patrick.net

I see his five and raise him 10

All these little changes are stupid. Just terminate all the deductions and go with a flat-tax. Get everything right out there in the open. I'm voting the Cruz/Forbes ticket!

"taxing capital gains at the same rate as wages"

That's a middle class tax increase right there.

Socialism is the insane idea you will fix a broken corrupt system by giving it more money and power, total control over the means of production and the promise they will trickle it down to you and give you everything for free in exchange for all your rights.

I suggest raising taxes by 100 trillion and using extra money to bomb a few more countries...isn't that what TAXES are being used for now?

The US gov budget deficit is $1.09 trillion deficit in 2019.
So $5 trillions for 10 yrs (500 billions a year) mostly targeting the richest, and without new spendings, would be the conservative thing to do.

That won’t work. They’ll find ways to not pay. It’ll shrink private sector at best.

They’ll never cut spending either. Too many stretched out hands there.

I’m cynical, but I’m sure spending will only stop when they can’t print money anymore.

Heraclitusstudent says

The US gov budget deficit is $1.09 trillion deficit in 2019.
So $5 trillions for 10 yrs (500 billions a year) mostly targeting the richest, and without new spendings, would be the conservative thing to do.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

The first step is obvious. Remove the failed Bush and Trump tax cuts that have resulted in huge deficits, threaten our national security, and have resulted in a sluggish economy for 20 years.

How about we expect more from our government and to reign in spending and corruption first before shoveling more money at them? I am not a millionaire and can't afford paying higher taxes - especially if that means shoveling more money into corrupt government pensions allowing the bureaucracy to retire in their 50's.

Are you of the belief that our Federal, State and Local governments are firing on all cylinders and there are no efficiencies to be had in our massive bureaucracy, entitlement systems and military procurement?

The problem is we cut taxes and never reform government.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

The first step is obvious. Remove the failed Bush and Trump tax cuts that have resulted in huge deficits, threaten our national security, and have resulted in a sluggish economy for 20 years. Then, add in some estate taxes to address the extreme wealth issue of billionaire class.

How much do you pay in just Federal income taxes? You're free to have an opinion of course, but I find the people that want to tax the one's paying the most more, are paying little to nothing. It's a weird position to be in. Paying little to nothing and expecting others to pay more.

socal2 says

This is a ridiculous graph. The economy has grown exponentially as well.

Fortwaynemobile says

That won’t work. They’ll find ways to not pay. It’ll shrink private sector at best.

They’ll never cut spending either. Too many stretched out hands there.

I’m cynical, but I’m sure spending will only stop when they can’t print money anymore.

So your recommendation is to bankrupt the government to prevent it from spending.
This doesn't seem all that bright.

Heraclitusstudent says

This is a ridiculous graph. The economy has grown exponentially as well.

Fair enough - here it is as a percentage of GDP. Entitlement spending is the main driver.

socal2 says

here it is as a percentage of GDP. Entitlement spending is the main driver.

Yep and 20% is not higher than 1980 and is not a large percent compared to all other developed countries.
This means the first focus should be on paying enough in taxes to actually finance it.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

How will you like life without social security and medicare after the govt goes bankrupt?

I want to see these entitlements REFORMED before they go bankrupt or we shovel more money to incompetents in our government.

There is more annual fraud in Medicare than all insurance profits combined each year! How the living fuck are we going to do "Medicare for All" when the government can't run the existing program let alone the VA?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/medicare-fraud-a-60-billion-crime-23-10-2009/

Don't even get me started on the ridiculous government pension systems that are bankrupting cities across the nation - grossly increasing property taxes, trapping people in their homes and diverting money from important infrastructure programs so government workers get to keep their lavish bennies.

Sorry guys - I have spent 25 years working as a private contractor in public water infrastructure. The amount of waste, incompetence and corruption is mind boggling.

There needs to be alot of reform before we entertain giving the government more of our money.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

You are welcome to argue the facts rather than speculate on how much I pay in taxes.

I did....😂 You don't know, it's fine. If you're not paying in, then frankly the opinion doesn't matter. It's not your money.

Heraclitusstudent says

socal2 says

This is a ridiculous graph. The economy has grown exponentially as well.

Not to mention that a dollar is worth less than it was when Kennedy was assassinated.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

WookieMan says

I did....😂 You don't know, it's fine. I

Why do you make assumptions that fit your narrative and run with them with no evidence? Seriously? Why do you do that to yourself?

You haven't stated otherwise. So I'll run with what I know.

The fact remains that not one successful person is willing to give away more money to the government. You haven't disputed this. There's nothing stopping Democrats from giving the government more of their dollars. Nothing. There's no need to tax everyone more to accomplish this. But you know I'm right, so continue to ignore the 800lbs gorilla in the room. More taxes mean more waste.

