There’s a tax on that as well!

First off, thanks to Bill for taking up my mantle!

Tony, your second sentence above is the entire point of my argument. We absolutely do not have consistent rules to play by. The rules are either inconsistently applied (Elon Musk committing securities fraud on Twitter and nothing happens, Bezos committing tax evasion for years, zero people going to jail for the many felonies perpetrated in 2008, etc, etc.) or certain groups are able to capture the relevant government regulator or get laws and regulations changed to suit them at the expense of others. My support of a flat income tax is an effort to do exactly that - make it a clear and level playing field for everyone. But obviously, if the govt simply applied the same rules to everyone, we would be in a much better place. We have not lived in that world for a couple of decades now.

Heck, your own story about the person you flew with helps illustrate the need to simplify our laws and regulations. How much time and money do you think this person spent restructuring their life in order to minimize their tax burden? Every minute and every penny of that was wasted from a societal standpoint. That person could instead have invested that wasted time and money into their business which would have provided more utility to society.

One who studies theology (Biblical exegesis) will certainly gain an education and gain a clear and rational worldview.

Unfortunately, most of what passes for Biblical study is eisegetical. Not unlike the discussion for the last 10 pages...

I agree with your first statement and it coincides with mine. If someone is able to do X investment, succeed, and then get the rules changed to eliminate competition (or have the rules selectively applied to their competition), that would make them inconsistent is anathema to a market economy.

Also, no issues w/ beer. Jesus turned water into wine. That is proof that he loves us and wants us to be happy

Anyway, politicians have too much to lose by simplifying anything. The more little goodies they can give away means more campaign donations for them. It will take a pretty serious crisis and election of a new kind of politician to make any of these changes.

Until then we navigate as best we can, enjoy the things we've earned, and raise our kids to be there to pick up the pieces. I just returned "The Fourth Turning" to the library tonight so I am in a philosophical mood.....

Unfortunately, most of what passes for Biblical study is eisegetical. Not unlike the discussion for the last 10 pages...

I’ll bet it is more than “zero”.

That's an assertion, not an argument. Why? Cuz they're different. One is high risk, one is not. One makes jobs, one is the job that is made.

Hmm. Rates are the same for everyone with a sales tax. People that spend more get taxed more. I get that it hits lower incomes harder, but higher incomes pay more. So it a flat rate one way, regressive considered another way, and progressive considered still another way.

Violently agree that the middle class is getting hammered here. Rent takers are making out, and medicine is not exempt. I think that increasing capital gains would not help, but would take more money out of the system and flush it down the toilet and into the septic system that is our government. MAtter of fact, I am against ALL increased taxes of any sort for that reason, given that things are as they are at present.

Not an article of faith, a logical conclusion. All investors I know consider risk and benefit in tandem. Increasing taxes on gains has the effect of lowering benefit. That will reduce investment. No data in my pocket.

Not at all, perhaps I got frisky with my language. If you want to call it sophistry, go ahead and point out the flaws in my logic. I think that the lower cap gains taxes are, the more investment you'll see, and the more jobs and production you'll see.

My proposal for a realistic system of taxation would be a sales tax with an annual rebate reflecting average tax on a family in the bottom 15%. Or perhaps an income tax with a cap of $100,000 paid in.

A question I have is what is the nature of the middle class wage stagnation? Partly due to a much lower cost of doing business offshore/higher costs (regulation, liability, employment law, etc) domestically. Theft of intellectual property contributes, no small amount of which was committed by our good friends and allies the Chinese. What else? Taxing capital gains won't put any money in the working man's pocket, but it might take his job.[/quote]

Don
with all due respect lets not forget we call them LAWMAKERS!
we can make better laws.
Eric[/quote]


Humm

somethings definitely amiss. I did not write this POST. 2nd time this has happened. 1st time I thought it was a anomaly but ill need to now contact "The Jeff's" and change my password or whatever they suggest. I don't even know how to embed quotes within quotes..

very frustrating and scary like I've been robbed or something.

Eric

It's just a copy and paste mistake by the 'quoter', easy mistake. Has nothing to do with your account.

Its like another version of gun control debate, or vaccine mandates.

You both make observations that are truthful and accurate.

For me, I'll take my liberties completely unhindered. Dangerous though it may be.

Its like another version of gun control debate, or vaccine mandates.

You both make observations that are truthful and accurate.

For me, I'll take my liberties completely unhindered. Dangerous though it may be.

“Eisegetical”… and it’s back to the dictionary for me. BT and the WSJ do that to me on more occasions that I would like to confess.

Glad I wasn’t alone on that one.

There’s a tax on that as well!

Meanwhile airplane prices appear to be headed to the stratosphere. I hope we see an end to this soon.