Posted on 03/23/2023 6:30:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Every few years, the idea of a flat income tax — with a tax form you could fill out on a postcard — is floated, either in D.C. or in various state houses (though not in the states that are growing massively now because they have no income tax).
It would seem to make sense and be fair. No (or very very few) deductions and simple rate (or maybe two or three at the most) for everyone. Do a simple math problem and done — easy-peasy.
The concepts are even usually discussed as being cost-neutral — if you pay (net) $1 now, you still pay (net) $1, except its easier and more understandable, saving taxpayers time. And because everyone could do their taxes themselves, it would actually would come out a bit cheaper.
So why do these ideas die quiet, unceremonious deaths each and every time they come up?
Two reasons: power and money. (Everything always seems to come down to those two things.)
As to the money, oddly, it really doesn't involve the government having to give up all that much — remember, the simple tax concepts floated are usually revenue-neutral — so it's not that.
It's about jobs; specifically, good middle-class jobs.
One part of the government would see a cut, obviously, and that would be the IRS itself, which currently has about 100,000 (not including Biden's new 87,000) employees. Every other government worker spends. Pretty much only the IRS collects, and that means that that department would face severe cuts (or at least should).
IRS jobs are well paying and have good benefits — they are solid, reliable middle-/upper-middle-class jobs.
Tax preparer jobs — there are about 90,000 of those nationwide — would also be practically eliminated overnight. Again, they tend to offer a solid middle-class lifestyle.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
1 reason, corporate lobbyists.
Fairness is not a concern, nor is the corruption, enrichment, and total control of the former USA by Global Elitists (aka, the Deep State).
"Politician" is synonymous with paid-for front-man.
The primary reason for the existence of government is to tax (and control) the governed.
EVERY other function of the government exists to ad the appearance of legitimacy and authority to the primary purpose.
A flat tax does not target the low hanging money well enough for the vultures in government.
This.
It’s dumber than hell not to do away with the current tax system and go to a straight sales tax. Imagine the billions the government could collect from all of the illegal alien foreigners living in this country. For once, they would have to pick up the tab for every damn thing American families have been forced to subsidize around the world.
The whole idea is a pipe dream. For one thing, the “postcard-sized” tax return is just a stupid contention. People inherently get around laws in all kinds of ingenious ways. Reclassifying income, barter exchanges, income shifting, etc. What may conceptually be a one-page return will NECESSARILY become a 60-page return in short order.
The income tax needs to be abolished altogether, along with trillion dollar federal agencies. That is the only sound solution.
1. The Tax Idusttrial Complex is a lifetime employment Gov Boondoggle.
2. Too many people have been conditioned to absolutely reject “fair” as actually being “Fair”. Socialists/ Commnunists/ Class warfare people.
Until, everybody has the SAME income, the Same Spending power, the Same Stuff.. Shared poverty. Some say that if you have more than me, it’s unfair. Equality of outcomes, despite, quality of work.
This is the ticket. This makes taxation truly voluntary. You don't have to purchase a yacht and pay the big federal sales tax. And it's fair. Poor people purchase cheap things. The demoncraps would argue, but a federal sales tax raises the price of the goods. Well, so does inflation, but I don't hear the demoncraps bemoaning dopey joe's ruinous economic policies that are hurting the poor and middle class.
The only people hurt by a national sales tax are tax accountants and IRS jackboots.
The socialists would never go for it.
Our system today is progressive. The more you earn the more you pay.
Flat or fair tax is for the wispy dreamers only, not reality.
Repealing the 16th Amendment is the most realistic way to fix the IRS.
You nailed it, IMHO. The IRS won’t have to hire 87,000 armed secret agents. You buy something, you pay your fair share to run the government. Imagine what that would do to the ignorant and low intelligence jerks’ opinion of the government in this country. Sounds like we could get government spending under control.
Stop taxing income all together.
The FairTax is the model. I know that is not wholly popular here, on FR, but taxing consumption, once, at retail, when new, is the right way to fund government.
You could easily go beyond “flat tax”. The W4 you fill out when you start your job is the tax. Your employer deducts it and sends it in. Done. He’s doing it anyway. There is no reason for an ordinary employee to have any further involvement.
Obviously this doesn’t work for people who operate businesses, but then again nothing really changes for them either, they just continue doing what they already do.
The April 15 madness is unique to the US.
any nobody ever has to reveal how much money they make ... as it should be ...
I believe the great conservative historian Forest McDonald made his bone showing the fallacies behind the socialist tripe of Beard’s analysis.
This republic is not an oligarchic monopoly nor was its founding caused by that.
All unconstitutional taxes should be abolished.. Like to see SCOTUS actually enforce the rule of law sometime. wages are not income. as taxed directly need to be apportioned via
Article I, Section 9, Clause 4:
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
“You could easily go beyond “flat tax”. The W4 you fill out when you start your job is the tax. Your employer deducts it and sends it in. Done. He’s doing it anyway. There is no reason for an ordinary employee to have any further involvement.”
The employee determines how much to deduct, not the feds, mot the employer.
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