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from:msnbc.comWith governments scrambling to cover deficits here's some of their most outrageous new taxes
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Time to revolt.
Time to grow up and pay taxes to support the common good.
I'm okay with paying to support the "common good", but it seems to me the meaning of that has expanded tremendously over the past several decades! Time for the common good to tighten their belts and stop always looking to tax paying Americans to fund their every whim!
IsThis....did you read that off of a teleprompter?
Yes, this is a great country we live in, but it is going down the drain pretty damn quickly.
You fool, America was not started because we were "working to improve the common good". No, this country was started because England wanted to get rid of its rift-raft and because a group of Brits wanted to get out from under the control of the monarchy.
The American Revolution in the 1700s was to show that the English monarchy couldn't just demand we pay taxes and allegiance to the crown.
If you are so damn fired up about taking care of everybody, even those who don't want to work hard and earn a place at the table, please, invite them into your house and you take care of them. As for me and mine, we will work hard and earn everything damn thing we want and deserve.
People like you really make me sick.
Time to grow up ? Nope. Time to stop paying for all the waste in government . From the white house down to the state.
anyone who believes we can expand the size of govt nearly indefinitely needs to grow up, and do the math.
"waste in government"... Trouble is, "waste" has different defininitions to different people. I doubt very many receiving a check from the government, would consider it waste.
But let's back up for a minute; to those whining about "them, spending, our money", do they see any need for government responsibilities at all? If so, might it require money from the governed? And if that's the case, doesn't capital gains money, inheritance, Social Security benefits, and all other income spend just as nicely as an hourly wage?
i am not against govt programs when they provide a vital service ---- what i am against is the high administrative costs related to operating these programs, some of which are redundant.
Tired...Back to Faux news with you!
And I suppose it's the View for you
time to revolt!that's what the hell i've been sayingnfor the last 10 yrs.
you have one problem in this country. don't hold your breath. the citizens of this country, are too dummied down too do anything. that's exactly where the government has them.
when they get the Balls to think for themselves then maybe just maybe there maybe a revolt.this country is in pitiful shape, and it's getting worse.
Lete do a Day of Rage. Obama is muslim, right? :)) <sarcasm>
@Z00CREW
The American Revolution was because the British wanted to tax the colonies without giving them any representation in Parliment, and the Brits (in response to the Boston Tea Party) decided that instead of giving us the representation, would charge in and subdue us by force. It is in response to that action that we decided to declare independence from the Crown, and the war began. It wasn't about "taxes and allegience to the crown", but about "being represented in the goverment that you taxes pay to support".
Amen! You can see all the think tanks, people trying to save their jobs in government, by conjuring up some new tax on whatsoever they can think up. Americans should be the ones in the streets shouting. And to think we keep on sending billions of our tax dollars to countries who refer to us as the great Satan!
The American people continue to lie down and take it. One day it will be us with our fists raised.
We're already revolting; now's the time to rebel. Fifty bucks to report a death, or you can't bury the stiff? No problems, have it dropped off at their office. We need a 'stupid legislation' tax.
Gloria
After the revolt then what?
The Government is like a teenager with a credit card that has no limit, and he has no intention of paying the bill anyway. We the people need to take the credit card away.
One expample of wasting money is the 1.4 billion we sent to Mexico to fight the drug war, money well spent?
RevLucifer:
Liked your post! Glad to see I'm not the only one here that studied and remembers history!!
Good Job!
TCG-L
Please tell us, what is the "common good" and how you justify paying more taxes for this common good?
Steve, then what?go back to the beginning to what the United States once was.learn from lessons of the past and this time do it right.
not to worry Steve, like i said it takes guts.
this country is in the toilet whether people want to face it or not. tax or no tax, too little too late.we spent a until the cows came home and now it's time to pay the piper.
The worst thing is that we elected these idiots
We didn't have a very encouraging lot to choose from.
Plus 1 for what Amanda has said.
