Taxes

Mark · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1241

The Governor of California has submitted the latest proposed budget, and it contains even more examples of a kind of thinking I really have to wonder about. I call it “idity” taxes: taxes that take advantage of avidity, cupidity or stupidity. The state already derives a lot of revenue from gambling in the form of a state-run lottery and in taxes from a lot of Indian casinos. The Governor has pushed for even more casino deals, and now is proposing to use bonds against future lottery money to help balance the budget. When did our culture change from viewing gambling as something to discourage to viewing it as a major source of government revenue? It is especially disconcerting to see language describing gambling as a productive activity. ALL GAMBLING REVENUE COMES FROM TAKING AWAY THE MONEY OF THE LOSERS!
I would MUCH rather see our convoluted tax code replaced by a flat income tax (on people AND BUSINESSES) with NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXEMPTIONS and NO DEDUCTIONS than the current trend to rely on “idity” and also to increase fees all over the place.

KarenS · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 861 Location: Florida

A lot of Ron Paul supporters are quite enthusiastic for the flat tax. I would like to know more about it. It seems that new cars would be taxed whereas used cars wouldn't be. How would you tax a home purchase? Some purchases would be taxed several times so there would have to be some exemptions.

Since Amendment One was passed in Florida, the state in it's infinite wisdom(?) is now charging fees for services. If you pay off your car loan, you have to pay $7.00 to get the title if you want to hold it. In the past, it would be mailed to you for free once you paid off the loan. Not any more. Now you have to pay to get a copy. They claim it's for safety sake in case you lose it.