Here's a tax policy proposal: if you think you're paying too damn much income tax, get a lower-paying job. Think of it as a "do-it-yourself tax cut". Republicans in particular should adopt that approach, being rugged individualists and all.

-- TP

Tony P. -- that's got to be the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

Really? I thought it was hilarious...

bharuch2 might have heard ONE thing more "retarded" than my modest suggestion of a "do-it-yourself tax cut": the GOP line (used even by Dubya his own self, in the State of the Union, no less) that you are always welcome to send the IRS extra money, if you feel undertaxed.

-- TP

Does anyone remember the Frost family?

We were told it was heartless, cruel and mean to suggest the Frost family should buy their own healthcare.

Now we are told Hillary is great for forcing the Frost family to buy their own healthcare.

So which is it?

""Tony P: Here's a tax policy proposal: if you think you're paying too damn much income tax, get a lower-paying job. Think of it as a "do-it-yourself tax cut". ""

This may SHOCK you Tony, but people DO actually do this. When we had the marriage penalty and me and my wifes combined income pushed our taxes higher, plus the cost of daycare etc. it became
fiscally worth it for us to quit her job and stay home.

Thus, we did change jobs to pay LESS in taxes. In fact, millions of people have done it.

Senior citizens take lower paying jobs to avoid making too much income due to SS rules, etc.

People make decisions everyday to find ways to avoid paying taxes - but what is different is both Liberals and Conservatives find ways to avoid taxes.

But you seldom find a liberal who advocates higher taxes, actually trying to pay more. So for a conservative, their is no hypocrisy, but for a liberal, its major league hypocrisy.

In fact this may shock you Tony, but out in the real world, I've heard of people taking less pay if paid in cash, then if paid in traceable money transfers.

Sounds like taking a pay cut to avoid paying higher taxes to me....

Actually, Anonymous3, it's called tax fraud.

apparently, anonymous believes the fact that some people break the law is a perfect reason to revoke those laws...

Of course, there isn't a law around that people don't break, so by that logic no laws should exist.

No matter how low taxes ar,e some people will always try to evade them. That isn't because taxes are too high, it's because some people are greedy, self centered, and think that the law should not apply to them. They are called criminals.

apparently, anonymous believes the fact that some people break the law is a perfect reason to revoke those laws...

So....how do you feel about the drug laws? wanna keep those as well? How is this any different?

There is really no good reason for all of this complexity. Nearly off of it can be eliminated by simply applying the appropriate tax rate to each taxpayer's gross income. All deductions/allowances/etc. should be completely eliminated, period.

Understand that doing this would not take away Congress' power to give citizens the same gifts of money that it is currently giving to many, many households. Want to give homeowners a break on their housing costs? Simply notify those who are currently receiving these tax breaks that they must apply for them from a separate government agency.

We could call it the Agency for the Disbursement of Federal Money Gifts. If the money gift is based on disposable income and other considerations, the agency would simply have to requisition from the IRS the relevant data it needs.

It is simply not necessary for Congress to tie its gift-giving activity to the income tax collection agency. At least those who take on the complexity will understand that they are taking on the complexity in order to get some free money from the government.

The good news politically: The Republicans would no longer be able to blame the complexity of the current tax system on the progressivity of tax rates (never been true). One would think that Democrats could see that it would really be a no brainer to "fix the tax code" in this way.

The Progressive Income Tax: Theoretical Foundations