Why do republicans care so much about taxes?

Question

I think that only people who are rich pay a high amount in taxes anyway. And well they should, they can afford it.

I don't really care about it, since my tax bill doesn't seem to be bad. Last year I payed 0 and got back 0 (it was kinda weird to see my tax return say I made no money), but this was because I was deployed to a combat zone in 2006 (I'm in the army national guard) so the money I made was tax free.

But when I'm home, I usually get back $300-500 from my return. Taxes don't hurt me, except when I have to do that annoying paperwork.

I always hear republicans argue perpetually that taxes should be lower. Lower for whom? For the rich who can afford more and won't miss that money? Why don't we just not pay taxes at all, then?

It seems to me that Republicans are the party of people making high incomes.

Diamond dave - I really hate when people want a flat tax. $4800 out of a $40,000 income is a lot. That $4800 might be rent for a year, or 6 months mortgage payment. 17% is a lot less for someone making over $100,000 a year, who should be able to afford it easily, unless they are trying to live out of their means, which is probably what they do. I have some friends that think they're millionaires because they make over $100 a year.

Answer 1

"I think that only people who are rich pay a high amount in taxes anyway. And well they should, they can afford it. "

So you then support inequality, by the definition and basis behind your statement

I fully believe in a fair tax... not the fair tax proposed by some candidates, but indeed a truly fair and equal tax.... for example:

take minimum wage times 40 hours a week times 50 weeks a year (leaving out 2 weeks for time off)... currently $11,700/yr... you set this as the new "zero line" for taxes... anyone making that amount or less pays zero taxes.... any and all income above that is taxed on an EQUAL taxation basis.. the SAME exact percent for everyone...

for the sake of argument, let us say the tax rate would be 17%...

So

Someone making $40,00 per year
40000-11700= 28300
17% tax is $4811

Someone making $100000 per year
100000-11700= 78300
17% tax is $13311

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Addition... in response to the additional comment

As stated... what you propose, a punishment system for those who earn more, is based in nothing more than inequality... what gives you the right to be taxed less? Do you not understand equality and shared burden??? Why are ones who earn less ENTITLED to pay less of a share of their income?

Personally I propose the adjusted flat tax, because we all know the Uber-Liberal Dems will NEVER go with a truly fair flat tax with zero deductions...

Equal taxation is what is needed... not a wealth redistribution system or robin hood system based on inequality

Answer 2

Red - use the GI Bill to take some classes in finance, economics, and accounting.

Politicians worry about taxes for several reasons - first, they pay for the government. The money to pay you while you're deployed doesn't grow on trees.

Second, it gives politicians a way to reward friends and punish enemies. They can steer spending to their home district, or to companies owned by friends, for example. They can also raise taxes on industries that support their opponents.

Third, politicians can use tax changes to accomplish social engineering. An easy way they do this is to give a tax break for things that the politicians like. They've done this by making home mortgage interest tax deductable - this encourages home ownership. The same idea works in other ways - there are or were tax credits for energy efficient appliances and upgrades, for educational spending, and for donations to charities. All are things that amount to social engineering.

Who should get a tax break? It depends on who you ask. Some say poor people, because they can't afford it any way. Some say the middle class, because they are the largest group. Some say the rich, because they tend to be the ones that create jobs. Some say all people should - that there should be a flat tax rate, and you should pay x% of your income in taxes, whether you made $1000 or $10,000,000.

What's fair? Who knows... That's why politicians have set up a tax system that take up volumes of printed information. All of the tax law literally needs a large shelf to hold it all if it gets printed.

Answer 3

The problem with your argument is that you are assuming a)that taxes on income are a valid way for the government to collect money, and b)that the standard should be whether a person "can afford" to pay high taxes or "will/won't miss" their tax money.
A rich person can do a lot more with a billion dollars than can the government. When people keep more of their money, they can start businesses, employ more people, and contribute to the productivity of our country. If the government collects more money, productivity is reduced, because the government doesn't produce anything, it maintains the country. Our government does not know how to maintain the country without spending far too much money. The more money you give to a government, the less you get out of it.
Taxes should be lower for everyone, because the government should remain constricted to its Constitutional boundaries and because people deserve the money they earn. Move to a small national sales tax and cut services.

Answer 4

Taxes are the way the rich steal from the poor! It is called redistribution of wealth and why a little over 600,000 out of 300 million own 90 % of America.

