Fair Tax

[11111]

The idea that we should get rid of all income tax and add it on to the sales tax. This way only those who were consuming would have to contribute money to government programs. I think it's a good idea.

A common argument against it is that it would only benefit the rich and hurt the poor because rich people tend to save. I don't understand why poor people can't save...in fact, isn't that already the best way to get more money?

[kaboomin]

how can you save money when you're job nets you 500 bi weekly, and all of that is going to SURVIVE.

poor people, lol.

[Shyft Trakia-Vorga VahtiDahl]

I have dealt with a lot of poor people who blow all of their extra money as soon as they get it. I have worked with people who spend money on big screen televisions and drugs before they worry about how much food they need for the week. Tons of poor people stay poor in this country because they suck at the money game.

[11111]

Yeah, 500 bi weekly is about what I get after tax and I could support myself just fine. I would still have a couple hundred a month left over to spend after I payed the bills that I owed, etc. And that's going to figure in Internet, cable, and cellphone bills, which are 3 things I could live without. I could also get rid of my car and forget about Insurance payments on that, public transit is good enough (even if everyone complains. The only problem is maybe how far you half to walk to the bus...just get some fucking exercise you fatasses). There are many ways for poor people to save their money, but most of the poor people are in the place that they are in because of poor money and time management.

It's really not hard at all to get a job either, but most poor people find it easier to mooch off of the welfare and unemployment systems. Oh yeah, and I make less enough a year to get Welfare and Food Stamps too, another way to save huge amounts of money. Plus, this is all figuring AFTER TAX, which is something I wouldn't have to worry about if it was all Sales. I could wait until I had enough money to buy things that I WANTED, and only use my money right away to buy things I NEEDED.

Simple.

[futurefed]

Oregon has no sales tax.

Pros: When I go to the store and see something that says $.99 I take out a dollar bill, hand it over, get my penny, and leave. I don't go $.99 + FUCKING STUPID TAX THAT I HATE BECAUSE IT MAKES ME DO MATH and then give them that.

Cons: When I go to Washington and buy shit, I am helping to pay their taxes. When the glorious people of Washington come to Oregon, they buy our shit and leave. Only Oregonians pay Oregon taxes.

[kaian]

Yet another reason why I want to move to Oregon. That and the schizophrenic homeless guys on the Max who eat Spaghetti-Os with Wonder bread and have rousing conversations with themselves. Those guys are awesome.

But that's another story.

Tax in general is annoying but I guess necessary with our system.

DO rich people tend to save? They're probably just as apt to spend all their money as poorer people, but end up with more money left to save because a big-screen TV takes out a smaller chunk of a rich person's paycheck than a poor person's. There should be plenty of poor people who can and do save their money for necessities.

It might not be that difficult to get a job, but even subsidized housing requires a proven certain income amount, good credit history, and all that fun legal stuff. It'd be hard for someone that bad off to get IN the money game in the first place.

[futurefed]

Aug 21, 2008 22:31:43 GMT -6 kaian said:

schizophrenic homeless guys on the Max who eat Spaghetti-Os with Wonder bread and have rousing conversations with themselves. Those guys are awesome.

I ride the Max multiple times every day to and from work, as well as school, as well as everywhere else downtown. Those men remind why I want to live.