tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313509.post112352684075373958..comments2023-11-05T03:29:20.511-05:00Comments on Mr Furious: Politics: The Pen is Mightier Than the SlideruleMr Furioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03781439243585972721noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313509.post-1124146974975709872005-08-15T18:02:00.000-05:002005-08-15T18:02:00.000-05:00The flat tax is about several things:1) Simplicity...The flat tax is about several things:<BR/><BR/>1) Simplicity. Check<BR/>2) Fairness. Check<BR/>3) Total tax burden on society. NO. Total burden of BEING taxed on society, perhaps, but that falls under #1.<BR/>4) Transparency. This speaks in some ways to both #1 and #2.<BR/><BR/>Right or wrong, one of the reasons the "flat tax" is supported is that the current system is viewed as not prograssive (despite the graduated percentage rate), asht very wealthy simply "shelter" thir money somehow. Is that true? I'm not an expert, but some (stupid) rich people have publicly claimed so.<BR/><BR/>Part of the "flat tax" system would be that there are no "write-offs", "deductions" (other than a standard, cost-of-living type of deduction for everyone), or "tax credits". The reason the final rate is expected to be lower is that it is believed that many of "the rich" aren't really paying a whole lot now.<BR/><BR/>Simplicity itself would probably be enough for most people, though.<BR/><BR/>(The other thing that gets people's favor is sales tax only (no income tax), and for similar reasons, but that tends to be viewed as unfair to the poor, while also putting a drag on economic transactions (which are important for the economy).)<BR/><BR/>As to paying MORE taxes, well, if I had to pay $500 more taxes a year, but I didn't have to pay $600 to have my taxes done by somebody else, I'd jump at it. (Yes, those numbers are pulledd out of the air.)<BR/><BR/>All of that to say, your precious Mr. Kinsley seems to miss most of the point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com