Diamond, your figures don't work for 2 reasons. Someone making 30 million a year is going to miss the 4 million they would have to pay not at all, however someone making $44,000 a year, which is the average wage in the country, is already having problems making ends meet. The preportion of income is skewed as someone aerning the average is paying almost all their money to survive! I am sure that the person making $26 million after taxes isn't having such a hard time. The second is, there is always a loophole. People who earn $44,000 a year have few write-offs while those making $million is hiding most of their money and take deductions for everything! And what makes you think it will stay at 17%? What makes you think some Republican president will come along and give to the rich at the expense of the poor. One-half of all taxpayers make $25,000 a year or less. I think we have enough poor in the country and just a few days ago there was a report that the rich are getting richer and the poor ar getting poorer! Your plan would make sure the rich ended up with all the money!

Answer 5

The Fair Tax is the answer. But let's address the main question. If you reduce the amount of taxes as they did in the capital gains you create more in investing. the more in investing drives the stock market which makes more for your retirement income. Everybodies retirment has "Stocks" wrapped in thier plan and that does increase your money in the long term.
Now, why the Fair Tax works.
Basics is that it rids us of the IRS --- No Income Tax

It replaces the hidden taxes that we now pay with a visible
tax after purcheses. It will drop the prices on the things we buy
now. Ex; Herseys candy bar was $1.00 now it will be listed at $.77 and when you buy it, it will cost you the same $1.00.
Now we can see how much tax we are spending.

Now Everybody that buy's something while they are in the US
is paying into our Tax system.
If you are Rich you will tend to spend more which makes you pay more taxes. If you aren't Rich you will be paying less taxes.
If you are "working under the table" you are now paying taxes on what you have not reported because you are spending more.

Let's look at my pay check for example:
I grossed $618.82
Fed tax 44.35
SS tax 38.37
medicare 8.98
Net $527.24

Under the fair tax
I would Net $618.82

What's wrong with that??

Collection of sales taxes are common in all states they would just forward it to the feds.

Inhertance tax would go, fter all that's how we lost so many farming families. You work hard to accquire it for your kids to carry on but when you die they have to pay as much as 43%
of the "value" of the "estate". that you have worked all your life for and the goverment put's such a heavy tax lean you sell
out.

Alot of compines would re-establish back in the US because of the favorable tax rates.

Let's go America. Fair Tax....

Answer 6

The lower taxes are not just for the rich or middle class but also for businesses.
Did you know that small business creates the most new jobs than any other industry. Lower taxes allows them more capital to expand their business and upgrade equipment.
Since when was it wrong for people to be rich, loop holes, they apply to everyone that can take advantage.
This America it is what we stand for, if you can make, you should be able to keep it!
Enough of the democratic garbage.
Lastly, there is change in the wind to repeal the federal income tax and promote a "Fair Tax"
Google it, and see what you think, maybe even get on board and support it!

Answer 7

If you think your taxes happen only once a year, you are not paying attention. Take a look at a non-combat zone paycheck. See that chunk called FITW? That's taxes. I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination, however $423 goes away with each paycheck. A 10% cut in taxes would give me $40 of MY money back every two weeks.

Answer 8

Why do you think that "rich" people deserve to have a higher tax rate than you?

I really never understood this "Robin-hood" mentality. So, if I work harder, get more education, and create more jobs to earn my fortune, I should be punished for it?

The money you "get back" from your tax return is money that you OVERPAID in taxes. You don't notice how much tax you pay because you don't give a crap. Maybe you should just give all your money to the government in exchange for a place to live and some food and health care. That is the mentality that has created a bloated government.

Answer 9

Define rich. Is it $50,000? $100,000? $1,000,000?

I pay 65% of my income to some form of tax or another. Start adding up the income tax, the state tax, the property tax, tolls, taxes on purchases, taxes on savings, recordation taxes when you buy or sell a house, taxes on your phone bill (whether you use it or not), yearly car taxes, estate taxes, etc. It's insane. If I wanted to only make half as much, I would have worked half as hard. KWIM?

I'd like my taxes to be lower. I'd like your taxes to be lower. BUT I'd also like spending to be lower too. Get rid of pork spending. Get rid of unnecessary waste. There's no reason we should employ 10 people to each work 2-3 hours a day in a government job. (I live near DC and this is COMMON for a lot of the agencies....)

Answer 10

The flat tax percentage seems like a fair solution to me.

You seem to think only Republicans are rich, but if you look countrywide you'll see about the same percentages of lower, middle and upper class for both parties. This is just a myth that only Republicans are wealthy. All of the politicians are quite wealthy, regardless of party.

You'd be surprised how much high taxes hurt the upper class when they want to invest that money in their company. When high taxes start hurting that ability, it hurts the whole country, because that company wanted to expand and increase its business but taxes prevented them. That's the only scenario where high taxes penalize the country.