WatchHere's a partial list of what is often referred to as "hidden taxes," none of which were in existence 100 years ago. While looking at this list, can you honestly say we are not paying too much in taxes?
Federal income tax
State tax
property tax
gasoline tax
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Tangible Taxes
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
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iwog says
Your "solution" is NOT to cut spending because, as you say, it won't provide a "surplus." In true liberal form, your only solution is to raise taxes, without addressing cuts in spending. You fail to understand how ALL governments operate, i.e. that they will ALWAYS spend (eventually) what they take in. Raising taxes is not the answer because government growth will not remain stagnant. With more tax revenue collected, it will simply grow commensurate to that revenue. The beast must be starved and the only way to do that is to cut its revenues in order to force them to live within their means.
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RayAmerica says
Yeah, except that's total bullshit since I already detailed what I'd do and it includes spending cuts.
Stop making up my positions and actually answer a question for once in your corrupt life. Do you have a solution or not?
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iwog says
I've stated my solution numerous times on this site.
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RayAmerica says
Really? Then it should be mind-numbingly easy to post a link to your explanation.
That is unless you're afraid I might actually analyze your "solution" to see if it's a fantasy or not.
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iwog says
marcus says
Seriously Ray, enlighten us with what should have been done. Please keep in mind that states and municipalities, and the fed were and are all basically broke, so any policy that decreases economic activity (and hence tax revenues) has to be very well explained.
RayAmerica says
I believe you have, or at least others have, asked me this question in a variety of ways before. As I have stated before, I strongly believe we need to cleanse the economy of a lot of wrongheaded policies that have led us, over several decades (if not longer) to this mess that we find ourselves in.
If I were King: End the colonialism that has become U.S. foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. End our “Israel or nothing” approach to the region. Close down the vast majority of armed forces bases throughout the world and bring home the troops. End both involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Drastically cut military spending, including a dramatic reduction in the size of our Navy. Drastically cut government programs across the board. Eliminate entirely the Department of Education. End virtually all welfare for able bodied recipients. If they are going to be on the public dole, they’ll have to perform some type of public service to earn it, even if that means cleaning parks, streets, etc. Do whatever is necessary to balance the budget and begin to reduce the debt. Immediately end ALL earmarks connected to legislation. Drastically reduce foreign aid. Bring government salaries more in line with the private sector. Enforce all illegal immigration laws, particularly when it comes to employers. Illegal immigrants that are taking jobs from American citizens must stop. Work to end the “anchor baby” laws that currently exist. Secure the border, in particular the southern border with Mexico. By becoming less dependent on foreign loans in which to operate our government, we will be able to effectively negotiate trade policies that are fair and balanced. Develop an energy policy with long term goals, especially alternative fuels, along with a vast expansion of nuclear energy plants. Reinstate the Glass Stegal Act. End all bailouts with taxpayers’ money to banks, Wall Street, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, etc. Allow the housing market to cleanse itself via natural market forces without government support or intervention. Cut taxes (along with capital gains, estate taxes, etc.) commensurate with the cuts in the size of government spending AFTER the budget is balanced and the national debt is vastly reduced.That’s just off the top of my head …
http://patrick.net/forum/?p=534025
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To the above post, Iwog would counter with "just raise taxes." LOL
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No, I've already answered the above post. If you get everything you want, you still run a $1 trillion rapidly expanding deficit. Your "solution" is a joke and demonstrates the fact that you have no understanding of the problem.
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elliemae's website
Rayray asks if we pay enough taxes. I do. He obviously doesn't.
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iwog says
I got it. Your solution is to keep spending at the levels we are currently at, and raise taxes in order to encourage more government expansion. Of course, in the past, you've also recommended printing fiat money on a massive scale (QE 1, 2, 3, 4, into infinity), so much so, that it would reach YOUR desired HYPERINFLATION. The fact that such a scenario would wipe out all pensions, savings accounts, retired people on fixed incomes, etc. is "collateral damage," right? And then you have the audacity to call my solution a "joke?"
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RayAmerica says
Please stop calling it a solution without quotes. You don't offer a solution, in fact I proved WITH LINKS TO EVERY RELEVANT BUDGETARY ITEM that your "solution" is nothing of the sort. It's an unqualified failure that cannot work and doesn't address the problem at all, yet it's pretty much a match for what all the other Teabaggers are advocating.
My solution is a comprehensive one and actually balances the budget. I want to return our tax rates back to what they were in 1993 and that includes the estate tax. (nothing so radical as 1980, 1970, 1960, or 1950 or as you call it "The American Dark Ages") I want to reform medical care in our country to resemble Canada, where they spend half as much and live two years longer than we do. Finally I want to monetize some of our debt and devalue the dollar in such a way that it redistributes wealth to those who will spend it and create demand and jobs.
