Congressman Charles Rangel: Equal Taxation 'Not Fair'

CNS News ^ | 3-4-2005 | Jeff Johnson

[Pendragon_6]

(CNSNews.com) - New York Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel Friday responded to suggestions that the federal income tax be gradually replaced with some form of consumption tax, saying that equal taxation is unfair.

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform Thursday that the current U.S. tax code is so complicated as to be a drain on the economy.

"A simpler tax code would reduce the considerable resources devoted to complying with current tax laws," Greenspan said, "and the freed-up resources could be used for more productive purposes."

Rangel responded that any tax of that nature, such as a national sales tax, would be an injustice.

"When you have a tax, where you pay the same tax whether you're wealthy or you're poor," Rangel said, "that's not fair."

[JarheadFromFlorida]

[["When you have a tax, where you pay the same tax whether you're wealthy or you're poor," Rangel said, "that's not fair."]]

Top 1% pay 38% of the total taxes
top 5% pay 56% of the total taxez
top 10% pay 67% of the total taxes
top 25% pay 84% of the total taxes
top 50% pay 96% of the total taxes

The bottom 50% of the people in this country pay little or NO tax at all. These are the people that use most of the social services in this country and these are the people that vote for Charlie Rangel and his ilk. Charlie has to say these things to keep these people pissed of and hating the most successful amoung us and keep them voting Democrat. These are the people that keep the Democrats in power.

[Zon]

These are the people that use most of the social services in this country and these are the people that vote for Charlie Rangel and his ilk.

The Pauls want government to rob the Peters. Robin Hood agrees -- steal from the rich and it to the poor. (Skimming some of the loot for themselves.) The 21^st century label for thieves in congress and bureaucrats they empower is a specific type of parasitical elites.

[philman_36]

"When you have a tax, where you pay the same tax whether you're wealthy or you're poor," Rangel said, "that's not fair."
Do I buy a $100,000 automobile or a $20,000 automobile? That depends on what I can afford. Maybe I should just settle on a used car and save up for the other since I'll not be paying a high tax on that used one.
I could probably buy a good car with the taxes due on that $100,000 automobile.
I'll stick with the $20,000 automobile/used car and smaller tax.
When I can afford the $100,000 automobile, from buying, investing, saving and buying nontaxable items I just may go get one of those luxury items. (or another $20,000 automobile and save some money taxes)

I don't think the man gets it.

[Final Authority]

Since we are discussing the concept of "fair", please inform as to the legal definition of "fair" or even "fair tax". I'd be much obliged.

[Berthold]

If I had my way,we'd divide the national budget by the number of voters.The resulting number would be the poll tax.Obviously,the fewer voters we had,the more each would have to pay.But those voters would be VERY sensitive about who they elected,especially on the spending issues.As the free-spenders were sent to the nether regions,more of the population would be able to vote.A balance would be achieved,sometimes going one way,and sometimes the other.But the out-of-control situation we have today would be obviated.People who don't pay taxes shouldn't be able to vote.No representation without taxation!

an interesting thought indeed.

[hosepipe]

Charlie Rangel... (Eddie Murphy laugh)..

[Conservative Goddess]

I enrolled in law school so that I could do something else when the tax code is abolished. I look forward to the day when I can contribute something meaningful to the GDP. We (CPA's) were warned in 1995....the last time I recall a major push to sunset the code. There was an article, an opinion piece I think, in a professional journal, warning that it was only a matter of time before the electorate "wake's up" and repeals the tax code. Ten years later....and those prophetic words ring in my ears. This is the first time that I see a semi-perfect storm brewing such that we might actually free ourselves from this monstrosity. Don't cry for us....we'll be just fine helping people to manage and invest their money, build their businesses, etc.