In so many posts here and on other sites "private" sector folks seem fixated on the theory that those who work for the "public" sector are ALL over paid and underworked and produce nothing. They just continue to spew the mindless party line. How about this - 26 plus years active duty military - I help produce the freedom you have to sit there and complain.
cold ---- kudos for your service ---- i think most people are against administrative costs moreso than those such as yourself, who actually provide a vital service.
I didnt see "none of the above" on the last ballot.
Commonsensedude
The worst thing is that we elected these idiots.
No, the worst thing is we re-elected these idiots.
bs detector
Yes, the "none of the above" option was there.
What you do is to vote against all incumbants unless you have a strong reason to vote for specific ones based on your personal observation that the things they support and do and say make sense.
If both parties have incumbants you vote for the Libertarian. If there is no Libertaian and both of the others are incumbants you reluctantly vote for the Republican incumbant.
When either party calls asking for your money or support for a candidate other that one you have specifically identified as having your support basid on common sense policies and bahavior you turn them down and explain you always vote and what your voteing policy is.
That is how to "revolt".
Charles... that's pretty much what happened in November 2010! Independents, Libertarians (Like Me) and others did just that.
You logic and observations are spot on.
Buckle up for round (2) in 2012! Gonna be a hell of a show!
TCG-L
ColdSteel,
Freedom is not produced, it's protected. So, again what does the government produce?
No way, when faced with this choice, write your own name in the ballot, and vote for yourself. the worst the a voter can ever do is vote for a Republican. The second worst thing a voter can do is vote for a Democrat. (Admittedly, the Democrats are only a marginal fraction better than Republicans.
Honestly if Republicans would get away from the Jesus Freaks, and stop trying to take away our freedoms in the name of Jesus or corporate profit, they would be the perfect Party.
Can we have a party that supports Conservative spending, and Liberal Freedom? Please?
As a smoker it makes me happy to see others having sand pounded up their butt.
I've never smoked, but always vote against increased taxes on smokers. It seems strongly immoral to vote for someone else to pay for things for which I am unwilling to pay. I wish more people would take this view.
smokers are the govt's best chance of keeping social security solvent for the rest of us. Keep puffing smokers.
As an asthmatic who has had to suffer the inconsideracies of many smokers, I hope the tax on cigarettes triples in the next year or two.
.
I know we need a tax on inhalers, it would serve those self centered asthmatics that think they should tell everyone else what to do right. After all it isn't my fault they were born genetically deficient.
Cigarette taxes are an just another example of bad governance. We want people to quit smoking, but then fund needed programs with those funds. So tell me what happens to those programs and budget projections that have failed to take into account you have created a diminishing tax base?
As a non-asthmatic who has suffered the inconsideracies of Asthmatics who think they have the right to impinge upon other people's freedoms, I can only hope that someone comes along and limits their freedom for a change.
I can't wait to see flush-o-meters installed on toilets.......
close ---- we already have some pay-toilets.
on every toilet in the US, (home, work, national forest outhouse, etc.)..... you could think of it as a "home" toll booth!
well ---- that's a @!$%#ty deal, if i ever heard one !!!
and they're crapping govt toilets now so you have to flush twice to get them to work. Just drives up the flush tax. ;)
Europe has had them in most of their public places for years. And you're right, bs, you do have to flush them twice!
bs detector
Of course you have to flush twice, its a long way to Washington.
Wait, we're complaining about little 10 cent taxes on things like cards? And sales taxes on haunted house tours? Really? Is this going to break your household's haunted house budget? Are you going to think to yourself, "Crud! I wanted to play cards, but that deck there is exactly ten cents too much!"
The hard truth is that more tax revenue needs to be raised. Unnecessary tax cuts over the past three decades have left our nation unable to fulfill it's obligations. Even if conservatives accomplish all of the budget cutting that they desire, there will still be a massive debt at all levels of the government for a long time. Heck, even if they slash the budget and raise taxes, there will be a deficit. It's not going away, and I can't fathom why so many Americans have decided that it's the most important issue now. I don't recall Tea Party protests of the budget during the big spending eras of Reagan, Bush, and Bush Jr. What invisible deficit line did we cross?
