Posted by dino27 on 2/19/2019 12:07:00 AM (view original):

Posted by gomiami1972 on 2/18/2019 9:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/18/2019 9:46:00 PM (view original):
It's amazing how many people don't have a clue what the 2nd amendment is about from both sides of the aisle. I don't understand why there is so much debate around it. Our founders made it pretty clear what they meant by the 2nd amendment. It is in place to defend us from a tyrannical government. As i've reminded Tang, we take our freedoms for granted. Very few countries in our world's history have not turned tyrannical at some point. It is not inconceivable that America could follow the same path one day.

With most things regarding the Constitution, they use 21st Century definitions, morality and ethics on a document written in the late 18th Century. The wording is very precise and the meaning is very clear if you interpret it using contemporary context. Even they understood that attitudes would change over time. That's why God created amendments.

we observe major technological advancements every day.....we now imagine the unimaginable and then watch it happen.
in the days of the convention change was very slow........they did not and could not anticipate the issues that would develop over wording meant for a context now ancient history.....in some situations we have to look at the theme and sentiment but not literal wording ....that is why interpretation in accordance with modern life must be made sometimes.......the words are words of men...not infallible........some things require amendments but if congress refuses to act then courts must do right by society and make proper interpretations....sometimes the Court is forced to legislate when congress has abdicated their responsibility.

Respectfully, dino...no.

As a Republic, we have voted in every single Senator and Representative. Then, when they go to D.C. and do nothing but get paid and fundraise for their next campaign, we re-elect a large percentage of them for another term. In every election cycle, there are people running for office who actually will do something in Washington, such as introduce legislation to modernize the Constitution. They lose in the primaries or appear on the ballot as Green Party, Libertarian, American Taxpayer, etc. They are never elected. We are the ones who don't elect them.

Why do we send these ineffectual clows masquerading as Republicans and Democrats to Congress over and over? Because we fear having the other side win, we fear losing, we are ignorant ********, we are lazy, we are flat-out box-of-rocks stupid. Whatever the reason, we are the ones with the responsibility, not the courts. Never the courts.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, are getting exactly the kind of government we deserve.

Incumbents are reelected at a 90-98% rate. It's the old adage, "Every member of congress is terrible except mine."

Idk. I'm not a taxonomer.

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/19/2019 8:22:00 AM (view original):
Topic of the day: Our current tax code. What would you do differently?

I thought we were going to form a 99% bracket to solve all this Country's woes.

Seriously though, we've been down this road several times and I'm still for a flat sales tax instead of an income tax.
NO LOOPHOLES for anybody.

Step 1 to revamping our tax code is to shrink government. There is not much that can be done with a $4T+ budget. If you took every penny from the richest people in America, it still barely covers our deficit.

progress is made one penny at a time

Posted by gomiami1972 on 2/19/2019 8:32:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dino27 on 2/19/2019 12:07:00 AM (view original):

Posted by gomiami1972 on 2/18/2019 9:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/18/2019 9:46:00 PM (view original):
It's amazing how many people don't have a clue what the 2nd amendment is about from both sides of the aisle. I don't understand why there is so much debate around it. Our founders made it pretty clear what they meant by the 2nd amendment. It is in place to defend us from a tyrannical government. As i've reminded Tang, we take our freedoms for granted. Very few countries in our world's history have not turned tyrannical at some point. It is not inconceivable that America could follow the same path one day.

With most things regarding the Constitution, they use 21st Century definitions, morality and ethics on a document written in the late 18th Century. The wording is very precise and the meaning is very clear if you interpret it using contemporary context. Even they understood that attitudes would change over time. That's why God created amendments.

we observe major technological advancements every day.....we now imagine the unimaginable and then watch it happen.
in the days of the convention change was very slow........they did not and could not anticipate the issues that would develop over wording meant for a context now ancient history.....in some situations we have to look at the theme and sentiment but not literal wording ....that is why interpretation in accordance with modern life must be made sometimes.......the words are words of men...not infallible........some things require amendments but if congress refuses to act then courts must do right by society and make proper interpretations....sometimes the Court is forced to legislate when congress has abdicated their responsibility.

Respectfully, dino...no.

As a Republic, we have voted in every single Senator and Representative. Then, when they go to D.C. and do nothing but get paid and fundraise for their next campaign, we re-elect a large percentage of them for another term. In every election cycle, there are people running for office who actually will do something in Washington, such as introduce legislation to modernize the Constitution. They lose in the primaries or appear on the ballot as Green Party, Libertarian, American Taxpayer, etc. They are never elected. We are the ones who don't elect them.

Why do we send these ineffectual clows masquerading as Republicans and Democrats to Congress over and over? Because we fear having the other side win, we fear losing, we are ignorant ********, we are lazy, we are flat-out box-of-rocks stupid. Whatever the reason, we are the ones with the responsibility, not the courts. Never the courts.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, are getting exactly the kind of government we deserve.

