tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post2039671291390228376..comments2024-03-10T23:44:30.359-05:00Comments on Racine Post: OP-ED: The 1 percent Social Security solutionDustin http://www.blogger.com/profile/10717778498642473701noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-43572243193158930112010-02-17T08:07:59.208-06:002010-02-17T08:07:59.208-06:00My government has me financially water boarding my...My government has me financially water boarding my own children a& grand children, and their weapon of monetary destruction (WMD)is social security - go to soon to be launched www.americaretoday.com for a real solutionACThttp://www.americaretoday.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-53209530684777589122010-02-16T16:09:51.697-06:002010-02-16T16:09:51.697-06:00Randy only likes hearing himself.Randy only likes hearing himself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-54316012858650720822010-02-15T10:53:42.831-06:002010-02-15T10:53:42.831-06:00Anon 9:07, be careful. Randy doesn't like hear...Anon 9:07, be careful. Randy doesn't like hearing the truth and will only berate you for espousing it. He's too much a champion of the poor to want them to try and better themselves and rise above their situation. If they did, he'd have no one to worship him and keep him on his pedestal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-63364803377936074732010-02-15T09:07:10.959-06:002010-02-15T09:07:10.959-06:00You know who doesn't pay their fair share in t...You know who doesn't pay their fair share in this country? The POOR.<br /><br />They consume more services, need more policing, occupy more prison cells, their ill-behaved children suck up teacher attention and school resources, they pay no net income tax (and in fact receive "refunds" when they pay little or no taxes) and they get far more back from Social Security than they every pay in.<br /><br />Now Randy wants us to provide more for them. Why should we pay more in Social Security taxes, when we will receive not one extra cent for it? So it can go to the parasitic class? Privatize Social Security - put what I pay in, earned by MY HARD WORK, in an account that I own, that my children can inherit if I don't live long enough to collect it. I'd much rather it go to them, than the parasitic class, for which Randy is a cheerleader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-62495935067530783892010-02-15T09:06:58.448-06:002010-02-15T09:06:58.448-06:00Chris - what have these low paid workers done to i...Chris - what have these low paid workers done to improve their situation. Are they working while going to school, e.g Parkside, Carthage or Gateway. Are they trying to learn a skill which would turn into a tradesmans position? There is federal, state, grant and loans available if needed. It is easy to take the poor me position or you can take charge of your life and do something about it. Randy is a socialist and wants to penalize those who have worked hard and achieved higher paying positions. They should not be penalized for achieving their goals. I don't want to give my SS to the government. Give it to me to invest, and I'll forego any benefits in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-49921122968652393412010-02-15T08:51:24.887-06:002010-02-15T08:51:24.887-06:00Mr. Brandt,
I have always respected your ethics an...Mr. Brandt,<br />I have always respected your ethics and morals. <br /><br />I also see that you are holding yourself up to chastisement from those whom benefit from a top down capitalism, a system where most wealth surges upward and some trickles down to the workers making $7-$10 /hr.; hardly enough to live on.<br /><br />I wonder what the 6 figure earners think that they would make in $$$ if they did not have a system provided for them that has workers scraping by on next to nothing and doing the millions of jobs in as close to a slave fashion as you can have.<br /><br />I guess the wealthier have it both ways; take the wealth AND have low wage workers do the work.<br /><br />chrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-83880464202570752472010-02-13T13:56:39.634-06:002010-02-13T13:56:39.634-06:00Yes, a lot could be learned from the masses. Mayb...Yes, a lot could be learned from the masses. Maybe the politians should start listening to their bosses (citizens). There are plenty of quality solutions out there.<br />Thanks all.<br />SDJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-44958390048940428322010-02-13T12:54:02.866-06:002010-02-13T12:54:02.866-06:00Thanks, everyone, for a stimulating discussion. So...Thanks, everyone, for a stimulating discussion. Some very good ideas aired here. I wish the politicians would listen, too.Randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788285200045165236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-34034967756912632492010-02-13T09:27:45.982-06:002010-02-13T09:27:45.982-06:00A hybrid solution would probably work quite well, ...A hybrid solution would probably work quite well, although I would tweak the income/tax ramp a little as needed by performance. We just need to get the people than run this country (a lot of tax lawyers) to agree. The only way to do this is to get the people to understand this and make the change at the ballot box.<br />The current system is an out of control debacle and needs to stop. The people that write the tax code don't even understand it.<br />We then, as others have suggested, separate SS from the rest of the government money machine. This needs to be returned to the separate entity it once was.<br />SDJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-80962509744744198462010-02-13T08:43:56.729-06:002010-02-13T08:43:56.729-06:00I think those advocating a flat tax and a consumpt...I think those advocating a flat tax and a consumption tax are both correct. Maybe we should have both. If everyone making below $25K per year were exempt from the flat tax, they would only pay the consumption tax. The others could pay on something similar to this:<br /><br />$26K to $35K pay a 10% flat rate and the consumption tax <br />$36K to $49K pay a 15% flat rate and the consumption tax<br />$50K to $74K pay a 20% flat rate and the consumption tax<br />$75K to $99K pay a 25% flat rate and the consumption tax<br />$100K to $149K pay a 30% flat rate and the consumption tax<br />$150K to $249K pay a 35% flat rate and the consumption tax<br />$250K and above pay a 40% flat rate and the consumption tax<br /><br />Also, each and every business should play a flat tax rate based on gross income. Net income wouldn’t work because there’d be too many ways to try and cheat.<br /><br />With a flat tax fairly distributed amongst earners and businesses, in conjunction with a flat 10% consumption tax, I think the government would have more money than they would need. There would be no deductions of any kind. People would have more money, the government would have more money and the economy would recover. Also, the consumption tax would insure that the government do as little as possible to impede business (reasonable regulation notwithstanding), thus causing the government to aid in maintaining a healthy business atmosphere, rather than tax it out of existence.<br /><br />But then, anything using common sense, like this, would be too far out of reach or our politician’s intellect and it would never be implemented.Grahamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-56825579448914691612010-02-12T20:26:17.052-06:002010-02-12T20:26:17.052-06:00Anon, 7:23.
