We are screwed ( NSR )

[jackace]

I agree the tax system is broke. It's not fair to the poor and it's not fair to the middle (and even the upper middle) class. The only people who see a benefit are those who make enough money to keep the majority of it in investments or in offshore.

I remeber hearing from a corporate tax accountant that if you know how and where to put the money you can avoid taxes almost completely. The problem the poor and middle class have is we must live on our wages we cannot reinvest most of it and thus leaves us open to beinging taxed.

If you have any doubt that is true check out the taxes payed by the top companies in this country. In the stats posted by PBS 10 of the top companies actually payed NO taxes and actually MADE money filing their taxes. Microsoft alone MADE almost $1 million just for filing their taxes. GE made almost $5 million. Some of their other statistics also show that corporate america only accounted for about 5% (2000?) of the total tax bill in america, but in 1960 corporate american accounted for over 60% of the tax bill in america.

I agree with meatdrink in most aspects, but here is where I disagree. I'll use doctors for my example since that is who meatdrink used. My mother works for doctors and she puts in more hours than any of them, but they think paying her $15/hour (in management so no overtime, and she is the highest paid. This is normal pay for the position in this area) is OK while they work less hours and make $200,000+ a year. She has schooling and is very good at her job, but the doctors say, "We don't have enough money to give you a raise" meanwhile they all drive Porsches and live in mansions. Now do not misunderstand I don't think my mom should make as much as doctors, but I feel that if you get rich while paying the people who work for you (and help you get rich) minimum wage or just a little above you are no better than people who abuse slave labor. (in my opinion)

I think the disparity in income is very frustrating for most people. I personally know many people who have had to take pay cuts just to keep a job meanwhile the cost of living just keeps increasing. I believe it all boils down to corporate greed. I have nothing against getting or wanting to be rich, (I want to be rich) but I disagree with poverty wages and taking advantage of others to get there.

I'll get off my soapbox now, because I have more examples, but I think you got my point.

edit- fix spelling and punctuation

[Ski to Be]

Having incentive to work harder and make something of your life no matter what color, sex or plight you are born into is what makes this country unique. Once you tax the rich too much then people become less motivated and productivity falls. Look at East/West Berlin before the wall came down and China/ Hongkong.
That prevailing mindset still lingers in East Germany. I am not crazy about either Bush or Kerry but whoever is going to keep taxes down the least is getting my vote. For those people in low wage hourly jobs, Start your own janatorial company, start your own ski shop or be the best at what you do and you will be rewarded. Other people in other countries don't have that luxury and those people would do anything to live in America. Pursuit of liberty not big goverment are what make this country special. My 2 cents

[jackace]

I agree with the incentive part and things. I think there has to be a balance somewhere. One arguement for taxing corporations and the rich more is they and their companies use up more recsources, cause more need for repair, (ie; roads, bridges, utilities and other infrastructures) and cause more pollution.

Another problem we are starting to have is the increase of the disparity of income. We as a society need disparity, it is what makes us such a great country.

The problem I see with a huge disparity in income is low wage people stop working completely, because they say, "If I can't pay my bills working for a living and I am completely poor, why not quit working and just be completely poor with free time and rely on the Government." I have lived in mostly agricultural areas and it is sad to see those on Government help living a better life and having more money than those working 60+ hours a week.

I agree starting a business is great, but if you talk to any entrepreneur they will tell you there are things that will happen that you have no control over and sometimes those things put you out of business and leave you broke. Also starting a business doesn't guarantee you will make money infact more business fail than succeed. I would like to start my own business myself and from my research most people, who do not come from wealth, work a job while they get their business of the ground. This does not work if your job does not pay enough to atleast pay your bills. This is why a lot of people CAN'T start their own business. it's like a cylcle of poverty. You can never save enough money to start a business, because you can't pay your basic bills.

Another point is if you start a janitorial business you need employees if everyone had their own business or was in a great paying job you would be cleaning those offices yourself.

But...The complaint most people have is, "if I am working as hard as you; don't I atleast deserve to make enough money to pay my bills and have a little money to either spend or save."

I also look at countries like Hong Kong. They are a country that most people would say is more capitlolistic than we are(america). I used to work for people who are from there and the government has to subsidise so many things because the rich have inflated the prices above what the average wages can afford. Almost 70% of people in Hong Kong live in subsidised housing and most those same people can't afford cars so the Government subsidises mass transit. They also subsidise Healthcare and other essential services.

Now I'm not knocking Hong Kong (it seems to work for them), but is that what we want for America? In my opinion that would definitely affect productivity in our country and foster laziness. I think It would all but remove the desire to succeed and replaces it with a desire to just exsit.

Fair pay is a necessity for maintaining our overall standard of living. If we allow the pay disparity to become to big inevitably we will have more and more people having to rely on the Government for help and thus higher taxes and more people in poverty.

Don't get me wrong I love this country, but we (our Politicians if they weren't so useless and busy selling us out) as a country need to take a serious look at what kind of standard of living we want to have and make the necessary changes.

Sorry for the two rants I have been interested in these topics a lot recently.