(09-12-2018 08:27 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Interest on the FEDERAL DEBT is a wealth destroyer! So let's cut more taxes and make the defict balloon even further!!! We get a 1 percent tick up in revenue but the deficit soars 32 percent. Any person with half of a brain can see we are 31% in the hole with the tax cuts. His base is the problem. Your fuzzy math is the problem.

It has been shown repeatedly that corporations and individuals are very adept at avoiding taxes by moving to tax friendly locations. It's not a matter that taxes are too low but it's a government spending issue. We have to reign in spending.

Close loopholes with a tax that can't be avoided. Cutting spending is a pipe dream.

(09-12-2018 08:49 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Close loopholes with a tax that can't be avoided. Cutting spending is a pipe dream.

How do you create a tax that can't be avoided without sending the Marines to conquer the rest of the world?

Spending can be cut a lot. There is a ton of waste. The French government does Bismarck universal health care for less per capita than our government spends on a hodgepodge of health care programs. You can do a universal basic income for less than we spend on a hodgepodge of welfare programs. You can cut regulatory costs while improving things like air quality, water quality, and worker safety by streamlining processes, eliminating redundant agencies, and focusing on big problems instead of harassing innocent people. And you can cut defense costs by converting active duty slots to reserves, by reforming procurement, by cutting administrative deadwood, and by never fighting a war that we don't intend to win.

There is a way to create a tax that can't be avoided. Do a consumption tax and lower individual and corporate tax rates to levels lower than the rest of the developed world. When there's no lower rate available in any other jurisdiction, there is no incentive to be taxed there instead of here. And the big advantage of being taxed here rather than there is that your employees are here and that means jobs.

Dropping corporate rates to those competitive with the rest of the world discourages tax avoidance. And it has.

(09-11-2018 04:53 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Only the most thought challenged individual could argue against college loans. Do any of you even realize how many people have benefitted from subsidized student loans?????? Let’s keep cutting taxes for billionaire corporations though. You guys don’t deserve the privilege to govern.

Wow! Really?

Since the era of government-backed student loans how much has college tuition risen? And has it risen at levels comparable to general inflation rates?

I think you'll find that easy-access to student loans has resulted in a rampant escalation in tuition prices.

By the way, I attended college without the need for student loads. I worked through college.

(09-12-2018 08:49 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Close loopholes with a tax that can't be avoided. Cutting spending is a pipe dream.

To recap my earlier post more briefly.

There are two and only two ways to make taxes unavoidable:

1) Lower our tax rates to levels lower than anywhere else, or
2) Conquer every country with lower tax rates and raise their rates.

Which one do you prefer?

Simple solution to tax problem, abolish the IRS, except for very few people to run the national VAT. this cuts down on federal spending as IRS is gone, the rich pay more taxes as they spend more, the underground economy (drug dealers and other illegal gains now pay taxes) is now taxed, and finally everyone has more to spend which brings money into the treasury.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

(09-12-2018 08:27 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Interest on the FEDERAL DEBT is a wealth destroyer! So let's cut more taxes and make the defict balloon even further!!! We get a 1 percent tick up in revenue but the deficit soars 32 percent. Any person with half of a brain can see we are 31% in the hole with the tax cuts. His base is the problem. Your fuzzy math is the problem.

mach:

serious question.... what's the "right" level of taxes? how much is enough?

(09-12-2018 08:27 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Interest on the FEDERAL DEBT is a wealth destroyer! So let's cut more taxes and make the defict balloon even further!!! We get a 1 percent tick up in revenue but the deficit soars 32 percent. Any person with half of a brain can see we are 31% in the hole with the tax cuts. His base is the problem. Your fuzzy math is the problem.

your math is not correct here. we have the basis of a nice discussion but let's not throw crappola out there.

The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

(09-12-2018 01:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

Then spending would need cut and cut drastically.

(09-12-2018 01:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

Be careful, you'll be a conservative before you know it

bull****...... you guys haven’t found a tax you don’t want to cut and have no plan to recoup the money. Just add it to the deficit.

That’s why a VAT tax would work. Spending is up you increase the rate. Spending is down you decrease the rate.

(09-12-2018 01:15 PM)bearcat65 Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 01:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

Then spending would need cut and cut drastically.

This!

It's actually quite amusing (and disturbing) how apparently politicians don't get this.

(09-12-2018 01:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

Not at all. All that would do is encourage even more outrageous wasteful spending because all the govt would do is raise taxes to fund that spending.

(09-12-2018 01:11 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The level of taxation should equal the amount we spend. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat myself. That’s it.

but seriously, isn't that backward? shouldn't the amount we spend be equal to the amount we collect in taxes ? We both agree they should be equal, but which is the driver?

(09-11-2018 03:05 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  http://thehill.com/policy/finance/406040...nt-to-895b


Pathetic..........


Where are those Republicans bitching about deficits?

I told you he's not a republican, he's an independent

(09-12-2018 10:56 AM)umbluegray Wrote:  

(09-11-2018 04:53 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Only the most thought challenged individual could argue against college loans. Do any of you even realize how many people have benefitted from subsidized student loans?????? Let’s keep cutting taxes for billionaire corporations though. You guys don’t deserve the privilege to govern.

Wow! Really?

Since the era of government-backed student loans how much has college tuition risen? And has it risen at levels comparable to general inflation rates?

I think you'll find that easy-access to student loans has resulted in a rampant escalation in tuition prices.

By the way, I attended college without the need for student loads. I worked through college.

Tuition has become so rediculous it's no longer possible to "work your way through school"

why your kid can't work through school

I agree with who said it above federal programs should only be available to stems studies. Not a single penny of tax payer money should go to an art degree. We took out loans to put my wife through community college nursing school while we were both waiting tables. Cost about 10k for 2 years, but she now has a job making more in 2 nights than I do working 50 hours a week...and I make a good living.

Point being invest in good returns

(09-12-2018 02:28 PM)bobdizole Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 10:56 AM)umbluegray Wrote:  

(09-11-2018 04:53 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Only the most thought challenged individual could argue against college loans. Do any of you even realize how many people have benefitted from subsidized student loans?????? Let’s keep cutting taxes for billionaire corporations though. You guys don’t deserve the privilege to govern.

Wow! Really?

Since the era of government-backed student loans how much has college tuition risen? And has it risen at levels comparable to general inflation rates?

I think you'll find that easy-access to student loans has resulted in a rampant escalation in tuition prices.

By the way, I attended college without the need for student loads. I worked through college.

Tuition has become so rediculous it's no longer possible to "work your way through school"

why your kid can't work through school

I agree with who said it above federal programs should only be available to stems studies. Not a single penny of tax payer money should go to an art degree. We took out loans to put my wife through community college nursing school while we were both waiting tables. Cost about 10k for 2 years, but she now has a job making more in 2 nights than I do working 50 hours a week...and I make a good living.

Point being invest in good returns

I agree that "worthless" degrees (a subjective term) shouldn't be funded with government programs. But how do you eliminate those while allowing others? I see lawsuits being filed immediately.


As far as working through school...

During college I got a part-time job which had tuition reimbursement. Many places do this.

Here in Memphis, I know FedEx has tuition reimbursement for all employees including part-timers.

Heck, they also just announced FREE tuition for online programs.

I don't know if this is available at all banks, but several banks offer tuition reimbursement.

I agree that there aren't enough tips or hours where waiting tables would be able to pay tuition, but there are jobs that offer tuition reimbursement as a perk.