Nixon proposed a value added tax. Cou...Anon, 7:23.<br /><br />Nixon proposed a value added tax. Could work. Did in Canada, where I believe it pays for health care. Basic necessities, food, medicine and the like, exempted. You'd still have to reform and simplify income tax or prices would get really high, I suspect. But Congress ought to stop dithering and Republicans have to begin talking about taxation again, something they appear loathe to do. They seem to forget that nationally, Social Security's the real "third rail" of politics, not fair taxation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-1437988101195818402010-02-12T19:23:15.205-06:002010-02-12T19:23:15.205-06:00Agree to that. This code we have now is ridiculou...Agree to that. This code we have now is ridiculous. Maybe we should trash the whole thing and go with a consumption based tax instead. This way we don't tax income and savings. Also, nobody can hide from paying taxes (they will buy stuff). It's not perfect but is much better that the current structure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-15326023643579489422010-02-12T16:49:15.445-06:002010-02-12T16:49:15.445-06:00Anon, 4:26.
Thought-provoking stats. Time to redo...Anon, 4:26.<br /><br />Thought-provoking stats. Time to redo and simplify the tax code again (as was done under Reagan), with three simple effective rates and no deductions. Everybody (except for the poor who need the earned-income tax credit to stay above the poverty line), pays their way, much as I've suggested with the Social Security tax.<br /><br />If we did it, it'd probably come in somewhere around 10, 15 and 25, with plenty more collected to pay down the deficit and boost the private economy at the same time.<br /><br />Only problem is, we keep junking up the tax code for special interests, and by special interests, I'm including all the folks who like their home mortgage deductions and employee-paid health care exemptions.<br /><br />Cut it all out, bring the rates down to where they're affordable, yet still support government expenditures.<br /><br />People will want a fair tax code. I suspect many if not most oppose taxes because they don't think they're fairly applied.<br /><br />There's lots of people on both sides of the issues who ought to agree with that.Randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788285200045165236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-71693352267171938082010-02-12T16:26:04.376-06:002010-02-12T16:26:04.376-06:00http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/206.htm...http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/206.html<br /><br />Conclusion <br />This year, a record 44 million tax returns – one-third of all returns filed – will have no income tax liability because of the available credits and deductions in the tax code. This is a 50 percent increase in the number of zero-tax filers in just four years. In addition to these zero-tax filers is 14 million individuals or households who do not earn enough to file a tax return. Overall, some 58 million taxable households are outside of the income tax system.<br /><br />These findings raise some serious questions about the future of the U.S. income tax system. Are any future tax cuts, or even tax reforms, possible when the lion’s share of the tax burden is increasingly borne by a shrinking pool of taxpayers who – at least on paper – appear to be "upper-income"? And will the expanding pool of non-payers demand even higher income taxes? These are questions lawmakers must begin to debate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-51558672819770560352010-02-12T11:37:48.081-06:002010-02-12T11:37:48.081-06:00"I find the problem in government is everythi..."I find the problem in government is everything is all or nothing in the parties with no middle ground."<br /><br />Amen to that.OrbsCorbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08195806840368262235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-60451610018681567682010-02-12T09:54:38.347-06:002010-02-12T09:54:38.347-06:00"You have the wrong assumptions of conservati..."You have the wrong assumptions of conservatives. Listen to conservatives not the distorted opinions."<br /><br />I personally consider myself an independent. I don't believe I have formed my opinion by listening to others "distorted opinions". Where I get it from is watching the corporate CEO taking the huge bonus while campaigning to keep down the minimum wage. Only seeing Democrats pushing for the aid of low income college students. If I only look at the surface of the conservative platform it looks great, but actions speak louder than words. I find the problem in government is everything is all or nothing in the parties with no middle ground. Most in the country aren't far right or far left. I like less government but some social programs are for the greater good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-5448208021928233132010-02-12T09:03:01.071-06:002010-02-12T09:03:01.071-06:00You have the wrong assumptions of conservatives. ...You have the wrong assumptions of conservatives. Listen to conservatives not the distorted opinions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-84297983075011432252010-02-12T09:00:46.440-06:002010-02-12T09:00:46.440-06:00Randolph, I think with a watchful eye on fraud and...Randolph, I think with a watchful eye on fraud and a full 1% additionally paid in by the over-106K earners, and by eliminating the benefits to those whose income supercede any benefit they may received, it is possible that it could be self-sustaining. Imagine the shot in the arm it would be if all the six-figure-earners, millionaires and billionaires paid in just 1% of their annual gross incomes. And then it would also be there for them, should they go belly up. It would also go a long way if every federal politician was on the same plan and we could do away with the 100% salary for life program that they currently get, even if they only serve one term.