Text 14598, 69 rader
Skriven 2005-10-11 07:51:00 av FRANK SCHEIDT (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av RAYMOND YATES
Ärende: forever in debt
=======================
-=> Quoting Raymond Yates to Frank Scheidt <=-

 FS> A National sales tax (excluding food and medicine) would be a
 FS> very fair way to collect taxes but it would have one great
 FS> disadvantage over the current income tax.  A national sales tax
 FS> would *have* to be added to each state's sales tax to eliminate
 FS> states' opposition to the concept.  In that event the total sales
 FS> tax might be 25% even 30%.  Every day people would see that large
 FS> tax number in front of them as a constant reminder that over
 FS> one-fourth of their money goes to pay tax.  OTOH the income tax
 FS> "number" is seen only as April 15th approaches each year.  Hence
 FS> *that* number is less irritating.
 
 FS> There would also be a concerted drive by lawyers to *defeat* any
 FS> national sales tax proposal.  Lawyers *love* the many loopholes
 FS> in the income tax.  A sales tax is *far* too uncomplicated for
 FS> them.

 RY> Actually, originally the Income tax was paid in March. In that month
 RY> you had to write a check out to the government for the whole amount you
 RY> owed ( I wasn't there, Frank, but maybe you were?) The idea of
 RY> Witholding was sold on the idea that you exactly describe, to make it
 RY> "painless". 

Yes, I recall.  The idea of "withholding" tax is considered one 
of the most brilliant tax-collecting idea ever conceived.  The 
average guy considers only the theft on "Payday", not the total 
annual bill.  In fact most probably look upon April 15 with 
pleasure for that's the day the gummint "gives" them (their own) 
money (back).  Even changing the tax day from March 15 to April 
15 softened the blow.  "Wow!  Our gummint is giving us one month 
FREE!" ...

I well recall when the change was made, because even that 
*change* was made in such a way that we morons welcomed it.  I 
was in the Army and the gummint "forgave" the previous year's tax 
payment and gave us back our money!!  Seemed like a great idea!  
It was years later than I realized what a diabolically-clever 
scheme it had been.  The average tax-payer today hasn't the 
foggiest idea as to what happened -- and he doesn't care.

Here's how *I* think income tax should be paid:  Payment should 
take place two or three days before the November elections.  
Payment must be in *cash*, currency, no checks and each city 
would have only *one* clerk collecting for, say, each thousand 
taxpayers.  Each payer would have to stand in line (in the 
outside) to pay his "just due" ...

 RY> What it actually does, though, is makes the voter foregtful. If he had
 RY> to write out a check each eyear for several thousand dollars (and have
 RY> made the interest on "his" money) Then he'd be darn sure more
 RY> interested on where it was going..

 RY> $250 million for a bridge for 50 people in Alaska, for example.

I'm surprised it's not a *billion* instead of merly *million* ... 
[sigh] ...

 RY> As to the other points, you're right. but even with that group against
 RY> it, it still has a chance, and a btter one this year than it ever has
 RY> before.. I still remain hopeful.

"Hope springs eternal" as they used to say ...

... "Poetry in Baseball" ÄÄ Homer

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