We used to believe that paying our taxes was a patriotic duty. You know, like voting and complaining about politicians. We also didn't always look at the government as some evil foreign entity. The government is made up of people. Americans. Law enforcement, market regulation, defense, and the general welfare of American citizens; this is why governments exist. When allowed to function properly (without undue corporate or foreign influence), a government adds stability and infrastructure to a society. And all governments in all countries throughout time need money to function. This is not a new or scary idea.
I'm sure they'd take your extra tax "donations"
Yes, most of the above taxes are ridiculous and affect few. However, I find the death tax most disturbing. That's just rotten in my book. And sin taxes. Smokers have been taking it under the chin for years. I quit and boy, am I glad, but it doesn't mean that it's right to target a specific vice time and time again. What about porn shops, strip clubs, head shops, alcohol, and other things deemed "sinful"? Wisconsin's former Gov. Doyle apparantly felt that downloading music was a sinful act, and taxed Itunes 30 cents per song! WTF? Point is, where will it end?
I believe that an entire revolution was fought, partially because of a tax on Tea?!?
See that is where I differ from you.. I do no think more tax revenue needs to be raised, I think that the gvmnt needs to learn to spend what it collects.
OR They need to cut spending.
The problem with all these taxes is they are all hidden so you don't notice them. Really what if it was all laid out to show you just how much money you were paying in taxes? There would be an outrage over it.
The tax codes in all levels of government need to be overhauled. Hell just closing tax loopholes would have a significant impact on what the budget looks like. And why are the loopholes even allowed to exist in the first place. Isn't a loophole by its very definition, a legal way to get around the law that was not intended?
These are things that we should be holding our elected officials feet to the fire for. But instead they create more new taxes. This is where the Tea Party fails, cutting spending is good but it isn't enough don't want to raise taxes that is fine close the loopholes. And when people whine and complain about it tell them flat out that no you didn't raise taxes you simply ensured that they were paying what they were supposed to be paying.
Jake... you brought up a lot of issues. It's good that we all can have a discourse on this issue without being just snipers as is usually the case, but here are some realities for you to think about that you may not have considered.
"10 cent taxes on things like cards" Doesn't sound like much, but multiply that number by millions and do the math... it's substantial.
"sales taxes on haunted house tours" It's a ridiculous attempt to generate tax revenue on a small sliver of the populous, granted... but adds to the pot. Sounds like a baby version of taxing Soda Pop because of the masses that drink it and will not stop over a silly little tax... right?
"complaining about little 10 cent taxes on things like cards" Another so-called Sin Tax for the sake of generating tax revenue on a small minority , again!
"The hard truth is that more tax revenue needs to be raised." Are you blind... or just not cognizant to the reality that adding outgoing and unwarranted expenditures (requiring more tax revenue) DOES NOT justify these so-called inconsequential taxes? I say... absolutely not! Pork is Pork at any level!
"We used to believe that paying our taxes was a patriotic duty" Most of us US citizens still believe in that principle, but are sick and tired of excess Taxation Without Representation to fund pet projects of government officials who can't add 2+2! That, my friend is where we are today, again!
Our economy is in a major mess because of politician's pet projects, massive giveaways, nonsensical earmarks, horrendous government waste, billions of dollars funneled to questionable allies and enemies alike, foreign debt such as to China in the Trillions of dollars, graft in entitlement programs (sorry to say), the Fed overextending their reach and authority in business where 'revenue' is created, the Fed spending Billions to prop up corrupt entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack who imposed stupid relaxations to real estate laws and controls on the financiers in that arena, bank bailouts, Wall Street Firm bailouts and forced mergers and bankruptcies under Federal Control, the Federal Stimulus bills, Cash for Clunkers, Food Subsidies to huge food distributors driving small business owners out of business and thereby creating monopolies, raising prices as demands increases... not decrease, Energy Subsidies for unsustainable technologies while killing our domestic ability to provide fuels within our own borders, etc. etc. etc.!!!
