Seems to me like you're barking up the wrong tree...

East Coaster, the US population is just over 300,000,000. Do you really believe that 1/3 of the country is on welfare or defrauding the country of 5-10 thousand per year? I doubt it!

Answer 1

I'm totally on your side but I can't even get into it all right now. Our government is such a disaster...it's embarrassing that we don't have healthcare for all of our citizens. I can't wait to move to a decent country that cares for its people. I've lost hope for a future here...a country that values war over the health of it's citizens...it's disgusting.

Answer 2

I have no problem paying taxes when they are used properly.

The public education system - more money is going to the administrators than to the children. They do not need to take more of my paycheck.

First Responders & Military - LOVE THEM, give them a raise (EMTs around here are private companies, so I am not so sure about them).

Courts - a little iffy - here in California, they tend to be a little too liberal and often seem to make the laws instead of interpret them.

Roads, and bridges - need them, can't say much about those.
but, i will complain about the amount of money that is brought in for them compared to the work that is being completed. Gas taxes, bridge tolls, and state taxes are just a few of the things going to roads and bridges, and still, that's not enough?!?

When my taxes are being used properly, and the democrats in control stop trying to raise taxes, then I will stop complaining about how much is being taken.

I am thinking that the government is just like the average person. the more you have, the more you spend. Do you really think that raising taxes will help decrease spending and our Defeciet? I am pretty sure that it will only make things worse . . .

Answer 3

We don't, never did.

What some of us conservatives have a problem with, however is taxes being taken and then spent on things without any Constitutional authorization and seeming to be in violation of the 10th Amendment.

Constitutions and charters etc are created to specify the duties and, more importantly, the LIMITATIONS of the government entity being created and empowered. Taxes are supposed to be levied so government can fulfill its contractual obligations and duties. Spending on things there were not authorized to spend money on is a gross violation.
-------
You complain that the corporations aren't paying their "fair" share. Can you tell me what tax rates they're paying right now, and what tax rate would be condidered "fair"? Also, are you able to explain why the perception is that US corporations don't pay their "fair share", yet US corporate taxes are higher than most other countries?

Answer 4

I'm sure it's not just a Republican issue. There are people on both sides of the aisle who have more money than God, who simply don't want to pay taxes.

And there are others who claim they don't have to because it's not written in the Constitution.

Have you heard of that couple up in New Hampshire who are in the news for not paying taxes, and who refuse to leave their house?

I have no idea what political faction they are and frankly, I couldn't care less about the specifics.

Answer 5

What are you getting at? I've never heard of Republicans walking into a convenience store, taking a bite of something and then not expecting to pay. If anything that analogy applies to those who receive welfare. Likewise, I've never heard conservatives say that paying taxes was bad, just paying disproportionate taxes are bad. We also don't have a problem with federal and state funding for police, schools, emergency services, bridges, etc...

Answer 6

I don think of any Republicans have ever pronounced that or prefer that yet in interesting certainty is the U. S. used to have basically voluntary taxation, they took contributions and offered lottery tickets and bonds quite. the U. S. is merely too great to try this now even with the undeniable fact that imo.

Answer 7

They don't. I think the central issue is paying for those who DON'T provide a service. E.g the Pregnant Illegal immigrant's delivery or the welfare mom who enjoys sitting at home. Those types of things.

Edit for rebuttal:

I guess you have never heard of death by a thousand cuts?

One person not paying 5000 or 10000 no problem try 100 million doing so.

Answer 8

Your attempt at an analogy lacks logic. It has nothing to do with your leading question. I don't know of anyone who thinks paying taxes is voluntary. We pay too much in taxes at all levels in the US. Many government employees are over-paid and do too little work. They would not survive in the public sector. We have too many political subdivisions and too many elected officials at the state and local levels.

There is all kinds of waste in government spending at all levels. You make the erroneous assumption that all of our tax money is needed and is well spent.

Answer 9

I am ok with paying taxes, my problem is I still have to survive on what is left afterwards, so I would prefer they take a little as possible from my pay.

Answer 10

I don't. I just think everybody, not just the top 60%, should pay something.