Unlike anything you've ever proposed, this would actually work. Furthermore the almost instantaneous improvement to our balance sheet and strong growth in our industry would strengthen the dollar at the same time that controlled devaluation would be weakening it. China has been pursuing this exact same policy and for some strange reason that you could never understand they are NOT turning into Weimar Germany.
THAT is a solution. You don't even comprehend the problem.
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iwog says
Utter, complete nonsense. It will do nothing of the sort. QE1 & QE2 has had no such effect as you claim, but, according to your illogical position, let's do more of the same. LOL
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Alameda, CA
Do we pay enough taxes? Obviously not, in comparison to what we spend, which is the only relevant yardstick. Otherwise we wouldn't have a budget deficit. Duh.
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In two years, Obama has increased the national debt by 50%. The reckless, big spender Bush needed 8 years to accomplish that amazing feat. Iwog's "solution" is to give more money to these reckless big spenders by dramatically increasing taxes. He also advocates the insane policy of monetizing the debt by massive printing of U.S. Dollars. How does that affect you? By creating the "silent tax" of inflation. Everyone that has any investment or savings that is denominated in U.S. Dollars will suffer accordingly. People like Iwog WANT hyperinflation because Iwog is heavily in debt with his real estate investment properties (by his own admission). What he wants is an inflated U.S. Dollar so that he can pay off his fixed real estate loans with cheap, hyper inflated currency. A diminished dollar rewards those that are heavily in debt (Iwog), and punishes those that have savings, investments, pensions, etc. denominated in U.S. Dollars.
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Ray, stop running and provide a plan to balance the budget.
Your earlier attempt was a silly joke and barely even scratched the surface. Do you have an actual idea or was I correct when I said you don't even understand the problem let alone offer any solutions?
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RayAmerica says
It did exactly what I claimed. It monetized the debt. Oh sure the debt does technically still exist on the fed's books, but the effect is still the same.
Why would you claim something isn't true when it very clearly is true? QE2 printed $600 billion that was NOT BORROWED from elsewhere, and distributed it via entitlements to people who spend it. Doesn't it bother you that you have so poor a grasp on the economy that you can't even see this simple truth?
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Ray, you still have not listed the spending you would cut in order to close the budget deficit. Even with your porposed spending cuts liek defense and earmarks, you would still have over $1 trillion in deficits. But don't worry, you can use this tool to balance the budget. Once you balance the budget, post a link to your proposal so we can all see it:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html
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HW, thanks for the link.
I know nobody asked me, but here is my solution ;-)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?choices=821vj419
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iwog says
This comes from the wannabe "economist" Iwog the Duck. The very same Duck that thought it would be a great idea to print up tons of paper money and distribute it to every American "in order to get the economy moving again." And how much did he propose to simply give away? First it was $25,000. Then he amended it to $50,000. Why don't we just all use Monopoly money and save all the paper and ink?
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Monopoly money uses paper and ink too...
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HousingWatcher says
That's some scary browser based software there. Ray would do it if he could only figure out how to work it.
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RayAmerica says
This is always what it comes down to with you Ray. No facts, no examples, no solutions, no radical plan to balance the budget, no rebuttal, nothing but a personal attack.
It's time to admit you don't know how to fix the economic problems of the United States and start listening to people who do. I wouldn't really care, however your votes and the votes of people like you are destroying the country.
The Republican budget contained $80 billion in cuts in a $1.5 trillion deficit, and their reckless tax cuts signed by Obama reduced revenue by more than that. Neither party can fix this, but at least the Democrats are eventually going to do the right thing and sacrifice the dollar. Given a long enough leash, the Republicans are going to strip you of your Social Security, end your Medicare, and dump you in the street if it would put another dollar in a billionaire's pocket.
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@Ray
>"If I were King: End the colonialism that has become U.S. foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. End our “Israel or nothing” approach to the region. Close down the vast majority of armed forces bases throughout the world and bring home the troops. End both involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Drastically cut military spending, including a dramatic reduction in the size of our Navy."
You do realize that if someone like McCain or Palin were president, this would have about as much chance of happening as $%$%&$...
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I think besides out of control spending, the other big problem is that about half the people out there don't pay income taxes. Everybody should pay something.
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iwog says
I hear Zimbabwe wasn't that fun to live in when their currency got devalued.
If our currency devalues, we will not be the financial powerhouse of the world. That would be a disaster.
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ChrisLA says
We aren't Zimbabwe.
In case you haven't noticed, even trillions of dollars in printing hasn't moved the value of the dollar much and interest rates are some of the lowest in the world. In fact in the last few days the dollar has rebounded (again) after failing to even surpass previous lows.