With all that on the table... it's a wonder we are not worse off (debt wise) then we are.
No, Sir, We do not need to continue down the path of financial ruin of this country, we MUST stop the unbelievable spending binge we are still on in Washington... cut out everything that is not vital to US needs (not pet wants), shut down massive government programs that are not essential managing this countries' needs, disband Federal and State Departments that are unneeded or duplicated elsewhere and eliminate staffing and facilities as well!
Sorry for the long winded response, but it's time to stop spending and adding stupid taxes just to justify its' existence.
I could expand on this for many more paragraphs... enough said.
TCG-L
I saw a proposal that ALL taxes except taxes on the individual be eliminated. When the individual tax rate was increased to cover the lost taxes from other sources people could see just how much they truely paid in taxes for so many are hidden taxes.
I just hope these guys and gals stop giving themselves raises because lots of us are getting no extra dollars.
Federal politicians shouldn't need to make anymore more money than the standard deduction on the 1040.
The biggest deficit we have in this country is the big, gray, foggy space between the wealthy, (especially those who use loopholes and writeoffs and other non-cash or soft dollar deductions to avoid paying tax on thier true incomes), the big, gray, foggy space between the wealthy, Corporate America and Political America and the poor or poverty stricken. This space was formerly known as the middle class, soon to be known as the servant class.
That big gray, foggy space is called "hard work" My husband and I are in the class that Obama keeps referring to as millionaires. Together we bring home just over $250000 a year. Apparently we driving around Bentleys and spending our weekend on Yachts (at least that is the argument the Dems use to in their class warfare to try and raise our taxes). The truth is between the two of us we have 17yrs of post high school education. Now we are drowning in student loans that we can't even use as an income tax deduction. That is hard work and we do not owe any one anything extra for that. People in this country need to understand their rights end where someone else's rights begin. How is anything someone's right if they take money "I' worked for to get it? I am very patriotic and I believe in paying taxes but if paying taxes is patriotic then I would say that the 10% of our population that pays around 70% of our federal income taxes are very patriotic and we should send them a thank you card and quit villainizing them.
Well, if it costs money to die...I'm not doing it.
That could be frieghtening for the rest of us, but i like the spirit of rebellion. I"m just going to refuse to pay after i'm gone. Come and get it!
Don't be such a cheapskate Mal
how does that work for homeless people, who have no assets to tax when they die ??
In NJ there is a $3000.00 tax when you have a home and move to another state. A relative died and his estate was taxed when he moved to a veteran's cemetary in NJ.
Fair tax or at least flat tax! Demand it! Government wastes billions in tax preparation. The rich, along with almost everyone have their little tricks (loopholes), bogus deductions reported, and the IRS spends millions while the little guy spends thousands in litigation when audited. It's one big cottage industry that wastes money and time. CPA's, accountants, lawyers, you name it. They produce nothing.
The national debt if priority number #1. #2 should be the complete restructuring of our tax system. But what does our government waste their time on? Real important issues like gay rights, abortion, the right for unions members to get free viagra.... jeezus! What are we paying our so-called representatives for?
And secretaries, preachers, firefighters, what do they produce? Is your measure of worth whether or not someone knows how to shape clay? Maybe you should learn what people actually do before you start calling them useless.
Plus 1 for what Amanda has said.
In so many posts here and on other sites "private" sector folks seem fixated on the theory that those who work for the "public" sector are ALL over paid and underworked and produce nothing. They just continue to spew the mindless party line. How about this - 26 plus years active duty military - I help produce the freedom you have to sit there and complain.
Plus 1 for what Amanda has said.