<br /><br />Anon 1:01, your observation is absolutely correct. The Republicans never should have initiated the 15% income tax on SS in the first place, and they should have prevented or overturned the 85% tax implemented by the Democrats during the Clinton administration. I saw a sign at the last TEA party that said, “We are tired of the Republicrats.” And they what they are. Both Republicans and Democrats have turned on the people and are running rampant with their tax and spend policies.<br /><br />Dan, maybe you should do a little historical research; the social security system was initiated as an retirement insurance program. It guaranteed a livable income to people once they retired, based on the amount they paid in. The only way to protect the Social Security Insurance Program is to pass laws that force the politicians to keep their hands off it!Grahamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-8817943921656926702010-02-12T07:56:14.530-06:002010-02-12T07:56:14.530-06:00"High income earners got to be that way, by s..."High income earners got to be that way, by sacrificing, accepting risk, and a strong work ethic. It wasn't randomly bestowed upon them."<br /><br />Anon 5:33 - The comment above could be applied to all economic classes of worker. Your argument has great merit because no matter if you make $300 or $3000 a week you still want to keep your money. There is no disputing that. Where there is dispute is the concept of "government handout". There are many paths to higher income. Some get there and some don't. But when you are successful, whether Christian or not you have a moral imperative to be your brothers and societies keeper. By economic success you are bound to either raise the success of the poor by improving educational opportunity or assist them in their need later in life. The conservative movement wants to underfund education and also take away the safety net of the poor. I don't believe this to be a self sustaining concept. It only further separates the haves and have nots. Selfishness and greed should never overcome the greatness of a community or a nation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-21288624507670595072010-02-12T07:35:47.848-06:002010-02-12T07:35:47.848-06:00"Still, to be perfectly and frankly selfish, ..."Still, to be perfectly and frankly selfish, I like the idea of all those young immigrants paying into Social Security to help support me."<br /><br />Most of them are paid under the table in cash - but they are paying into SS as a ruse to make everything look legal. Uh huh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-86379426007850164872010-02-11T22:38:51.173-06:002010-02-11T22:38:51.173-06:00dan,
Social Security is insurance. That's the...dan,<br /><br />Social Security is insurance. That's the whole point, and always has been, from its inception.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-18843460855955454682010-02-11T22:16:27.130-06:002010-02-11T22:16:27.130-06:00See this debate illustrates exactley why Ryan is r...See this debate illustrates exactley why Ryan is right. SS should be privatized, Too many individuals see SS as an insurance policy for retirement, why not treat it as an investment? Based on my experience investments grow, insurance premiums don't.dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-38210779669352927952010-02-11T17:33:44.741-06:002010-02-11T17:33:44.741-06:00Fascinating...
So, lets see...
High income earne...Fascinating...<br /><br />So, lets see...<br /><br />High income earners pay 37% in tax+... Low income earners pay 20%, and get most of it back on their taxes.<br /><br />High income earners, pay into medicare, and will never see a dime of it. Low income earners, pay little, and will pull out multiples of what they put in.<br /><br />High income earners, create jobs, businesses, and grow the economy. Low income earners, don't.<br /><br />High income earners got to be that way, by sacrificing, accepting risk, and a strong work ethic. It wasn't randomly bestowed upon them.<br /><br />High income earners are already paying much higher taxes as a portion of their income, and you want more? You want more government handouts?<br /><br />I don't expect to change anyone's mind. Much has been written on this. Its this train of though, that "Someone ought to take care of me and pay my way" that keeps folks from become the "high earners" that they have contempt for....<br /><br />Oh, well...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-85397758306281616832010-02-11T16:36:01.275-06:002010-02-11T16:36:01.275-06:00Dustin - delete 3:24's comment just to prove a...Dustin - delete 3:24's comment just to prove a point. See how he likes them deleted apples.<br /><br />This is your house. Respect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5583157134881112619.post-91335624694737616932010-02-11T16:27:15.782-06:002010-02-11T16:27:15.782-06:00Love the healthy debate guys.
SDJLove the healthy debate guys.<br /><br />SDJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com