David,
I don't believe it does. The worst part of NST for me is the fact that there ARE people who legitimately don't need to be paying taxes. You take a family of four making $23,000, everything they spend is for essentials. I have no problem excluding them from having to pay taxes.
What would they do when they retire? Social Security would turn into a welfare program if it is not tied to people's earnings. And more importantly, what would you do with the current retirees, who would pay their Social Security.
Well, from my point of view, you have to keep it to a minimum. The bill that was being promoted a year or so ago provide for zero exclusions; I just can't envision such a bill ever getting passed into law. With some deductions, if someone would really get behind it, it could happen one day...
Adding exceptions is a vicious circle. You add exception, the rate goes up, the cheating goes up, so you need even a higher rate, which will be "hard on the poor" so more exceptions are introduced, etc.
Joe
Joe |