He's not making assumptions. We've all seen thousands of envious whiney bitches calling for higher taxes for decades now.

They are always no skin in the game losers who've made bad life decisions.

Accurate point: your opinion doesn't matter. Boy.

He swallows but it's not red pills.

just_dregalicious says

He swallows but it's not red pills.

Zing! Lol.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

Why isn't the anti-corruption president on the case?

He has to win re-election so he can grab that third rail in his second term. The last time a Republican made noise about trying to fix our bankrupt entitlement systems, Democrats were running TV adds of Paul Ryan murdering old people throwing them off a cliff.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

This has nothing to do with the federal budget.

It is still taxes and I pay nearly 10% of my income just in California State taxes on top of my Federal taxes. California has some of the highest combined taxes in the nation, yet we have the shittiest ranked infrastructure, poor performing schools, shit all over the streets in our major cities and the highest poverty rate in the country. All because we have a massive corruption feedback loop between Democrats, Unions and the Government Bureaucracy all scratching each other's backs and propping up obscene income and benefits.

Middle Class people like me are being forced to move out of California due to the high taxes.

Is the solution MOAR taxes in California?

Let's cut. I'm prepared. I have savings and any economic downturn I could handle.

HEYYOU says

My RepCon scum county raised property taxes & you should hear some the Slime Republicans bitch about the tax increase.

Run for local office? There's no difference in you bitching about it or them. It's still bitching.

Or demolish part of your house and lower your taxes on your own? There are solutions out there. Most people 80 years ago shared kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms with the entire family in 400 sq. ft., yet now everyone needs a 15'x15' bedroom with walk in closet. Humans aren't meant to live in houses/buildings 20 hours a day.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

Buffet and Gates think that the rich should pay higher taxes. Are they also poor? How do you guys reconcile bashing of the liberal elite with your fantasies about all liberals being poor?

Liberals likely have more wealth than fly over country deplorables. No one is claiming conservatives are wealthier except you.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

Dems want to pay their fair share.

No they don't. They had an opportunity to pay their fair share and you know it during the Obama administration. Stick it to the rich right wingers.... lol. They chose not to.

I don't always like it, but at least Republicans are honest about their bull shit. They want to cut taxes. Democrats lie and don't have the balls to raise them, but try to make people feel like shit for wanting to pay less. I would like to pay less. You clearly want to pay more than nothing and I appreciate that. That's rare for the left.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

Nobody is against reducing fraud.

Every single Democrat supports the corruption of our bureaucracy with public sector unions.

There is no getting fraud out of our government, when we have a bunch of incompetent, lazy (and sometimes corrupt) unionized employees who can't get fired. How do you think we get so much Medicare fraud? The people running the program are either too incompetent or too lazy to ferret out faulty medical claims. Private insurance companies are better at it as they have skin in the game and care about their 3-5% profit margin.

I just think it is funny how the Democrats NEVER discuss the incompetence and waste in our government and just wants to keep rewarding it with more of our money.

It is long past time we got some accountability from our very expensive and bloated government.

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

On the other hand, the idea that Dems like corruption and Republicans are fighting it is silly.

This is a correct statement. Hence the reason for giving none of them more money. Less government is better for everyone. I'm pretty much okay with infrastructure (within reason) and military spending. The rest is garbage.

Say my name bitch!

Heraclitusstudent says

So $5 trillions for 10 yrs (500 billions a year) mostly targeting the richest, and without new spendings, would be the conservative thing to do.

In an ideal world, yes. In a non-ideal world where we reside, the lawyers of richest ones will find loopholes, so the tax increase will be on backs of middle-class, as nearly always. Furthermore, before raising taxes, it would be prudent to (a) stop bombing half of the world, and (b) stop supporting medical-industrial fraud business. After that, if budget is not balanced, we can talk about tax raises...

I Swallowed a Red Pill says

To your credit, I did not know how much medicare fraud there was. So, you taught me something.

I always point out that once the government can fix Medicare and the VA, then they will have earned the trust to manage the healthcare system for the entire country.

Until then, the Bernie Bros and other Progressives need to STFU.

We simply do not have the best and brightest running our government (from either party) from the Feds down to the local level.

socal2 says

We simply do not have the best and brightest running our government (from either party)

they are bright enouh to create a system that lines pockets of a few select companies/individuals...

I was just wondering aloud to my friend as we avoided potholes and shitty roads how they have such nice conditions in Florida where 1. No state income tax, capital gains tax, estate tax. 2. Sales tax 6%

Meanwhile California has 9.25% sales tax, high gasoline tax (recently raised 2x) and income, capital gains and special real estate gains tax.

The answer is that if you build a bureaucracy, it will grow larger like the blob, sucking in money.

Bloomberg is nuts.