Whats Fair When it Comes to Taxes?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I think the real question is the balance of having a closely knit society which values the free-market VS. the rising income/wealth disparity between the top and bottom of society(rising tide lifting boats unequally). At what point society so far apart in terms of socio-economic status that the society really isn't "one" anymore? Are taxes somewhat of an answer and if so, to what extend until we start moving towards big govt/socialism(sure some will say we are already there). If we are already there or we shouldn't try to correct this, what is it to be American? Are we all really equal with the same rights if life is a race and people starting in the "back" never will be able to catch up?

So I need to stay in a lower income bracket because my neighbors decide that they are OK making $35,000 a year? Why should I feel the need to hold myself back because others make the poor or wrong decisions? You also say people are stuck in the back and never catch up. Good thing not all people have this mind set or they would never make it in life. Its sad that people actually think that way because they then tell people on the bottom there is no hope for them only hurting them even more. I was told because I did not have a College Degree I could never get the job I have today. If I listened to those people then I'd be probably be stuck in a dead end job. How come the Chinese lady down the street could come here speaking no english and little to no money and now own three dry cleaners? The only dead end in America is the dead end that people allow to be put in or behind. Is it harder for some then others. Yes, see the chinese lady but if people have the will they can suceed.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by firstdown

So I need to stay in a lower income bracket because my neighbors decide that they are OK making $35,000 a year? Why should I feel the need to hold myself back because others make the poor or wrong decisions? You also say people are stuck in the back and never catch up. Good thing not all people have this mind set or they would never make it in life. Its sad that people actually think that way because they then tell people on the bottom there is no hope for them only hurting them even more. I was told because I did not have a College Degree I could never get the job I have today. If I listened to those people then I'd be probably be stuck in a dead end job. How come the Chinese lady down the street could come here speaking no english and little to no money and now own three dry cleaners? The only dead end in America is the dead end that people allow to be put in or behind. Is it harder for some then others. Yes, see the chinese lady but if people have the will they can suceed.

Your right. If people were told "you can't" or "never will" then they won't. You didn't listen to them good job. But what about the single mother with 5 kids who can't afford to pay for child care and work at McDonalds... the only place to would hire her? In VA when she goes to Social Services and asks for help or "assistance" they tell her she has a job or she makes too much money due to the job and they can't help her. So what does that mother do? She quits her job and then refiles and gets the full benifits for what they think a mother with 5 kids should get instead of simply supplementing what she was already making.

Our system of Gov. is bad from the top all the way down to the county level.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Your right. If people were told "you can't" or "never will" then they won't. You didn't listen to them good job. But what about the single mother with 5 kids who can't afford to pay for child care and work at McDonalds... the only place to would hire her? In VA when she goes to Social Services and asks for help or "assistance" they tell her she has a job or she makes too much money due to the job and they can't help her. So what does that mother do? She quits her job and then refiles and gets the full benifits for what they think a mother with 5 kids should get instead of simply supplementing what she was already making.

Our system of Gov. is bad from the top all the way down to the county level.

this is the one problem i was addressing in my orig post. when you actually look into all the programs a person is better off not working and collecting all the diff types of govt assistance than working a mcdonalds job or as a cashier at walmart.

a person is much much better off (and probably making the equivalent of 50-60k) if they claim unemployment, etc but work an under the table job. its a windfall really. pay close to nothing for housing, even if you stop paying rent the landlord has a tough time kicking you out b/c your sec 8, sell your food stamps at 50 cents to the dollar, free healthcare and dental for you and your whole family.

unless you make more than 50k why work a job you have to claim income on?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Your right. If people were told "you can't" or "never will" then they won't. You didn't listen to them good job. But what about the single mother with 5 kids who can't afford to pay for child care and work at McDonalds... the only place to would hire her? In VA when she goes to Social Services and asks for help or "assistance" they tell her she has a job or she makes too much money due to the job and they can't help her. So what does that mother do? She quits her job and then refiles and gets the full benifits for what they think a mother with 5 kids should get instead of simply supplementing what she was already making.

Our system of Gov. is bad from the top all the way down to the county level.

A women with 5 kids working at McDonalds gets plenty of assistance. That's not a good example but I get the point. At one time in this country the local churches and groups helped their own which made for a tighter community. Now the federal gov takes that role and uses it as an election tool driving a wedge in the community. When Bill Clinton and Newt reformed wellfair it forced mothers like that into programs that helped them obtain better jobs and off wellfair when they could care for themself. The program in VA was very successful and gave those mothers pride in providing for their families. That program has been distroyed over the years by both parties and its back to the wellfair programs of the 80s.