We’re at a point where we would be better off as a nation paying a bit more in taxes

I'll tell you why this will never happen. It's too easy. It would solve a mountain of tax nightmares very quickly. The powers that be who decide these things won't go for easy... they'd rather mess everyone around and play God.

That flat tax, no matter what the percentage would end up being, would be so simple. Get rid of the IRS... oh how great would that be?! Oh but wait... who'd collect the penalties for people who didn't tow the line and get UONC? *UN*affordableObamaNightmareCare?

Ever consider running for office, JR? Or are you too honest?

 

Hello everyone,

I'd like to make another contribution if you guys don't mind. It really is sad, but I am inclined to agree with what Kate said earlier- simplifying the tax code would make things way too easy. We have HUGE amounts of money being made by large politically-active companies that exist precisely because the US tax code is as complex as it is. In countries in Europe- there is no need for companies like TurboTax because the countries equivalent of the IRS simply sends you an invoice for the amount that they feel you should pay.

Over there during tax season, you can either do nothing- saying that the government's estimation of how much you owe is correct and have them send you a check for whatever refunds (if any) are due, or you can claim any relevant deductions and sent it back to the "Euro-IRS" for them to analyze. Because the vast majority of the population has very simple tax needs, most people never have to deal with the "Euro-IRS" and there is no need for companies like H&R Block to exist.

Companies like TurboTax and H&R Block rake in millions of dollars every year and spend a good amount to lobby the powers that be to ensure that the rules that make it possible for them to make all this money remain unchanged or are made to favor them even more. The fact is- and you may think I am just being cynical, there is too much money being made from the current labyrinthine tax system for change to be permitted.

There is something called the Iron Law of Bureaucracy (you can read about it here: http://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/iron.html). Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself. Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representative who work to protect any teacher including the most incompetent. The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organization, and will always write the rules under which the organization functions.

If you take the time to think about it, that law explains exactly what I am talking about. The taxation bureaucracy will never accept that there is no need for them to exist and will fight tooth an nail to preserve their existence regardless of the cost to the public. They look out for number 1, if you will. It truly is tragic.

 

Ha, so you are a part of the funding machine, you are the real government, why would you bother to run right?

 

They can never get rid of the income tax now that everything we buy comes from China! Before the income tax was created, the money came from tariffs from imports.

I'd support a measure that would make more jobs in the US and kept more money in American pockets ...but that will never happen since it will hurt the pockets of big business!

 

I think the government needs to budget what is available to make all ends meet. Asking the citizens to pay more would actually create more problems than find solutions. The government has the power to set up money generating projects run by its officers to generate more funds to complete its projects.

 

Well if you're at a point where you're ready to start accepting government control over things like healthcare that cost taxpayer dollars, then you should be willing to pay more to keep these services high quality. In short, a bit more in taxes should be paid (in America).

 

We actually need the exact opposite of paying more in taxes in this country. Government wasting dollars for one should be a deterrent to raising taxes. And if you do raise taxes, all you're doing is KO'ing small businesses into being able to keep their doors open and making the middle class smaller and smaller.

 

I'm new here and it isn't April 1st???? Is this post a serious one or is this just to make us all laugh on this rainy day when the market is down a little??? Yeah, we should all pay more in taxes so politicians can payoff certain people, give money under the table to union heads and buy votes all over the country. I wake up every day hoping they raise my taxes so I can have less and the good people in government that are not smart enough to survive in the private sector have more money to waste.

 

I think the idea that we need to pay more taxes as a society is a bit silly and misguided. We pay plenty of enough money in taxes. Government revenues are at an all time high. The last thing we need are more taxes to stifle growth. We need the government to handle it's responsibilities with the money already given. They need to cut spending and reign in entitlements and welfare.