Grandpa has complained about taxes a lot. In the thread about the war on terror he posts information about the % of total income taxes paid by varying income level groups. It appears he's upset that upper income people pay a disproportionately high share of the taxes.

Of course almost everyone complains about taxes, but Grandpa does it with more zeal than anyone else I almost know (sorry if I'm being too familiar, Gp), but almost no one does anything about it. Revenue is necessary to run every government. That means taxes. At least I don't know of another means. And the graduated income tax is the best, and closest to fairest (if there is such a thing) I know of.

Grandpa, here is my request: As the price of admission for all your complaining about taxes, I'm interested in your personal description of a U.S. tax code. How do you propose that the U.S. government raise the revenue to run the country, provide the public infrastructure, and pay for the programs that benefit the wealthy and the poor? And no, you don't get to delete the welfare programs you detest. We are a politically pluralist nation that provides social welfare to some of the poor and corporate welfare to some of the rich. That's a different exercise. Your mission here, should you choose to accept it is to develop a tax code to raise all the revenue the government requires.

It's not my intent to pick on you in any negative way. Actually, I'm really interested in your point of view.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I would be a fan of a flat tax with few deductions. That type of system would have to be applied to all including businesses and corporations without the class warfare bs. The plan would have a much lower tax rate for all.... There are many pros and cons like no incentives for investments or home ownership.Now I already know the objection that is rooted in the old rich vs poor...that would be that it isn't fair for people who "can afford it" to pay the same as those who can't afford it.

If I make a million dollars from my own hard work and pay 10% that is $100,000. If you chose to work for the government and earn an honest living of say $50,000, you pay $5,000.

I don't like excess welfare and am not against all help for people in need. I am against cell phones for the "homeless" and voice mail accounts for the "homeless". I am against lifetime welfare.

Right now alot of the folks who make the least pay no taxes. They are the ones that Democrats complain about in terms of being left out of the tax reduction legislation...They want a tax cut and don't pay taxes in the first place.

And finally I posted the tax info because I get sick of the carping about how the rich get all the breaks, when the facts bear out that they pay most of the taxes. OK by many but those folks may be the ones who are looking for a sugar daddy in government. I prefer to make it on my own.

Wow, wouldn't it be nice to only pay $5K in tax?!! It's interesting, I used to be more in favor of a flat tax with few deductions. Weird, cuz I make a lot more now, but I don't have strong feelings against the graduated tax scale. Can't really explain why I'd find that somehow fairer than a flat rate tax. Guess I've mellowed, and accepted that our tax code is a classic victim of plural politics, full of credits, deductions, loopholes nearly without end. Fair or not, it looks like a lot of Americans are getting richer and richer, and taxes don't seem to be having the most deliterious effect.

Thanks for responding Grandpa. You're a good sport.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I don't have huge heartburn with the tax system other than having to pay so much.