John,
Nobody doesn't pay taxes. Maybe federal income tax exempts some, but I think you are overestimating the number of people.
I never estimated the number, so how can I be overestimating? Just a ballpark, for a single, if you make less than $6,000 as a single, you don't pay any taxes. Your line item for federal tax is $0. Under some circumstances, people can pay no taxes, and on top of it, get money from the government in form of Earned Income Tax Credit.
Virtually everything you buy is taxed, most things several times. The poor are paying the same tax as the very rich when they buy a gallon of gas or make a phone call.
I am all for consumption taxes for other reasons I mentioned here before (having to do with trade). But I prefer the visible ones (such as sales taxes in states or localities that have them) over the hidden excise taxes.
You select one minor issue and ignore the major issue.
No, it is not at all a minor issue. If the percentage of taxpayers is say 40% of the population, percentage of voters is say 70%, you need nearly 100% of taxpayers voting for responsibility in spending to prevail.
You select one minor issue and ignore the major issue. The people with political power in this country are the middle and upper class. As long as you run up infinite deficits, there is no penalty for over spending, and no political pressure to curtail it.
Isn't it the same thing as what I just said above? There is no penalty for overspending because the taxpayers are not united, the coalition of non-taxpayers (freeloaders) with the fraction of taxpayers voting with them out votes the responsible taxpayers.
Raise taxes to match spending and the people that count will scream bloody murder.
Well, better to it before we reach the point of no return, where taxpayers are a minority, unable to ever force this kind of discipline.
Joe |
