Taxes - Should the rich pay more?

Should people who make more money pay more in taxes?

Associated Content article on Obama vs. McCain tax policies.

Permalink Reply by Kara on October 27, 2008 at 12:15pm: N-O

period.; ▶ Reply to This

$rp {|} // .MrPresident___++$ Permalink Reply by rp {|} // .MrPresident___++ on October 27, 2008 at 1:04pm: Absolutely...
The rich are not losing any wealth any time soon. If you made all that money here you should accept the fact that you are in a far better spot than most and pay accordingly. The middle class has faded into obscurity because the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer - is poorer a word?

If I were making enough to fall into that bracket I wouldn't really care, maybe its just me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kara on October 27, 2008 at 1:11pm: what do you consider rich?

why should someone that has worked their ass off to make the money they make have to pay more than someone that maybe didn't have the same ambitions or drive? (I know its not always about that... so before you berate me... I know.)

Do you realize how much my dad pays in taxes? Its absurd and completely unfair. He didn't come from money. He worked his ass off to get where he is today and I don't think he should have to give the gov't more money than Larry the cable guy down the street. That's not equality if you ask me...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eugene on October 27, 2008 at 1:27pm: according to the article, if you make less than $111,645 than Obama gives you a bigger tax break than McCain. Once over $111,645, McCain gives you bigger tax breaks..; ▶ Reply to This

$rp {|} // .MrPresident___++$ Permalink Reply by rp {|} // .MrPresident___++ on October 27, 2008 at 1:32pm: Do you realize what my dad pays in taxes? My dad came to this country from Central America with nothing, he worked his ass off in school and at work as did my mom. They collectively make a couple mil a year. They are both grateful for the opportunities that life has given them and have no problem what's so ever paying more taxes. My collective household income has hovered around $150k for the last couple of years. No kids, don't own a home, I get hosed on my taxes, but you know what I pay and don't complain, because if I were anywhere else I might not have the same success that I have here...

Wanting to make money and actually making it are 2 totally different things. There is no argument there. People that DON'T have shouldn't have to pay the same as people that have it all.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sAm on October 27, 2008 at 4:35pm: I'm with Roro on this one. I think our family is in a very similar position as his, my parents came from Korea, worked their butts off and sacrificed a lot. They make a pretty good living and my dad has always been the first to say that the rich should pay more because they have more. He understands the inequalities among the different income groups in society, as growing up he was among the poorest of the poor. To him it's not just a matter of drive and ambition.
I think the core difference between Roro and myself versus your opinion is again the misconception that income levels are directly tied to a persons level of ambition. I recall an earlier statement "poor people will always exist because there will always be lazy people", and now the statment above that "why should someone that worked their ass off.....pay more than someone that maybe didn't have the same ambitions or drive?." If you truly believe that the more ambition you have directly relates to how much money you make then yes, I understand your position.
I'll be the first to tell you though, I know plenty of people that are very wealthy and don't share the ambition or drive that a "poor" person does. In some ways, for the poorest people, earning money isn't about ambition, it's about survival. If that's not the biggest motivator, I don't know what is.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kara on October 27, 2008 at 4:17pm: Damn liberal democrats...

:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tony on October 28, 2008 at 8:13am: This is a senseless debate. The federal government doesn't need more revenue, it has plenty (~$2 Trillion in Tax income/yr). We spend $500 Billion/yr on the department of defense, $700 Billion in Iraq and $200 Billion in Afganistan. If the feds could control their spending, we wouldn't be discussing tax rates like this.

So we shouldn't bicker over who gets taxed at what rate, but we should all be questioning what the government is doing with the money they're already getting. It's ludicrous for them to raise taxes when they can't even spend the money they have properly.

This is a dangerously divisive debate. We're setting up a class struggle to replace the race struggle that we've worked so hard to overcome. We don't need any more tension like this.; ▶ Reply to This

$rp {|} // .MrPresident___++$ Permalink Reply by rp {|} // .MrPresident___++ on October 28, 2008 at 10:53am: this is true... they can just print more money..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kara on October 28, 2008 at 12:32pm: problem solved.

"Barkeep! Round of beers for my friends here please!"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tony on October 28, 2008 at 7:15pm: The government actually does print money. The Fed increases the money supply by lowering the discount rate (giving cheap loans to banks) and by issuing treasuries. Any increase in the money supply leads to inflation which is effectively a tax on your savings and income.

Long story short: unless the government controls spending, we all lose money, either via taxes or via inflation.; ▶ Reply to This

$rp {|} // .MrPresident___++$ Permalink Reply by rp {|} // .MrPresident___++ on October 28, 2008 at 11:15pm: which is where we are now... borrowing and excessive spending.... the american way... has us in a heap 'o' sh!t; ▶ Reply to This