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Re:
Not true, Jay. There are the elderly, disabled and under-employed who paid little to no income tax, because they had little or nothing to live on. The working folks still had Social Security and Medicare taxes taken from their paychecks and nobody is exempt from sales tax on non-food purchases. So you are incorrect in saying they paid no taxes at all.
And then there is this to consider:
According to the Center On Budget and Policy Priorities the real reason why 47%-51% of Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2009 is,
The 51 percent figure is an anomaly that reflects the unique circumstances of 2009, when the recession greatly swelled the number of Americans with low incomes and when temporary tax cuts created by the 2009 Recovery Act — including the “Making Work Pay” tax credit and an exclusion from tax of the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits — were in effect. Together, these developments removed millions of Americans from the federal income tax rolls. Both of these temporary tax measures have since expired.
posted by
Raye09
on July 31, 2011 at 7:56 PM
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Re:
TAPS, I strongly urge anyone who is interested or has further questions/doubts about a post to check for themselves - easy to do with the internet. This isn't about patriotism; wishing we were in a different country. I feel we can learn from others and strengthen the soul of this nation. To me, that is love of country or anything - wanting the best. And seeking to find it. I am glad you have had all good experiences as a citizen but sadly that is not true for millions. And not because they haven't tried, haven't worked hard enough or sacrificed. Social responsibility, as Kabu so aptly describes it, is a sign of maturity and I believe, fullness of spirit.
Thank you for visiting.
posted by
Raye09
on July 31, 2011 at 7:41 PM
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I'm not sure about all that stuff, but even if I take your word for it that every bit of that stuff is true, I am still glad that I am an American and live in the US of A. I will try to do everything I can as a citizen to make it better. The USA has been good to me and I love being here.
posted by
TAPS.
on July 31, 2011 at 7:24 PM
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Of course over fifty percent of American's pay no tax at all.
posted by
UtahJay
on July 31, 2011 at 2:44 PM
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Re: Plus we have pensions and welfare for those unable to work
wow, better/worse for us than I thought!..weak smile..I agree it's not marxism; those who declare such are the voices of propaganda trying to scare us from thinking we could be better off with similar policies and programs here...
posted by
Raye09
on July 30, 2011 at 3:52 PM
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Re: Oh well we pay high taxes in Australia but we have real good health care
Kabu, taxes for the working classes here take a pretty big bite but a bigger bite would be tolerable for many here, I dare say a majority - if there were returns in the form of programs which help everyone. As it is, we are taxed and then trampled by the power of Greed.
posted by
Raye09
on July 30, 2011 at 3:49 PM
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Re:
Exactly right, FSI! Thank you.
posted by
Raye09
on July 30, 2011 at 3:44 PM
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Plus we have pensions and welfare for those unable to work
and retraining programmes and cheap housing if you can't afford your own.....nothing is perfect as I said. But Maxism no that is a joke.
posted by
Kabu
on July 30, 2011 at 3:38 PM
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Oh well we pay high taxes in Australia but we have real good health care
and we have real good roads and schools and University education that has flaws but is still affordable..and Childcare and nothing is perfect but it's a pretty freee place to live and one can still get ahead....
then Canada is pretty good to live as well, pretty much like Australia.
posted by
Kabu
on July 30, 2011 at 3:33 PM
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Our taxes sure are not going to the right causes, that is for certain.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on July 30, 2011 at 12:33 PM
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Re:
Dear Sam, I know your fears - default equals market and investment crashes which equals for myself: no major treatment for my lung disease. This post may be premature; trying to address the issues of taxation without representation and spending that ups the deficit but does so very little for the masses it is taking from..default, aftermath and beyond or not, eventually I think our country must have this type of conversation.
For now, all I can do is pray for my situation, people like you and my friends and neighbors who are fearful too, those who signed up and serve honorably in the military - I have no issues with well-intentioned troops, but with the powers-that-be who carelessly and selfishly send them in harm's way.
I feel the same about democracy and wonder about the beginnings - when you think of how badly Native Americans were treated and still are in some respects, it does give one pause...
And of course, slavery and rights for women and the working classes were absent. Seems most freedoms have had to be hard won by brave, un-rich and mostly un-famous folk.
posted by
Raye09
on July 30, 2011 at 10:44 AM
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It might not make a difference as to what is happening in this country if they cannot reach an agreement on the debt issue! There won't be any money to pay for anything and all I can see is a world-wide domino effect of downfall and I can see nothing stopping it if it gets to that point! Right now my son is in harm's way, whether inflated military or not is no concern for me at this point, and he may not get his pay check! And, then I may lose all the work I have done for the past 5 years in a flash on Wednesday if my SS check is put on hold. So, who knows how it will all play out! The major businesses and offshoots thereof are financially raping the American public, and although illegal it goes on and on. Regarding the loans, I tell everyone I know to do everything they can to avoid them because they are so difficult to pay off! The debt some students have is beyond frightening! I wish I could wrap my head around your question but I sit here and pray they will do the right thing in the next few days or those without much will have even less and for me any kind of government will be a moot for this one in the US will crumble and fall and all due to party lines! For it is not government for the people, by the people any more and I question if it has had that form even from its inception! Basically we get the shaft with out form of government! sam
posted by
sam444
on July 30, 2011 at 10:27 AM
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