Originally Posted by Wagner

Research it, a flat tax for all gathers far more revenue than a progressive income tax system. In our current system 50% of taxable base doesn't pay taxes. You can't raise capital gains taxes. The very basis of capital gains is so businesses and smart individuals can reinvest the wealth. There are many articles on the use of capital gains tax *which by the way Obama is raising in 2011*. Raising capital gains is a sure fire way to stop economic growth not associated with the government. As for selective taxes, it isn't unprecedented and in fact is already done on tobacco and alcohol. I don't agree with that practice at all but apparently society does. It isn't my prerogative to tell you what is healthy and what isn't. And it isn't sciences either, just ask this question over the last decade: which part of the egg is good for you?

Our income tax system is entirely miss-guided and was established in 1913, nearly 100 years ago. Here is one part that boggles my mind, once I make over 106,000 for the year I no longer pay social security tax, how does that make sense? I mean, if we are going to be progressive, then be progressive. Why did I pay in every pay check when I worked in high school, but now when "I could afford to pay more" (according to Biden) I don't have to pay?


The problem is not a revenue one, it is a spending one. The soon to be 15T debt isn't a 'real' number, it is based on current spending rates. Heck, even the bulk of the original Stimulus deal has yet to be spent. How about we don't spend it?

You could raise the income tax rate to 100% on the top 10% earners and still couldn't pay the debt off. The point is, we need to stop pretending to focus on what we deem "rich" and start making all citizens pay their way if possible. A flat tax would do that. It is not popular at all because those 50% not paying taxes would get hit.

Oh and I'd actually be OK with raising the national gas tax as long as there was a yearly percentage cap and sector by which it could rise, not simply legislative rulings.