![[Masthead]](http://www.t-g.com/images/nameplate.png)
|
|
Fair ~ |
|
 Email link
 Read comments (13)
 Blog archive
 Share link
TaxesPosted Thursday, October 30, 2008, at 2:15 PM
As citizens ponder all the ponderables in seeking to arrive at an intelligent selection as they vote for people in all the races upcoming next Tuesday, I hope they give serious consideration to the taxing plans of all candidates. No candidate can deliver on promises without first funding it. What funds all programs, no matter how convoluted the scheme may be explained, is simply taxes.
We hear from all candidates that don't worry, we will get the money and it won't affect you. Heard that? "We will tax Corporations and businesses, not you." "Big Business don't pay their share of taxes." "We will raise taxes only on the rich." If you believe it won't affect you, then go back to sleep! There is one simple maxim in government spending, for the government to spend money or give it to someone, they must first have taken it from someone! This elementary statement is undeniably true, yet most folks choose to blindly ignore it. Remember the government is not in business. It doesn't buy or sell anything. It doesn't manufacture anything. It only takes from some and gives to others. A very dangerous claim, I think, is to aver small businesses will not see their taxes increase if 95% of the people don't see their taxes raised. This is very misleading and bogus. Most small business are sole proprietorships, partnerships, farm proprietorships or subchapter S Corporations. In each case the business pays NO taxes. All income "flows through" to the owners and puts some in the 95% bracket. You can bet they will capitalize un-necessary equipment or change their structure before they allow themselves to be subjected to a more onerous tax load. Now the most simple of truths, yet most apparently don't realize. I state the reality without fear of contradiction. No corporation, no business big or small, no telephone pole, no pick-up truck or no milk cow pays taxes. ONLY PEOPLE PAY TAXES!!!!! I say again, ONLY PEOPLE PAY TAXES!!!! If you think the costs of goods and services does not reflect the taxes paid by the producers and providers and you think your IRA, 401(K) SEP or any other instrument of saving or investing does not reflect, in your income from them, the taxes paid by entities they invest in thereby lessening their value, then you are living in a dream world. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Near lifelong resident of Bedford County. Will comment on the issues of the day in, hopefully a cogent and certainly an honest manner. Will propose discussions not usually fully addressed in the mainstream media.
Hot topics Narcissism(5 ~ 11:43 PM, Feb 3)
Sentencing
Election 2010
Gambling Update
Gambling Sentence
|
Facebook
Twitter
del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Newsvine
Reddit
Google
![[Feed icon]](http://www.t-g.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
hey carl, we agree on something!
there is only one immutable law in economics;
sooner or later someone must pay.
it is my belief that if you choose later, you pay more.
so we have one candidate who promises to spend a buttload of money and says he will raise taxes.
we have another candidate who promises to spend a buttload of money, but says he will not raise taxes.
(when you do the figures, each has in mind about the same level of new spending initiatives)
i say one of those candidates is lying or a fool.
spending more money IS raising taxes. the only question is when and how much.
we also agree that the same people will ultimately end up with the tax burden either way.
for what it is worth, i already voted and i voted for a candidate who does not plan to spend a buttload of money. but ya'll can all waste your votes, and vote for either heads or tails of the same coin one more time.
and when we keep on doing what we've always done, dont be surprised when you get what you've always got.
I also voted for a candidate that does not plan to continue in the tradition of spend and tax. Everyone told me I wasted my vote, but oh well, how are we supposed to change anything, especially taxes by voting in the same ole retards.
I thought TVA, a federal government owned corporation, produced and sold electric power.
The Federal Government manufactures a couple things: money and inflation! Where do you think all the debt has come from? It doesn't matter how much we are taxed, we'll never be able to cover the debt.
Grit.......I don't think of TVA as the "government," or the United States Postal Service either. The TVA does, of course, sell power but as you know it has a huge debt and also a non-power budget that is funded by the "normal" budget. So I stand corrected in details, but stand by the theme I was trying to convey that only people pay taxes........Thanks for your comment.
Federal, state and local funds are intertwined in the local Bedford County economy. As I stated in a previous comment - over $200 million of transfer funds (social security, medicaid, medicare, veterans benefits, welfare etc.) come into the pockets of Bedford County residents annually. Other funds would include, roads, sewers, law enforcement, farm programs, military contractors (think AEDC and Redstone), etc. etc. I have been unable to find any documentation - but I believe that the wealthier urban areas, export tax revenue at a greater rate to rural areas, who are typically poorer, than vice versa. In other words, the residents of Bedford County get more than their fair share. Rural areas in the South, mostly vote for Republican candidates, who want to reduce the revenue that their constituents are dependent on.
That is an interesting point of view Grit. I never really thought of it that way, but you are correct. When a person receives a Social Security check or welfare, the money (except in the case of dollars given to illegals) ends up being spent in America on housing, utilities, goods, and services in the local community. Local government earns money on that dollar as it is used to purchase many things. Regardless of what a welfare dollar is spent when it is first given away by the government, because it was invested back into America it will provide revenue to many people until ultimately it makes its way back to those it was originally taken from in the form of taxes and the cycle starts over again. People through out the system have money to spend on necessities creating the need for more jobs and more money to spend and tax. Thank you Grit. What am I missing in this scenario, and don't tell me that the amount of people on welfare will increase, because I do not believe that a majority of people on welfare, choose to be on welfare, nor do I believe that people will all of a sudden decide to stop working and take welfare.
I created a blog post based on Grit's comment and my comment above. Please feel free to discuss if you have an opinion on this.
http://www.t-g.com/blogs/nathanevans/ent...
Social security is the big one. One reason that numerous Southern politicians opposed social security privatation is that their constituents were dependent on this income for survival. Most rural Southern counties have a higher number of retirees as a percentage of overall populaton, as compared to urban areas, and especially the urban fringe (Williamson, Rutherford counties.)Also, job creation has been in areas where people are younger, and have higher levels of education (Silcon Valley, Research Triangle Park). People are interdependent, whether they believe it or not. Have a big ice storm that lasts for a week, and we start being in trouble. Want to reduce welfare roles - get everyone educated.
Want to reduce welfare roles - get everyone educated.
-- Posted by Grit on Fri, Oct 31, 2008, at 3:50 PM
Grit,
I am going to claim to attempt a little sarcasm so no one thinks I am being rude:
"I think they are already highly educated. They know how to milk the system very well now. Do you think we need to teach them some new methods."
Who is they? Or should we say "those people". Wealth and jobs are being created where there tends to be higher levels of education. For example, if you have a workforce where over 25% of the population does not have a high school diploma, much less a college degree, you typically do not create high income jobs. Higher educated workforce tends to be around urban areas and college towns. Sure people learn to work the welfare system, but most transfer payments in Tennessee are social security. Younger workforce leaves home for jobs.
Want to reduce welfare roles - get everyone educated.
-- Posted by Grit on Fri, Oct 31, 2008, at 3:50 PM
First you have to get them to appreciate the education they are offered.
devan, The truth of your last comment is apparent to me. The question I have is how to go about achieving that appreciation? What is it about our society that discourages education? Why do we displace intellect in favor of popular culture? Why is it so expensive and difficult to achieve a higher degree? Policies and perceptions are created, and do mold society for better or worse. It takes the same effort and treasure to create educated citizens as it does to create the poor, the undereducated, the subjugated and the criminal.