Taxes: A Fair Share for All [Redistributionism]

National Review Online ^ | November 5, 2008 | Jonah Goldberg

[NutCrackerBoy]

The [...] danger is that millions of Americans might believe that all that is keeping them from the good life is the tightfistedness of people doing better than them and a government unwilling to pry those wealthy fingers open. That’s a recipe for an unhealthy political culture. A sane tax code, under any president, would be simple, clear and direct. We’re not going to give up on redistribution in the form of, say, the earned income tax credit. But it’s important that the working and middle classes feel as if government spending comes out of their wallets, too. Otherwise, the line between citizen and subject is blurred and the costs of government are seen as someone else’s problem.

Goldberg cites the citizen/subject problem of oil-rich countries as a cautionary example.

[Infidel Puppy]

One moral hazard of such attitudes is that the investor class will start applying its entrepreneurial skills to protecting its existing wealth from the tax collector rather than trying to create more wealth.

Down down about 900 since the coup of Nov. 4.

It is just starting.

[DonaldC]

Just wait for the reverse income tax to come about.

[Frank_2001]

Excellent post!

[jersey117]

I hope they start with the 401k’s of the media people.

[SMARTY]

“...redistribution?” Don’t kid yourself, it’s just another word for reparation

[jessduntno]

“A sane tax code, under any president, would be simple, clear and direct. We’re not going to give up on redistribution in the form of, say, the earned income tax credit. But it’s important that the working and middle classes feel as if government spending comes out of their wallets, too. Otherwise, the line between citizen and subject is blurred and the costs of government are seen as someone else’s problem.”

Flat tax. For EVERYONE. 25% (or similar). Of everything. Period. Don’t have it? To quote Goodfellas; “$#%& you, pay me...” Start selling your stuff until its paid.

No lawyers, no tax code. Everybody, just pay it and shut up.

We would all be paying attention to spending then, wouldn’t we?

[Reagan69]

My new tag line;

NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION !

[oblomov]

What do you think the EITC is?

[NutCrackerBoy]

One moral hazard of such attitudes is that the investor class will start applying its entrepreneurial skills to protecting its existing wealth from the tax collector rather than trying to create more wealth. -Jonah Goldberg

Down down about 900 since the coup of Nov. 4. It is just starting.

Thank you for the excellent point.

[DonaldC]

I know but libs are wanting to expand the EITC a lot further up the income chain.

[MrB]

But...

if they actually CALLED it “reparations”,

they would only be able to do it once.

As it is, when they call it welfare, AFDC, foodstamps, Section 8, “a tax cut”,

they can do it again and again and again and again and again.

[Infidel Puppy]

I hope they start with the 401k’s of the media people.

Usually, the Ministry of Propaganda remains well-fed, at least until there is no hope of continuing the fawning charade (say, if the Allies are starting to storm the camps), or no need to continue to propagandize (your allies have the population secured in camps).

[MrB]

This is EXACTLY what all good people of moral conscience should be concentrating on -

keeping their wealth from feeding the immoral socialist/marxist government of the USSA.

Think about this - if you DON’T do everything you can to lower your tax bill, you are

FUNDING THE KILLING OF BABIES. (FoCA)

[Harry Wurzbach]

The problem is that the average American taxpayer does not understand this. Sure, they feel overtaxed. They know that the more you make, the greater the amount the government will take. But they are inundated with all of the left wing tripe through the media about how the rich pay very little tax in this country.

Of course the poor understand how this game works.

I don’t think that Obama will screw with 401(k)s. He knows that the moment he does, he will give the GOP an issue to run him out of office with. That’s not to say that he’s philosophically opposed to the concept (which of course is quite troubling). My guess is that Obama will pick his spots to push a radical left wing agenda, relatively small matters in which there is little opposition. Then again, this is the best case. Ugh.

[uncbob]

One moral hazard of such attitudes is that the investor class will start applying its entrepreneurial skills t

Gamblers are going to go to the track and casinos

[marsh2]

The “progressive tax” is not a redistribution of wealth. It takes into account that working people and families need a minimum amount to live on and taxing income proportionately above that level. Obama’s stimulus proposal, however, proposed to “rebate” tax monies to people over and above the amount of federal taxes they had paid. To the extent that is true, it was a redistributive policy. (Realistically, they do pay federal taxes in a variety of other ways, including gas taxes.)

I get pretty sick of the rhetoric here about low income people not working. The median income of our entire county is around $30,000. Many people do hard physical work in agriculture, logging, timber milling and mining. Natural resource industries create wealth at the bottom of the economic chain and the work is not known for being high pay. Greater value is placed on outdoor living, freedom, independence and family. They are certainly not lazy and many have university degrees.

Regulatory and land use policies that have been crafted by green big government have eviscerated the rural economy. Where a logger could make a very good family wage in years past, (at a very difficult and dangerous physical job,) the Forests are now virtually shut down and jobs are scarce. In agriculture, more and more personal time and dollar goes toward managing for open space, wetlands, the public’s fish and wildlife habitat, clean streams and clean air as profits diminish.

Now that the election is over, I feel I can say - wake up people and look around you. People making less than you are not lazy losers. Walk a mile in their shoes and understand how policies can support their quest for the American dream. No wonder many of them voted for Obama with this type of high falutin cold attitude.

[uncbob]

Of course the poor understand how this game works

Poor understand very little that is why many stay poor

[villagerjoel]

“No Representation without Taxation!”

FR is becoming depressing. I´m having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

[Philo-Junius]

Teddy Roosevelt may have endorsed progressive income tax in principle, but he was never able to implement it in practice because the Supreme Court routinely struck down federal income taxes until the 16th Amendment was passed under Wilson expressly to permit such taxes.