Donald's Trump tax plan.

[50PoundHead]

I've always hated the expression that you have to "pay for a tax cut"

That implies that the money belongs to the government, not the individual of which it's being confiscated.

There is probably a more elegant way to say it, but that's the language that conservatives use more than liberals by contending that the economic growth that will supposedly result from a tax cut will produce more revenue than the current system does. That may be true for certain taxes at the margin of the system, but for the most part, tax cuts will require budget cuts to adjust for less revenue being collected or the deficit will grow.

I think we will see some pretty major tax reform in the next decade that will involve base-broadening and rate reduction. But people shouldn't kid themselves. The greatest beneficiaries of the current system are those in the middle class, as the current framework of deductions/credits have greater value as a percentage of income for them than those in higher income brackets. It's how income is calculated is where the wealthy benefit.

 

[goldfly]

bullsh*t

uh

ok

 

[sturg33]

There is probably a more elegant way to say it, but that's the language that conservatives use more than liberals by contending that the economic growth that will supposedly result from a tax cut will produce more revenue than the current system does. That may be true for certain taxes at the margin of the system, but for the most part, tax cuts will require budget cuts to adjust for less revenue being collected or the deficit will grow.

I think we will see some pretty major tax reform in the next decade that will involve base-broadening and rate reduction. But people shouldn't kid themselves. The greatest beneficiaries of the current system are those in the middle class, as the current framework of deductions/credits have greater value as a percentage of income for them than those in higher income brackets. It's how income is calculated is where the wealthy benefit.

I agree with you... but it's a constant expression that leads to people actually believing that you have to "pay for a tax cut"

The money is ours. We earned it. The government wants to confiscate it. It doesn't cost anyone for them to confiscate less.

I'm always a believer that money in my hands is better than money in a bureaucrat's hands... I can use it to save, buy a house, a car, go out to eat, etc... The government uses it to write more and more laws.

 

[57Brave]

or fill more and more potholes. Or to establish more and more Food and Drug standards. Then inspect. When you say "government" people generally cherry pick those areas they dislike then ignore essential functions. One man's essential function is another man's bureaucratic waste. In a nation of 300M that is an awful lot of scope. What good is Irrigation Standards in Nebraska to a Manhattenite? Too many variables for blanket one size fits all solutions

 

[sturg33]

or fill more and more potholes. Or to establish more and more Food and Drug standards. Then inspect. When you say "government" people generally cherry pick those areas they dislike then ignore essential functions. One man's essential function is another man's bureaucratic waste. In a nation of 300M that is an awful lot of scope. What good is Irrigation Standards in Nebraska to a Manhattenite? Too many variables for blanket one size fits all solutions

I can't remember the last time a federal government filled a pot hole for me. But perhaps I missed something.

 

[57Brave]

Pretty certain there is federal funds funneled for local road maintenance as a holdover from the New Deal.

My example was meant more figuratively than literally.

As in Alfonse D'Amato was nick-named "Senator Pot Hole "

 

[sturg33]

Pretty certain there is federal funds funneled for local road maintenance as a holdover from the New Deal.
My example was meant more figuratively than literally.

As in Alfonse D'Amato was nick-named "Senator Pot Hole "

I'm curious about the essential functions of the federal government... what do they provide that we could not live without or handle more locally, other than the military...

For the record, I'm not saying they don't... but am curious to see the magnitude of the list

 

[57Brave]

There was a picture in the mid 90's of Clinton and Gore standing next to stacks of volumes of out dated - useless government regulation/law/text. Granted it was a photo-op but I think every administrator and legislator agrees with you.

Palin during her 15 minutes snarkedly went on and on about scientists being funded to study fruit flies. "Fruit flies ..." she would say. On it's face and to those that don't understand I can see where politically she made/had a point.

An example we can all understand
As fast as technology is moving there is equipment and I would guess service people attached to the out dated tech that take up not only physical space but monetary and manpower wastes
Now, multiply that by 300M people and 50 states.
Of course there will be waste --

Who defines essential function ?