The United States devaluation has nothing on Japan, yet Japan didn't turn into Zimbabwe either. Doesn't it bother you that real world examples totally contradict your narrative?
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American in Japan says
Of course. That's precisely why the American people have to wake up to the fact that there is a power structure in place that is in complete control of our foreign policies. I just finished an excellent, short book by Chalmers Johnson; "Dismantling of Empire: America's Last Best Hope." I highly recommend this book. BTW, Johnson definitely leans to the left. What we really have in this country is an Oligarchy in which both parties have morphed into one, elite ruling class. Have you noticed Obama (Mr. Hope & Change) has not only kept intact Bush's foreign policies, but has actually expanded them?
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iwog says
Neither party has the political will to fix this. On that you are correct. Your glee over the sacrifice of the dollar is astounding (but not for you).
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RayAmerica says
There isn't any other way out Ray. Isn't it about time that you stopped acting like a child and started looking at THE ENTIRE PROBLEM instead of small parts of it?
You're stuck in this incredibly pointless logic loop:
Ray: We're screwed because the dollar is going to crash.
Iwog: That's the only way out.
Ray: We'll be Zimbabwe and you suck.
Iwog: What would you do?
Ray: I'd cut spending by an amount that can't possibly balance the budget.
Iwog: That would do nothing.
Ray: So what would you do?
Iwog: I'd do X, Y, and Z and print money.
Ray: We're screwed because the dollar is going to crash.
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iwog says
Iwog fails to understand (this is really getting old) that EXCESSIVE spending got us into this mess, and yet, he thinks making massive cuts in spending will "do nothing."
I've consistently said this is a long term process that will take years to correct. Iwog just wants to trash the dollar by printing money. His approach is so incredibly simplistic, I'm having a hard time believing he's serious. Iwog .... are you one of the dreaded "trolls?"
For a mature look into why we can't simply "inflate our way out of our debt crisis," check this out:
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2010/03/if-we-cant-inflate-our-way-out-of-debt.html
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iwog says
What trillions of dollars? We are in debt, we aren't actually printing them and dropping them in helicopters. Our nations prosperity is pegged to the dollar, if it goes away we may and will lose our status as a reserve currency and at that point we might as well be zimbabwe.
I like to use Zimbabwe because they are a very clear reason to not inflate, but there are many other times and many other countries where government has tried to devaluate currencies and it always turned out in disaster. Free market is the best market control for currency valuation.
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thunderlips11 says
This graph is an indication that Clinton inherited a great Economy. I can't give Clinton credit for good economy (since it is inherited) as much as I can't give Obama blame for economic collapse.
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Clinton's "surplus" must be taken in context of how it happened. Much of the long term debt was re-financed into short term, riskier loans that had lower interest rates. The Cold War ended, allowing massive cuts in military spending. Clinton also shifted much of the welfare obligations onto the states. The economy, fueled by massive personal & corporate debt, grew for the short term which increased tax revenues. Having said all that, Clinton does deserve credit for at least attempting to reduce government spending, unlike the following two presidents (Bush & Obama). Clinton did have the GOP congress to deal with after his first mid-term election. Bush has zero excuse due to the fact that he had a GOP congress for six years.
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ChrisLA says
Right, just like the free market was the best market to control real estate.
Again......reality NEVER conforms to your right-wing religious dogma.
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ChrisLA says
Yes we are. QE is the act of printing money, buying up government debt, and allowing the government to spend the newly printed money into the economy.
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iwog says
..with the expectation of making money in the end, which may not be sweet if it does not turn out that way.
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RayAmerica says
You mean the "massive cuts" in spending that you proposed? $500 billion? That's 13% of the budget Ray. That doesn't even cover a 5-year increase in entitlement spending.
Of course it does nothing.
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If de-valuing our currency is so bad Chris, then why has it worked so well for China?
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iwog says
Really? Then why can I buy dollars so cheaply? As much as a 30% discount from 3 years ago in a lot of currencies other than the Euro (which no one believes is going to survive the disaster that is looming).
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RayAmerica says
What massive cuts was that? Military spending dropped less than 5% from the peak in 1990 to the trough in 1998. So what does this matter anyway? The federal budget continued to grow every single year.
RayAmerica says
The economy grew in the 90's because of the revolution in computers and the crash of oil prices. Massive personal and corporate date fueled growth was the 2000's. Please get your history correct at least once and a while.
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Burbank, CA
Hi Bob ... Churchill once said: "It is futile to argue with a man that is irrational." Have you noticed I usually don't bother answering your posts? The aforementioned quote should give you a hint as to why that is.