Flat Taxes or same ol same ol?

Question

I would like to know your thoughts tks.

Answer 1

The problem with the current system is not the progressive tax rates but the myriad number of exceptions tacked on by Congress throughout the years. The only way that a "flat tax" could avoid returning to the same mess we have now, would be some kind of Constitutional Amendment making it so without any exceptions.

Answer 2

A flat tax is a bad Idea.  It takes the tax burdon away form the rich and places it on the poor.  The wealthy only make up 10 percent of the country but they pay 60 percent of the taxes.  The poorest 20 percent of Americans don't pay any taxes at all.  They would have to start.  The upper end of the poorer classes and the middle classes would have to pay more taxes than what they are currently paying just so that the wealthy could get their tax break.

The idea of a flat tax was thought up by a rich man who is currently paying 50% of his income in taxes but wants to pay the same 15% as a working class man.

The best answer is to remove the income tax completely and start a national sales tax.  With that people are only taxed for what they buy.  If you buy grocieries, no tax.  If you eat out you pay tax.  Stay in a motel, low tax.  Stay in a high dollar hotel, high tax.  This is the system that the three wealthiest state in the US use.

Answer 3

I'm with Steve Forbes Flat tax plan.  

I honestly think a flat tax is an excellent idea.  I am a blue collar worker and I am sick of paying the highest tax so people can stay on welfare and the rich (who get one of the biggest tax breaks) get richer.

Gosh talk about a tax break for pensions too!  No fair..

EDIT:  Thumbs Down---must be a senior citizen with a break on their pension..

Answer 4

For a flat tax to raise the same revenue as the current graduated income tax, the rate would have to be at least 25% and be applied with no deductions or exemptions.  The ONLY beneficiaries would be the wealthy.  Most average taxpayers pay a net rate of MUCH less than 25% in Federal income taxes so they would see a major INCREASE in their taxes.  The working poor and lower middle class would be the worst hit by far.  The average blue-collar worker's tax bill would DOUBLE or TRIPLE.

The wealthy LOVE the idea as it would reduce their tax bill, at the expense of the less fortunate.  For this reason, it will NEVER happen.

For the meathead with the thumbs-down rating:  

Take a family of 4 earning $40k per year.  They pay nearly nothing in Federal income taxes due to the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.  With a 25% flat tax, they'd pay $10k in Federal income taxes.

Or take a single mom with 2 kids earning $9 per hour.  She gets about $4,500 in EIC and pays no Federal income tax. This makes her cash flow about $21,000 per year.  Barely enough to survive on.  With no EIC and a 25% flat tax her cash flow would plunge to a little over $12,000 per year.  They'd be on the streets in no time.

Only a heartless b*****d would think that a flat tax would be a good idea for these folks.  Neither of these folks would think it to be a good idea as the tax burden would crush them.  So Bill Gates can have a few million extra per year?  Fat chance!

Answer 5

I am a firm believer in a flat tax system. In this type of system everyone is taxed at the same rate and it's very fair all the way around.

  I can't stand the idea of taxing the rich at a higher percentage. Why should a person that is living the American Dream be punished for their success? If a person works hard, gets a good education and makes a lot of money - is it right for the goverment to say they owe more than people that are lazy and don't go the extra mile to be successful? Really it comes down to socialism. The democrat party believes that we should all be equal and have the exact same lifestyles. This is great in theory, but they forget to factor in hard work, motivation. I mean really - how is it all fair that a poor person with no work ethic should get a free ride while others that did the work suffer?

  I know that I have worked hard my whole life and due to this I have a good job (good enough to waste time on Answers) and earn a great living. Why should I have to pay out of my pocket for people that are sucking off of the welfare system? If we continue on this path, eventually there will be no motivation to be successful and everyone will become complacent with being average because they will know the government will take care of them.

Answer 6

The flat tax idea does not work.  The poor need tax breaks, the rich need to be taxed at a higher rate.