I'm not a big fan of raising income taxes but I def likes the idea of finding new things to tax IE drugs, prostitution, gambling, alcohol, etc. I also recognize the fact that the country isn't bringing in the tax revenue it did 10-15 years ago. At the same time people are either unemployed or underemployed and isn't making the same amount of money themselves. Raising Income Taxes won't solve all of our problems w/out spending cuts in Congress.
NY looked into legalizing prostitution and drugs, did a formal study. They reasoned that the future costs of either or both would be more than the taxes they could raise. Keep in mind that NY is a left leaning state. Basically the medical costs of treating those who are into drugs and the diseases spread by prostitution and then the long term care for health and costs associated with lack of employment of these two groups long term were the main factors.
I would be willing legalize, and possibly tax, them; however, before doing so, I demand that any and all liability on my part, and that of my decendents, be removed. Meaning, if you live the drug lifestyle, you cannot claim government benefits for medical and/or financial issues. Person A should have no liability for Person B's choice to live recklessly, to impose liability is to actually force Person A to become an enabler or facilitator of the Perosn B's reckless behavior. As long as I am legally liable for the care and sustenance of the Persons B, I'm all for keeping the behaviors illegal.
Though I am willing to legalize under the above, I am personally against these behaviors due to the reckless nature of each.
Orange dude, prositutuion is legal in many European countries, and they have found that the rate of disease spread through sexual contact actually diminished. Prostitutes are inspected regularly, and must show a health inspection card prior to any transaction...
So whoever conducted that study in NY didn't exercise due diligence in his research, and let his opinion guide his conclusions. This doesn't surprise me though. It's human nature...
(06-29-2011 12:33 PM)HtownOrange Wrote: [ -> ]NY looked into legalizing prostitution and drugs, did a formal study. They reasoned that the future costs of either or both would be more than the taxes they could raise. Keep in mind that NY is a left leaning state. Basically the medical costs of treating those who are into drugs and the diseases spread by prostitution and then the long term care for health and costs associated with lack of employment of these two groups long term were the main factors.
I would be willing legalize, and possibly tax, them; however, before doing so, I demand that any and all liability on my part, and that of my decendents, be removed. Meaning, if you live the drug lifestyle, you cannot claim government benefits for medical and/or financial issues. Person A should have no liability for Person B's choice to live recklessly, to impose liability is to actually force Person A to become an enabler or facilitator of the Perosn B's reckless behavior. As long as I am legally liable for the care and sustenance of the Persons B, I'm all for keeping the behaviors illegal.
Though I am willing to legalize under the above, I am personally against these behaviors due to the reckless nature of each.
Its rare when you and I are in agreement on how something should be implemented should it be implemented but I think this is fair. Personally I'd legalize marijuana and see what happens first. Reducing drug-related crimes and thus the costs of incarceration should ensue. Taxing the stuff will not be the windfall itself people think it will be but there will be reduced costs thanks to no longer enforcing a prohibition. Overall a net positive for the budget.
Although bit is right about prostitution in so far as I know.
If the government legalized marijuana, and gave retroactive amnesty to all prisoners currently being held on marijuana related charges, they could collect a lot of tax money, and empty around half the prisons...
It's not a revenue (tax) problem. It's a spending problem. But you could likely increase tax receipts slightly by closing loopholes but widening the tax base. Right now in this country the amount of people who pay no income tax is close to 50% of the working population. I understand the concept that the tax code can unfairly impact the poor; however, when such a large percentage of the population is paying no income tax, the system is broken. It also means that the tax code is used as a political tool - which in my opinion is dangerous.
Edit: Just to clarify, I think you can decrease the marginal tax rates across the board AND close loopholes. This provides upper income earners/investors to the incentive to pay the lower taxes in lieu of paying people to find tax shelters. At the same time, it broadens the base so that instead of 50% not paying income tax, may be that number drops to 20% or 35%. But my views are to abolish the income tax completely and exchange it for a consumption tax.
I'm a bit cynical regarding tax loopholes. To begin with, loopholes are made and implemented by politicians, all of whom are paid in the upper income brackets. The result is that they want to protect as much of their own money (like most people do). Next, these same politicians are largely supported by those who make even more money and they have influen$e over the politicians.
When Congress decides to close one loophole, you can rest assured they are opening another. The process is only a game for the voters' sake. And for clarity's sake, both parties equally participate in the game.
