I read so many posts on these here internets about taxes. The rich don’t pay their fair share. Taxes are too high on the middle class. Taxes aren’t fair. Everytime it sucks me in and I get furiously involved in the ‘debate’.
Here’s what I think:
It is wrong that one group of people pay a different income tax rate (or any other tax rate) than another group. Above the poverty line, we should all pay the same. Right now, even with the Bush cuts, the highest earners pay a income tax percentage 2-3 times that of the average American.
So if Joe makes 10x what Bill makes, instead of paying 10x in taxes, he pays 20-30x in income taxes.
In a land where equality if the goal, I fail to see how this is fair or justified.
I also don’t understand how it is constitutional, given section 8:
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
“but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;”
(fyi “impost” is an old-time word for tax)
The tax laws are so complex that some can point out how one group pays less than another in one category and that group can point out how they pay too much in a different category. As long as congress can take advantage of the populus’ ignorance and turn us against each other and allow the people to vote for [candidates who promise] tax cuts for themselves and tax raises for what they believe to be the bad guys, we’ll continue this illogical debate indefinitely…”