Boyd Allen
Active member
The discussion of how we should be taxed is always an interesting one. One of its features is that people have the habit of offering simple solutions to complicated problems. Here are a couple of things (by no means a complete list) that you might consider.
First of all, it has always seemed to me that if the government allows a deduction that does not apply to everyone, then it is in effect forcing those who do not qualify for it to subsidize those that do.
Let me give an easy example. Within my adult lifetime, there was a time when all interest was deductible. During that time, it seemed unfair to me that I was forced to subsidize the extravagant lifestyles of those who lived in a state of high indebtedness, mostly from buying things that I did not afford myself, having chosen to live pay as you go, saving for what I bought.
During that same time, the size of the personal deduction had become much smaller, relative to the cost of living, because of long term inflation, and a lack of adjustment.
As a result, in effect, the government was forcing the working poor to pay taxes down to a level that effected their ability to afford the necessities of life, to subsidize the lifestyles of people who may have been living much less responsibly.
On top of that, the general cost of living has always been made larger by the increase in product costs that were the result of businesses having to absorb costs resulting from bankruptcy laws, which have been abused to a great extent over the years, again, by folks that have taken advantage of liberal credit, and undoubtedly written off a good deal of the interest expense.
So, before you go beating up on anyone, you might consider what has been done to the working poor over the years, such as taxing them to provide benefits that they could, and can not afford for themselves.
This is not to say that I think that we should not allow any deductions, or that we should not allow declaration of bankruptcy. These are just examples of what seem to me to have been, and continue to be, inequities that have effected working people throughout the country.
While you are bleeding for the well to do, give a little thought for those who work, pay taxes and struggle to exist. Where is their Rush Linbaugh? To me, trickle down, has always seemed more like trickle on.
Just as a frame of reference, I write this as a lifelong Republican, and fiscal conservative, a point of view, that seems to have been long out of fashion in both parties. I will leave you with one question, and one little research assignment. How smart is it to borrow money so that we can spend it on foreign aid? Have you tracked the increases in the national debt post WWII, looking at which administrations showed the greatest increases? You might find that enlightening.
If we want things from our government, we should be willing to pay for them, and not simply pile those costs onto future generations, who have no voice in the matter. How did that go? No taxation without representation?
First of all, it has always seemed to me that if the government allows a deduction that does not apply to everyone, then it is in effect forcing those who do not qualify for it to subsidize those that do.
Let me give an easy example. Within my adult lifetime, there was a time when all interest was deductible. During that time, it seemed unfair to me that I was forced to subsidize the extravagant lifestyles of those who lived in a state of high indebtedness, mostly from buying things that I did not afford myself, having chosen to live pay as you go, saving for what I bought.
During that same time, the size of the personal deduction had become much smaller, relative to the cost of living, because of long term inflation, and a lack of adjustment.
As a result, in effect, the government was forcing the working poor to pay taxes down to a level that effected their ability to afford the necessities of life, to subsidize the lifestyles of people who may have been living much less responsibly.
On top of that, the general cost of living has always been made larger by the increase in product costs that were the result of businesses having to absorb costs resulting from bankruptcy laws, which have been abused to a great extent over the years, again, by folks that have taken advantage of liberal credit, and undoubtedly written off a good deal of the interest expense.
So, before you go beating up on anyone, you might consider what has been done to the working poor over the years, such as taxing them to provide benefits that they could, and can not afford for themselves.
This is not to say that I think that we should not allow any deductions, or that we should not allow declaration of bankruptcy. These are just examples of what seem to me to have been, and continue to be, inequities that have effected working people throughout the country.
While you are bleeding for the well to do, give a little thought for those who work, pay taxes and struggle to exist. Where is their Rush Linbaugh? To me, trickle down, has always seemed more like trickle on.
Just as a frame of reference, I write this as a lifelong Republican, and fiscal conservative, a point of view, that seems to have been long out of fashion in both parties. I will leave you with one question, and one little research assignment. How smart is it to borrow money so that we can spend it on foreign aid? Have you tracked the increases in the national debt post WWII, looking at which administrations showed the greatest increases? You might find that enlightening.
If we want things from our government, we should be willing to pay for them, and not simply pile those costs onto future generations, who have no voice in the matter. How did that go? No taxation without representation?
