The Utah Senate race

[byu71]

Even USA Today reports that taxes are at their lowest since Truman was president. USA Today is not exactly a liberal news organization.

So you just take at face value everything you read.

Of course they are at the lowest, half the country doesn't pay income tax. Also, are they talking about tax rates. That is really such a phony argument. Back when the high marginal tax brackett was 70%, there were so many tax loopholes and breaks. You probably weren't around in the 80's when a bunch of the loopholes were closed.

Those who quote this article show me how naive and whacko the left is.

[SoonerCoug]

Then I guess you think I'm a right-wing whacko. Of course, I think you're a left-wing whacko if you don't think taxes are too high, so it balances out.

Look at the data. Taxes have been cut. Taxes are at their lowest in 60 years.

[il Padrino Ute]

Look at the data. Taxes have been cut. Taxes are at their lowest in 60 years.

I don't care. As far as I'm concerned, they haven't been cut enough.

[SoonerCoug]

So you just take at face value everything you read.

Of course they are at the lowest, half the country doesn't pay income tax.

So you think it is a bad thing to have 50% of Americans not paying income tax? I'm no economist, but doesn't that mean that they have money to spend so they can stimulate the economy?

[il Padrino Ute]

So you think it is a bad thing to have 50% of Americans not paying income tax? I'm no economist, but doesn't that mean that they have money to spend so they can stimulate the economy?

When I say that taxes are too high, I am speaking for myself. My taxes are too high. If taxes should be raised, they should be raised on the free loaders.

[byu71]

So you think it is a bad thing to have 50% of Americans not paying income tax? I'm no economist, but doesn't that mean that they have money to spend so they can stimulate the economy?

If I follow that line of thinking, then I would think raising taxes on anyone is the wrong approach. Decide which side of the fence you are on and we can have a discussion.

Well for a minute anyway, I am leaving to golf.

[SeattleUte]

If you want to know the source of right wing rage, think about this. Kagan is a woman, apparently a lesbian, from New York City (if Kagan is seated, 4 out of the 9 justices will be from NYC). She attended Princeton, Harvard, and has spent her entire adult life either in the ivory tower or democratic politics in Washington. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by a black president. If she is confirmed, all members of the court will be Harvard or Yale law graduates, and all will be Catholic or Jewish, no Protestants.

This explains what happened to Bennett in Utah. There's much right wing rage out there.

(Thanks to MikeWaters for the research that made this post possible.)

[SoonerCoug]

If I follow that line of thinking, then I would think raising taxes on anyone is the wrong approach. Decide which side of the fence you are on and we can have a discussion.

Well for a minute anyway, I am leaving to golf.

I'm for redistribution of wealth, etc. But if the economy is going to suffer for because of high taxes, then I prefer cutting taxes on the middle class. I like taxing rich people.

It's no coincidence that Cardiac is the most Republican person in our family. He earns the most. I know how this works. I think Cardiac ought to pay more taxes than I do, and I think the guy who did my laminate floor ought to pay less taxes than I do. I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm very happy with my floor, and he worked extremely hard. I work hard. Cardiac works hard. We all work hard. Cardiac should pay the most, and the guy who does laminate floors should pay the least. I think that's fair.

[LA Ute]

I'm for redistribution of wealth, etc. But if the economy is going to suffer for because of high taxes, then I prefer cutting taxes on the middle class. I like taxing rich people.

It's no coincidence that Cardiac is the most Republican person in our family. He earns the most. I know how this works. I think Cardiac ought to pay more taxes than I do, and I think the guy who did my laminate floor ought to pay less taxes than I do. I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm very happy with my floor, and he worked extremely hard. I work hard. Cardiac works hard. We all work hard. Cardiac should pay the most, and the guy who does laminate floors should pay the least. I think that's fair.

You have stated well the redistributionist position. Lots of people agree with you. Lots of others disagree with you. This is a hotly-debated issue that has been, and will be, with us forever. Calling the people who see the issue differently whackos is, well, whacko.

[SoonerCoug]

You have stated well the redistributionist position. Lots of people agree with you. Lots of others disagree with you. This is a hotly-debated issue that has been, and will be, with us forever. Calling the people who see the issue differently whackos is, well, whacko.

Hold it there turbo.

Whacko was in reference to people who think that taxes are high right now. Taxes are not high.

I don't think that people who disagree with my philosophy are whacko. I was talking about people who think taxes are high and who disregard the fact that taxes have actually been cut significantly in recent years.

[Moliere]

Hold it there turbo.

Whacko was in reference to people who think that taxes are high right now. Taxes are not high.

I don't think that people who disagree with my philosophy are whacko. I was talking about people who think taxes are high and who disregard the fact that taxes have actually been cut significantly in recent years.

Relative to what time period are taxes not too high? You are also not including payroll taxes and corporate income taxes, which are typically viewed as costs passed on to employees and consumers. I'm not disagreeing with you, but you are making an argument compared to selective American history in that taxes are much higher now than they were 100 years ago. No biggee, since BYU fans (including me) do this when discussing the BYU/Utah rivalry, which really started in the 70s.

For the record, I am definitely not for the redistribution of wealth as it is currently done through reimbursable tax credits, however I am for a progressive tax system that taxes the rich more than the poor.

[Moliere]

If you want to know the source of right wing rage, think about this. Kagan is a woman, apparently a lesbian, from New York City (if Kagan is seated, 4 out of the 9 justices will be from NYC). She attended Princeton, Harvard, and has spent her entire adult life either in the ivory tower or democratic politics in Washington. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by a black president. If she is confirmed, all members of the court will be Harvard or Yale law graduates, and all will be Catholic or Jewish, no Protestants.

This explains what happened to Bennett in Utah. There's much right wing rage out there.

(Thanks to MikeWaters for the research that made this post possible.)

The front page of the WSJ showed a picture of her playing softball. I thought that was a good picture as it showed her as a normal person who gets out and has fun in spite of her demanding workload and purported talent with the law. I guess the WSJ picture made some liberals mad since the liberals were trying to instigate that the WSJ was implying she was a lesbian. I guess only lesbians play softball.

Long story short, anything and everything will enrage anyone and everyone.

[Moliere]

For the record, I am definitely not for the redistribution of wealth as it is currently done through reimbursable tax credits, however I am for a progressive tax system that taxes the rich more than the poor.

Not to continue the thread jack but I have a slight correction. If I had my choice between only those two choices above, I'd prefer the latter.

My first choice of tax systems among all other choices would be a national sales tax. I think I've already posted about this but it could be set up to be non-discriminatory to the poor and middle class and would essential accomplish a quasi-progressive tax structure.

Oh, and one more thing. Taxes are obviously too low as evidenced by the fact we are running a trillion dollar deficit.

[il Padrino Ute]

Taxes are obviously too low as evidenced by the fact we are running a trillion dollar deficit.

Or are we running a trillion dollar deficit because we spend too much? Let's eliminate the majority of entitlements before we start raising taxes.

I'm with you on the national sales tax. There could be exemptions for necessity items such as food, shelter and clothing (as long as it isn't designer). There could also be an exemption for education. Everything else would be subjected to a consumer tax.

[Jacob]

Oh, and one more thing. Taxes are obviously too low as evidenced by the fact we are running a trillion dollar deficit.

In a related note, my salary is obviously too low as evidenced by the fact that I am running a $15,000 deficit.