In so many posts here and on other sites "private" sector folks seem fixated on the theory that those who work for the "public" sector are ALL over paid and underworked and produce nothing. They just continue to spew the mindless party line. How about this - 26 plus years active duty military - I help produce the freedom you have to sit there and complain.
wow ---- deja vu.
Amanda and Cold,
I think you missed the Big Beevs point. There would be no reason to have people doing a whole bunch of paperwork if the tax code was simplified. In other words it would be more efficient for a society to have a flat tax without any write-offs.
The tax code is as it is so the politicians can use it to reward their friends and punish their enemies.
Unless you served in the American Revolution you did not produce the freedoms we enjoy. That said I do thank you for helping defend them.
Maybe it's time for us to do what Egypt just did. We did it 200 years ago, why not again? These idiots are taxing us to death and are completely out of control. Read your history and you'll see the resemblance. Time to revolt!!
a little revolution now and then is a good thing.
We should borrow and spend a lot more of China's money first. Then when we restructure we'll claim to be a new nation that has no debt. In fact this the platform on which I will run for president. Vote for Common Sense and Reasonable Discourse in 2016!
A large number of the idiots were voted out last year, time to take out the rest and let those who remain that they work for us and not the other way.
Yeah because I always wanted a polluted environment, more tax breaks for the wealthy, to force my religious views on everyone else, force women to have babies they can't afford and then tell them to go starve in the streets and work for $3/hour.
That just sounds like the perfect Utopia to me where do I sign on for that? Oh I am sorry I forgot all you have to do is look for the guy with (R) next to his name.
They should past an 10% tax on all political jobs.
Hahaha that's an Excellent idea! Too bad, unlike we're led to believe, We, the People, don't get to make any rules.
I like the idea! I'll vote for it!
Who's going to pay it? Its not their money anyway, its ours.
That idea is a lot like the Government taxing unemployment checks. I thought it was a joke until my friend got laid off...they seriously tax the tax dollars that they are handing out. It really should be item #1 on the article's list.
Well, I am not going to be buried when I pass from this world. For all I give a sh!t, my family could toss by body out to the birds to let them enjoy a nice fresh meal. Oh wait, I am going to be cremated and my burial is free with due to me being a veteran of the armed forces.
Okay, so, what ever happened to the phrase, "taxation without representation"?? Isn't this one of the reasons for the American Revolution in 1776?? We wanted to get away from a monarchy that was taxing us to death without any recourse. Same thing is happening now, but we are stupid sheeple who are afraid to stand up for our rights!!
Of course, when we stood up in 2010, we were told that we were being led around by "teabaggers" and that we didn't really know what we were doing. That is the difference between the United States of America and every other country...We use the power of our vote to make changes. But who the f(_)k are we really putting into office and what kind of damage can they do before we are actually able to get them out of office.
Prime evidence of this last statement...point blank, stare at the White House and the present administration. We are so f(_)king deep in the hole that my great great grandkids (don't have any grandkids at the moment) will be reeling from this damn deficit and deficit spending. WHEN THE HELL DOES IT STOP??
ZOO
Im with you, I think I'll have them crate me up and fed ex me to the Whitehouse.
Well, only if Obama is still the Premier will I do that. Let him pay for me to be dead.
Isn't he the one that said, "elect me and you will not have to worry about paying for necessities because everybody will be working" ??
Crazy shizell going on here!!
Boycott everything which keeps getting this outrageous tax exceptions. Then companies lose money or shut down, people lose jobs, etc. Then the gov't can be more responsible for the economy. Oh, and I'm really getting tired of taxes aimed at the corporations. Obviously the intent is to NOT make us, the consumer, the target of paying more; the responsibility is aimed on the corps. But then the corps get away with jacking up prices (usually more than just the tax amount, so they instantly make more profit... thanks, gov't...), and so we end up taking their "punishment". It's nothing more than a form of retaliation (which, by the way, is illegal).