SPOT F'n ON! Very very well said!

I so so agree with your comment on our (collective) intelligence. We ARE (intellectually) lazy, we ARE (many of us) "flat out box-of-rocks stupid", and we have exactly the quality of government that we support and elect! In a word......... doofusses with their hand out, or in your back pocket when you ain't lookin'

This is why we NOW have what we now have.
A petulant child masquerading as an honest man "of the people"! What a joke.
Blind dummies all of us! Well a large portion.......... you do the ciphering!

Posted by all3 on 2/19/2019 10:09:00 AM (view original):

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/19/2019 8:22:00 AM (view original):
Topic of the day: Our current tax code. What would you do differently?

I thought we were going to form a 99% bracket to solve all this Country's woes.

Seriously though, we've been down this road several times and I'm still for a flat sales tax instead of an income tax.
NO LOOPHOLES for anybody.

You mean like Russia??

The flat tax concept is regressive and socialistic.
Would your proposal be above or below the rate paid by the Russian people?? (19% in case you don't know!)

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/19/2019 8:22:00 AM (view original):
Topic of the day: Our current tax code. What would you do differently?

Eliminate itemized deductions. Have income taxed at the same rate -regardless whether it's capital gains or other types of incomes-. Have 3 tiers after u pass the standard deduction threshold. Adjust depreciation schedule for business equipment and assets.

I have no real opinion on the tax code. I do know I don't like paying taxes. I don't mind paying some. I understand the need, but when I pay more taxes than amazon, something is wrong.

why if someone wants three tiers are they against a progressive rate

you know...advanced real math lets picture a parabola

as opposed to a discrete three

like all the room you have in that clunky brain of yours is what you can count on the one hand you got half blown off in a accident called life or death or fourth of july

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/19/2019 10:20:00 AM (view original):
Step 1 to revamping our tax code is to shrink government. There is not much that can be done with a $4T+ budget. If you took every penny from the richest people in America, it still barely covers our deficit.

I don't think that's true at all. The deficit was shrinking until the Trump tax cuts.

I think there are two different ways to approach your question.

If we're talking start from scratch and make up whatever tax system you think works best, I'd probably go with a land value tax. Obviously, it never will happen, at least not at the federal level, but it would solve some problems if we could do it.

If we're talking about changes within the general framework that we already have (income taxes), then I'd probably argue for smaller changes. I'd shift more of the tax burden to the very, very high levels of income and completely away from the lower levels. That would help eliminate a lot of the deductions that some people hate. I'd also institute a universal basic income.

With UBI, we could eliminate the minimum wage if we wanted to. Companies would have less leverage and actually have to make it worth someone's while to work there.

Last, I'd completely unchain health insurance (assuming we haven't graduated to a Medicare-For-All system) from employment.

Posted by bagchucker on 2/19/2019 11:46:00 AM (view original):
why if someone wants three tiers are they against a progressive rate

you know...advanced real math lets picture a parabola

as opposed to a discrete three

like all the room you have in that clunky brain of yours is what you can count on the one hand you got half blown off in a accident called life or death or fourth of july

I'm not against a progressive rate.

Posted by bad_luck on 2/19/2019 12:30:00 PM (view original):

Posted by strikeout26 on 2/19/2019 10:20:00 AM (view original):
Step 1 to revamping our tax code is to shrink government. There is not much that can be done with a $4T+ budget. If you took every penny from the richest people in America, it still barely covers our deficit.

I don't think that's true at all. The deficit was shrinking until the Trump tax cuts.

I think there are two different ways to approach your question.

If we're talking start from scratch and make up whatever tax system you think works best, I'd probably go with a land value tax. Obviously, it never will happen, at least not at the federal level, but it would solve some problems if we could do it.

If we're talking about changes within the general framework that we already have (income taxes), then I'd probably argue for smaller changes. I'd shift more of the tax burden to the very, very high levels of income and completely away from the lower levels. That would help eliminate a lot of the deductions that some people hate. I'd also institute a universal basic income.

With UBI, we could eliminate the minimum wage if we wanted to. Companies would have less leverage and actually have to make it worth someone's while to work there.

Last, I'd completely unchain health insurance (assuming we haven't graduated to a Medicare-For-All system) from employment.

A property value tax is how counties tax in North Carolina. California's property tax laws are inequitable.

• Flat tax rate of 25% --- for people who earn $100k+ (single) or $250k+ (married). Tiered system for those who earn less;
• Federal consumption tax of 2% on everything until our debt shrinks to below $5Trn;
• Take away corporate loopholes like accelerated depreciation;
• Take away EIC

My four ideas.