Ms Benson’s “possibly” inadvertent comment is not that spending is out of control, but that the tax burden on all but the wealthy is too great to support that spending.
The clear, unspoken solution is to reverse the slow national suicide begun by Reagan et al. in the 80s and force the wealthy to pay their fair share.
Our average national sales tax on food, clothing, shelter, etc. is 9.5%, yet the wealthy trade equities on the NYSE, the CBoT, NASDAQ, etc., and pay no sales tax.
In 2014, equity trading exceeded $65 TRILLION. If we had imposed a 9.5% sales tax on equities in 2014, we would have collected more than $6 TRILLION.
Our national debt is ca. $19 TRILLION. Given other expenditures, we could pay that off in five years IF we had the courage to force the wealthy to pay their fair share.
The interesting thing coming out of the HOR is the secular, anti-judeo-christian policies. It has taken some time, but the callous treatment of the poor and elderly make it completely obvious to the most casual observer that any semblance to Jewish or Christian tenets on equality or charity are gone and the HOR is now looking completely amoral.
Conservative cartoonists need to stop criticizing deficits. All of the GOP candidates plan to increase it by $3 to $11 trillion with unpaid-for tax cuts on the rich (and a little token amount for everyone else, too!. It’s time to bring back Dick Cheney’s statement “Deficits don’t matter.”
I think you’re confusing tax rates with what they actually pay. Where are you’re figures to support half the country pays nothing at all? I won’t hold my breath waiting for you to produce something that doesn’t exist.
dear old coal the income tax is the main tax that goes to run the federal gov unlike real estate tax that goes to local gov which the house does not control
Maybe reduce spending by having a military presence in less than the 165 countries, and all the oceans, we’re operating in? Spending policies on caring for people would be far cheaper than killing them.
How about make a law that states all the rich elite and corporations have to keep all monies in america and not in tax shelters, overseas or foreign countries and that way all their money can be taxed as it should.
I for one am just glad we got a budget deal. We finally have a moment of stability in our finances. If the recession hasn’t dissipated as fast as some want the reason may well be in the politically-induced instability of the past 7 years.
cocavan11 over 8 years ago
Ms Benson’s “possibly” inadvertent comment is not that spending is out of control, but that the tax burden on all but the wealthy is too great to support that spending.
The clear, unspoken solution is to reverse the slow national suicide begun by Reagan et al. in the 80s and force the wealthy to pay their fair share.
Our average national sales tax on food, clothing, shelter, etc. is 9.5%, yet the wealthy trade equities on the NYSE, the CBoT, NASDAQ, etc., and pay no sales tax.
In 2014, equity trading exceeded $65 TRILLION. If we had imposed a 9.5% sales tax on equities in 2014, we would have collected more than $6 TRILLION.
Our national debt is ca. $19 TRILLION. Given other expenditures, we could pay that off in five years IF we had the courage to force the wealthy to pay their fair share.
Thanks you, Ms. Benson.
Durak Premium Member over 8 years ago
Well done, Benson. I don’t generally agree with you. But I have to admit, this is a good one.
sofartotheleftimright over 8 years ago
Would that also include BS “fact finding” committees?
superposition over 8 years ago
The interesting thing coming out of the HOR is the secular, anti-judeo-christian policies. It has taken some time, but the callous treatment of the poor and elderly make it completely obvious to the most casual observer that any semblance to Jewish or Christian tenets on equality or charity are gone and the HOR is now looking completely amoral.
ARodney over 8 years ago
Conservative cartoonists need to stop criticizing deficits. All of the GOP candidates plan to increase it by $3 to $11 trillion with unpaid-for tax cuts on the rich (and a little token amount for everyone else, too!. It’s time to bring back Dick Cheney’s statement “Deficits don’t matter.”
retpost over 8 years ago
How much tax will Boehner pay on his over 500 dollars a day pension.
sofartotheleftimright over 8 years ago
I think you’re confusing tax rates with what they actually pay. Where are you’re figures to support half the country pays nothing at all? I won’t hold my breath waiting for you to produce something that doesn’t exist.
Kylop over 8 years ago
Lisa, where you from do cows always go up to 2nd story?
oneoldhat over 8 years ago
dear old coal the income tax is the main tax that goes to run the federal gov unlike real estate tax that goes to local gov which the house does not control
Dtroutma over 8 years ago
Maybe reduce spending by having a military presence in less than the 165 countries, and all the oceans, we’re operating in? Spending policies on caring for people would be far cheaper than killing them.
sofartotheleftimright over 8 years ago
How about make a law that states all the rich elite and corporations have to keep all monies in america and not in tax shelters, overseas or foreign countries and that way all their money can be taxed as it should.
wiatr over 8 years ago
I for one am just glad we got a budget deal. We finally have a moment of stability in our finances. If the recession hasn’t dissipated as fast as some want the reason may well be in the politically-induced instability of the past 7 years.