No, it is called passing on costs and it is the governments way of raising taxes on the individual without actualy doing it directly. The government knows companies will pass the increase in taxes on to the individual as a cost of business. They also know most individuals are to ignorant to realize a tax on a business is actualy a tax on the individual consumer of the product and/or service provided by that company.
One more way to help with spending. Have the politicians dip into their Social Security, Medicare and Federal retirement taxes. We all know that they have their own fund where their deductions go. They are guaranteed to have that money when they retire. They sure love to misappropriate the taxpayers Social Security, etc. Why not misappropriate some the their retirement.
Why is the American public a lump on a log? Why do we stand for this? They revolted in egypt! This is BS......if I over spend.....I loose everything at some point.....If the Federal and Local governments overspend...they just raise taxes and don't even car if it effects you.......some might even loose their houses due to less money by taxes! Stand up America!
Funny how the government is the one always jacking up the national debt, but we are the ones who have to continually pay more and more, to "fix" it. -- which never happens btw; it just keeps getting worse. So in my opinion, it's all just yet another excuse used to steal more money from us.
Do our political leaders check their brains at the door before they enter the legislature for work everymorning?
These men and women are supposed to be working for the American people not the other way around.
Debbie
Lets face it, they were crooked long before they got to the level of being elected to national office, it started when they ran for city council and just got worse. If they werent crooked they would already have been beaten by somebody who was.
What happened to the land "free"....It's now more like the land of the "fee".
You obviously live indoors.
These taxes are necessary in this time unfortunately. We have to keep the government running and certain progams running. We have to fund the police, fire stations, education, etc...
The real problem is that there are a lot of tax loopholes for businesses that takes revenue away from the government. If you are middle class and these taxes bother you so much, vote in a state income tax on the top earners or vote in a bill that closes tax loopholes.
For instance, in WA state there was a state income bill up for vote. If passed it would have closed the biannual budget gap. It didn't pass. It only affected the top 1% of the state and then it wasn't all that much and only money earned above a very high amount.
When we shutdown the govt, the "critical" jobs will keep going and the rest go home. If they're not critical, they shouldnt come back.
Taxes are always necessary in order to have a Government. I think the running joke in the article is that our Politicians don't see it fit to simply tax our incomes, but insist on creating silly taxes to nickle and dime us to death....and then tax us for that too
Washington state already pays more than 10 cents on every dollare they spend. Why should they pay an income tax? They already pay that to the feds. Good grief!
Because the income tax is a progressive tax and sales taxes are regressive. The income tax would have helped to alieviate that. How do you not know that?
Do you know anything about (I mean facts not opinions) the state income tax proposal for WA state?
Common Sense
I think if people actually added up all the taxes they pay, income, gas, telephone, sales, and on and on, they would march on Washington with 535 ropes.
How about a penalty tax on the obscenely excessive salaries of school district superintendents, university presidents, athletes and entertainers? How about taxing dividend income as ordinary income (which it is) instead of at 15% (as if it is was long-term capital gain)? How about taxing all retirement income in Illinois? There are so many obvious ideas out there to raise taxes that will affect only those who are able to pay.
The only fundemental reason for being taxed is not having a lobbyist.
How about the government quit spending money we don't have!
suntine............. that, unfortunately, will not happen because it is the only proposal that actualy makes sense.
Time to throw the governments tea into the harbor again...
Maybe we need a godd old-fashioned Egyptian protest nationwide?
Totally!
If they ever institute a Message Board Tax, we're all in trouble.
The death tax is the ultimate "kick in the crotch." It's absolutely in-human and shameful.
Of course, because it's "in-human and shameful" to pay the government for doing all the paperwork related to a person's death. I'm sure that if we "privitized" it, we wouldn't find a company that would do all that work for free. But, heaven forbid we increase taxes just a little somewhere else to cover that cost, instead. It makes sense to pay the government for the services they provide. You can't get something for nothing, as they say.