I don't have a problem paying some taxes. I have a problem paying high taxes for a government that is out of control.

If it were high taxes that would get a country to the moon, then there are other countries that should have beat the U.S. hands down. It isn't the government that got us ahead in the space program. It wasn't the government that built this country. It is the American spirit that built this country and moved us forward to put a man on the moon. Granted, it took tax dollars, but it would not have happened without the support of the American people.

I think some may misunderstand what made this country great. It was certainly not taxes. Our ancestors came to this country when it was nothing but a giant forest. They carved out of that forest the greatest country this planet has ever known. It was built on freedom. Excessive taxes take away those freedoms. As I said, we need taxes to support our government. Too much taxes takes away our freedom and reduces our ability to expand our economy. When there is less government there is less need for higher taxes. Less government means that more will be working in the private sector who can pay taxes. The more people who pay taxes the less that each should need to pay to support a smaller government. While our income tax rates have been higher than they are today, we also have many more taxes that take up more of our expendable income. Most of the taxes that I pay today did not exist 30 years ago. Although we may pay a lower income tax rate than a few decades ago, we are still paying more taxes that ever. The more taxes we pay the less we have to spend on consumables. No economy has ever prospered with HIGH taxes.

 

But what you dont understand is that you actually are not paying too much in taxes in comparison with the living standards that this country has and with our GDP. Everything around you is built with taxes in mind. Tax code is written to aid economy, thats why Werner does not rebuild their trucks, they trade it in every 3 years after depreciation is gone. Government encourages private sector investing via tax code. You may not have paid same amount of taxes as u did 3 decades ago but you also dont enjoy same living standards. Our military is not even comperable with the one 30 years ago. Our infrastructure as well.
Somalia does not even have a government so why arent they prospering? You need a strong government if you want to have strong society. You cannot have one without another, it does not make any sence.

If it wasnt for government we would still have Indians roaming around..

 

I could make an argument that our standard of living is actually lower today than it was 30 years ago. Thirty years ago you could earn a living on minimum wage. The primary reason is that there weren't nearly as many taxes. Most of those taxes that we did have were not as high.

One major difference today compared to 30 years ago is the way we make purchases and throw things away. Back then if something broke we didn't throw it away. We either fixed it ourselves or took it to a repair shop. It is difficult to find a repair shop today. An entire segment of our economy no longer exists. We also manufactured most of what we consumed. Exports were high as was the quality of the products we made. We now import more than we manufacture. That reduces the amount of income people have and reduces the amount of taxes collected by the government due to wages being lower. Even though our gross income may be much higher than 30 years ago, it doesn't buy as much.

Every society has a structure. Even the Indians had a form of government. A society cannot function without some sort of structure. The Indians had more of a collective form of government.

I agree that much of the spending that industry does in this country is tied to taxes. Companies may often purchase equipment or other items that they may not really need so that they can have more money at the end of the year. It may encourage spending, but I am not sure that it is necessarily the best thing for a strong economy. When taxes are high then there is less money to buy products. If you want to see an example of how lower prices can make you strong, just look at Walmart. Sam Waldon had an idea that he could lower prices and increase volume which will earn him more money. That philosophy has made Walmart one of the largest corporations in the world. Our government could bring in more money by lowering taxes which would give everyone more money to spend on products. By lowering taxes they would actually bring in more revenue since people would have more money to spend. Unfortunately, many in our government don't seem to understand that concept. Rather than lowering costs they increase taxes which has the opposite effect than they want.

You see, I agree that we need to pay taxes. I disagree in the level or rate that we pay taxes. If we went back to a constitutional government we would have a much stronger economy and a higher standard of living because our government would be smaller and more people would be working in the private sector making products and providing services rather than working for the government.

 

May I suggest that you've been "brainwashed"?

Actually, we might be better off if the Indians were still roaming around.

The bigger and stronger the government is, the more it costs, hence the more taxes you have to pay.

The more you have to dish out in taxes, the less money there is to flow in the economy, and the greater the reduction in prosperity. Money that is donated to the government is not available for things like expansion of business. So, between taxes and insurance premiums, the economy is being strangled.

Can you show me one example where the taxes is set up to encourage the economy?

 

That's fine, but what about this whole new class of people who just want hand outs ? that's O.K the gubermunt will take care of you.

 

OMG ! Jim Jones missed one, go get some more kool-ade and STFU !

 

Just off the top of my head..... it's called a hotel/entertainment tax. Or Hospitality tax, or in some cases.... a tourism tax.

The county taxes hotels, restaurants, and other "recreational" expenditures to raise money to pay for advertising the area as a tourist destination. I'm pretty sure Florida probably does quite a bit of this. My county does.

By "inviting" others to come here to see the history and watersports, etc., we bring millions of dollars into the local economy that just wouldn't be possible from Joe family going to the park each week.

This increases sales from antique shops to clothing stores to restaurants, hotels, etc, and creates JOBS.

On a $30 dinner for two, [like I ever have a date...] I might pay a couple bucks for this TAX. I don't really MIND, as it does so much for the local ECONOMY.

I could probably think of some others, but I gotta finish my laundry.

 

Hmmm..... let's say Joe businessman has a small ONE DOLLAR store. My town has about 25,000 people. If only 10% of us visit his store in a year, he makes $2500. Not really gonna keep him in business. However, if ALL of us are taxed $1 for economic expansion, he.... or someone.... could get a $25,000 loan to create or expand his business.

Obama is giving tax dollars away like mad right now as small business tax credits (and rebates) trying to stimulate the "small business" sector of the economy. And according to some here, that is the source of MOST job creation. Don't know.... but, it sounds like a good use of our taxes to me.

And just in general, Windy. How many people from OUTSIDE of Florida would be flying in every day to spend money at DisneyWorld or Palm Beach or anywhere else IF there weren't tax credits or bailouts for the airline industry OR decent interstates to drive on?

 

Not entirely true. The government most certainly WAS what got us ahead in the space program. The only reason we WENT into space was to advance our missile technology to increase our heavy lift capability for ICBM's to counter the Soviets.

And Eisenhower and our government taxes are what planned and built the interstate system (also primarily with military transport and national defense in mind.) ALL those highway construction jobs were CREATED by government contract to build interstates.

And, BTW.... it was GERMAN scientists that helped us get into space, AND build the bomb. Without them, all the American spirit we could muster would have left us sucking hind teat.

Oh, and what about other aspects of our infrastructure? Grand Coulee Dam, Hoover dam and all the hydroelectric power they generated? Government work programs.... NOT private sector innovation.

I gotta say I believe Dejahn is pretty much right on. Our country was built BY Americans.... but WITH our tax dollars.

Clinton raised taxes, built the economy, and left Dubya a balanced budget and a surplus. Sure, the Dot.com WAS a bubble.... but, it developed under HIS administration even WITH his higher tax rate. Sorry.... try again.