I tend to agree with you, dude. The only time any real reform comes is when a politician gets stupid, and gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Even then any reforms get watered down before they get off the ground...
The problem is that the ones that get really hit by income taxes are the middle class. If you are working for someone your taxes are automatically taken from your check. Thats the majority of middle class. If you are in the upper class and your income comes from other sources rather than a salary, then there is all kind of creative manipulation available. The trouble is that income is harder to track down and this is why the middle class is footing too much of the bill in this country.
I think we need to cut back on spending but I also think we need to get back to the tax rates of the Reagan years. You cant have the current wars we have been doing for the past 10 years and NOT raise revenues. It makes no sense. The problem is that that is exactly what we have tried to do for the past 10 years, give tax cuts, keep spending on programs and keep fighting abroad.
It's a pity Americans don't have the ability to shoot politicians that aren't following the will of the majority. If more than 50% of the people think a politician isn't serving their interests, anyone should have the ability to walk into their office, and express their displeasure - without fear of reprisal. That should start from the President on down. That would make our politicians bow to the will of the people, which they don't currently...
I think Terry Pratchett has the right idea with his Discworld Assassin's Guild...
(06-29-2011 11:12 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a big fan of raising income taxes but I def likes the idea of finding new things to tax IE drugs, prostitution, gambling, alcohol, etc. I also recognize the fact that the country isn't bringing in the tax revenue it did 10-15 years ago. At the same time people are either unemployed or underemployed and isn't making the same amount of money themselves. Raising Income Taxes won't solve all of our problems w/out spending cuts in Congress.
I'm against legalizing marijuana for taxation purposes. We keep hearing about all the tax money we'd be making...
The problem, however, is that you will be entrusting that money to the US Goverment. The SAME US Government that has already sank us into a 15.7 trillion dollar hole (and $57 trillion, 400 billion OVERALL)
http://www.usdebtclock.org
Look at that website...and look at our debt. Its is VERY SOBERING. The worst fears of Ross Perot from the elections of the 1990's have been realized. We are about to become a 3rd world country.
(05-01-2012 06:03 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote: [ -> ] (06-29-2011 11:12 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a big fan of raising income taxes but I def likes the idea of finding new things to tax IE drugs, prostitution, gambling, alcohol, etc. I also recognize the fact that the country isn't bringing in the tax revenue it did 10-15 years ago. At the same time people are either unemployed or underemployed and isn't making the same amount of money themselves. Raising Income Taxes won't solve all of our problems w/out spending cuts in Congress.
I'm against legalizing marijuana for taxation purposes. We keep hearing about all the tax money we'd be making...
The problem, however, is that you will be entrusting that money to the US Goverment. The SAME US Government that has already sank us into a 15.7 trillion dollar hole (and $57 trillion, 400 billion OVERALL)
http://www.usdebtclock.org
Look at that website...and look at our debt. Its is VERY SOBERING. The worst fears of Ross Perot from the elections of the 1990's have been realized. We are about to become a 3rd world country.
I think its better for them to waste tax money on legalization rather than raising taxes on you and me.
(05-01-2012 06:17 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote: [ -> ] (05-01-2012 06:03 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote: [ -> ] (06-29-2011 11:12 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a big fan of raising income taxes but I def likes the idea of finding new things to tax IE drugs, prostitution, gambling, alcohol, etc. I also recognize the fact that the country isn't bringing in the tax revenue it did 10-15 years ago. At the same time people are either unemployed or underemployed and isn't making the same amount of money themselves. Raising Income Taxes won't solve all of our problems w/out spending cuts in Congress.
I'm against legalizing marijuana for taxation purposes. We keep hearing about all the tax money we'd be making...
The problem, however, is that you will be entrusting that money to the US Goverment. The SAME US Government that has already sank us into a 15.7 trillion dollar hole (and $57 trillion, 400 billion OVERALL)
http://www.usdebtclock.org
Look at that website...and look at our debt. Its is VERY SOBERING. The worst fears of Ross Perot from the elections of the 1990's have been realized. We are about to become a 3rd world country.
I think its better for them to waste tax money on legalization rather than raising taxes on you and me.
I think that overall, it would cause more harm than good. Its already available to minors. It be even moreso...just like cigarettes and alcohol now are.