Tax Day

Very good!

Not sure who you are referring to here, but the evening news discussed some pretty well-known Californians who owe a whole lot of taxes. This entire tea party idea was apparently conjured up to get the Loyal Republicans to donate their hard-earned money to overthrow Obama under the guise of grass roots efforts to decrease taxes.

To me, that's even worse than tax-evasion. You can throw the tax-evaders in jail. How do you stop propaganda?

so true.

If it's so patriotic to pay taxes, why do we have 40% of Americans not paying any? At our Cincinnati Tea Party last month, it was suggested that every American should be proud enough to pay at least $100 in income taxes. They should want to do that. Others in poorer countries would love to live here in and would gladly pay $100 per year to do just that.

But here, we have people who think that it's perfetly fine that they get 2, 3, 4 times what they put in a refund. We would not have to unfairly raise the percentage that the so-called rich already pay if each American paid at least something.

I'm glad liberals agree that it would be everyone's patriotic duty to pay some taxes. That's a great start.

I have never had to pay any taxes, always get a refund, usually about $26, this year it is $326, so I don't know the fuss, a bunch of rich people who want to make all the money and not pay taxes doesn't matter to me!
Good points Ann.

I could not have stated it any better, great job

We pay taxes on almost everything we purchase and we're also taxed on our income. It's the American way.

Uh, Georgiana I think the $26 or $326 is what you "overpaid" because I'm sure you contributed a lot more than this to good ole Uncle Sam.

Good article, but it will be lost on those who delude themselves into thinking they don't benefit from the the taxes they pay,.

Marilyn, I'm sure there are many non-tax payers who would love to have $100 to send to Uncle Sam. People who don't pay an income tax are people with no income or insufficient income, aka living below the poverty line. They do not do this intentionally. Most people do not rip off the government as in intimated in many of Gather comments. Poverty in this country is very real. We who pay taxes are fortunate in that we have an income large enough to be able to pay.

I have no problem paying my share of the taxes that the government sees fit to charge me. It's what helps keep our country running. Peace

I have never had a problem with the taxes that come out of my income. The truth is I pay more in cigarette or alcohol tax per year than I ever could through income tax. I think icome tax is fair because they apply to just about everyone.

THANKS FOR SHARING

Marilyn is a phoney, she is on government income and has not paid taxes for decades.
Her anti Obama Right Wing screeds are just a persona she has taken for point gathering.

PRAISE GOD!!!!!, THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!!!!

The more money I pay in the more money I made,

Thank you ,for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



"Other people's opinion of you does not have to become your reality.

We do need a taxing system that is more reasonable. All the various catagories, and deductions are way over the top, in many ways.

Personal income taxes should be done away with. It's what you feed shelter, and clothe yourself with. I think the Libertarians ideas are superior on the subject of taxes.

Great article. I am happy to pay in, but happier that I get a refund. :) I know that the interest the government earns off the money they withhold from my paycheck does some good. I wish I made more money, if I did, I would be even prouder to contribute!

I didn't have to pay anything cause we didn't make enough for State but we got a refund from Federal

Well said, Ann.

I also insist they turn in the library cards. Public Libraries - the most dangerous socialized institutions in existence!

Truer words were never written. Well said, Ann. Bravo.

Amen, Ann.

I believe that A Tax on the People = Attacks on the People. I furthermore believe that taxation is obsolete and so is our monetary system. I believe these things as strongly as you believe what you do.

In my humble opinion, taxation is not patriotic, it is oppressive and breeds resentment. There is a better way for those with enough courage to admit that THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK.

I love my country and its strong, courageous and resilient people: but I do not love that my country treats veterans like bums and demands money from working Joes to pay for porky projects that should be funded by some private foundation instead. I do not love that the money that should go to schools and road maintenance gets sidetracked into politicians' pockets to pay for their jet-setting while they complain about OUR carbon footprint.

Contrary to popular belief, the government is not a giant piggy bank.

No wonder they call it pork.

Kind of harsh but I agree.

Lydia, I clicked on the high-lighted objects in your above comment but don't have time to read volumes of words. What is the author getting at? What is the "better way?" Who is going to pay for all the things we need if not taxes? I agree that the pet projects in government, called "pork", adds to the burden and should be eliminated, but what of the necessities?

Very good rant, Ann.
Lydia didn't give and solutions, just griping the talking points. I pay taxes to live in a country that has some things working: highways, railways, clean drinking water, a justice system that gets it right more times than wrong, fire departments, federal/state/local parks and preserves.
Marilyn just likes to complain about Obama and liberals....but she completely misses the money spent on an immoral occupation of Iraq for the past 5+ years...
I would pay more taxes to get a betterNON PROFIT health insurance system, better schooling, more regulation and more anti-trust legislation.

I thought those protests were the most idiotic and backward thinking thing I have run across in a long time. Vermont actually held a protest yesterday in which they wanted MORE taxes. Heard on the radio. Go figure.

Taxes are to help all of us.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.

I agree that paying taxes is something every resident must do. I paid my share, and I'm even getting a refund, so how could I complain about that? My only complaint is that filing a return should not be an intimidating experience, which it definitely is.

I think we should vote with our tax money. Each year the government should send us a form telling us how much they want, and how it should be divided up. We then check off the items we want our tax money spent on (with an option to contribute more if we wish). That way, if we truly support a government program, we will put our money where our mouths are. If the government is supporting an unpopular policy, they won't get enough money to do it.

Anyone who thinks taxes were bad this year. Just wait.

thanks!

Buncha dimwits egged on by the insanity of Sean Hannity and th' bloviation of Rush-th'-Blowhard of EIB. When I was a soldier, your taxes paid me. When I was a student, your taxes paid my VA college stipend, and financed my Master's assistanceship. When I became employed, I was more than willing to pay taxes in return.

I'll emphasize one point made in Ann's original rant... We're not gonna have a choice here, folks. We still have to pay for Shrub's little war - 'cause we sure didn't whilst HE was president.

I believe that taxes are truly essential to paying for the things we need.
Everything is just way too expensive to do it any other way.
But, I still think that the President should make up a budget and show it to the American people to approve it.
That way we know our tax dollars are being fairly distributed.

It would really reduce the expenditures if we ever stop purchasing those $5,000. hammers, and 21,000. toilet seats. The Pentegon has a lot to answer for.

Hmmm - I don't think the people who went to the Tea Parties are upset about actually paying taxes - I think they are upset about having to pay MORE taxes (i.e. the Federal Budget that Obama wants the Congress to approve). I think this is what people on here are actually protesting - at least I am. I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes (after all I actually believe that Freedom isn't free that you have to pay for things), but enough is enough already!

Elsie asked:

'What is the author getting at? What is the "better way?" Who is going to pay for all the things we need if not taxes? I agree that the pet projects in government, called "pork", adds to the burden and should be eliminated, but what of the necessities?'

The author's conjecture is that all the problems we have are a product of the sort of money we use and he has devised a means by which everything will be paid without taxes, but if you won't take the time to read the material you'll have to wait for the movie to come out I suppose. It is innovative and one must be capable of thinking completely "outside the box" to grasp it. But the beauty of it is that it will simplify our lives and turn money from an amoral force to one which is beneficial, since under this system you can only get paid if you produce net benefit. Negative consequences reduce your pay.

Kim said:

'Lydia didn't give and solutions, just griping the talking points. I pay taxes to live in a country that has some things working: highways, railways, clean drinking water, a justice system that gets it right more times than wrong, fire departments, federal/state/local parks and preserves.'

The solutions are real ones. As such they are not to be encapsulated in a "nutshell" comment version. To understand it you must read and digest rather than simply react to the superficial aspect. If you have the courage to do so, feel free to start with Net Benefitism which has clickable links to articles which explain further.

To really understand the brilliance of this new economic system we are proposing you should read or listen to the novel Larry wrote to explain it.

The bottom line is that I (firmly!) believe they can never tax us enough to achieve what they desire... if they did we would not get to keep any of our money at all and that is what we are heading toward if we do not heed the signs and demand REAL change. I do not want to see a future in which we get no wages, just a ration card for our necessities and a number to wait for the housing/medical care the nanny government provides.

The solutions we propose are real and I am weary of people who complain but who are not willing to consider viable alternatives and furthermore not willing to consider that things such as insurance are the PROBLEM and not the SOLUTION.

I totally agree, Ann.

Fact is, I have often been ridiculed for claiming side cash (whenever I made any) on my income tax forms. People would say, "Hey, the government has no way of knowing you made that money." to which I reply "So? I like contributing to keeping our nation running."

I'm just one of those stupid Americans who thinks that it IS patriotic to pay taxes on ALL my income.

Darn, Lydia, I don't do movies. Guess I'll wait until the Gather folks do a review. Then I'll get 2 sides of the picture.

You're right, Ann. It is our duty to pay our share. We are obligated to pay even if we did not or do not support a government effort.

I have wished that I could specify to which projects I want my tax dollars spent. I have even done so by writing to my elected representatives. Their form letter replies do not address the issues about which I wrote.
I'm going to continue to try to vote in better people and to pay my taxes, either way.

I agree with those that say we should have a vote on approving what goes in the budget.
However, I was annoyed at media people insulting the protesters. It is an american right to assemble to protest. One media spokesperson went so far as to say we should be grateful and have no complaint because the President has cut taxes on 95% of Americans. I have to say, I didn't even notice the 7 dollar difference in my paycheck, until someone pointed it out, and it's not even enough to pay for a $8 pack of cigarettes, or much of anything else, so I don't understand how that will stimulate spending because it won't buy anything.

Thanks for sharing

Lydia: what utter utopian crap! Money is a representation of goods, whether it's paper cash or electrons.
BTW very few people today use cash - 95% of my financial transaction is via credit card and checks. So most of our money is already electrons.

I wanted to let you know that I had stopped by to check out what you’ve recently shared with all of us here at gather.
Since I’m in the middle of Finals week, I hate to admit, but I must give in to the temptation of leaving a generic comment
But to give it a little personal touch, I added some artwork for you to enjoy!

<font size="1">MySpace Glitters</font>

In Canada our taxes are due at the end of April... my accident was also the day before tax day in 2001 (April 14th) so I have a strong association with tax day... and making sure my taxes are paid EARLY. :-)

You are totally correct in all of your points here. doing any of the above means that you have used tax-money, and should pay back for it.