I have no idea what this means. If you are in a bracket, you are in a bracket. It makes no difference what you make. You have to pay. If you have a problem with the law don't take it on the people. They are following tax laws as written by Congress. And for your information, the rich are footing the bill in this country. The so called top 1% pay 40% of country's bills. You want more?
Yes, after 9/11 a lot of laws have been changed for the worse and ACTA, the law that will take you to jail if you film a cop etc. are equally terrible. Still, the US is by far still one of the most free societies we can think of. Add to it that the whole irony is that we can actually in freedom talk about all these problems, these problems are talked about in public etc.
that's the whole point of a free society.
that's the whole point of a free society.
That law was passed in 2012, 11 years after 9/11...
that legislation in particular can make it legal for the government to arrest you without providing convincing evidence and they can hold you indefinitely without trial. that one legislation in particular does the exact same thing as an authoritarian state does. the only difference in the US is that they can do this based on a law and therefore it wont be illegal which makes it worse. sure they can be talked about in public here, but nothing stopped elected law-makers to not pass such law. and yes I agree this can law can be protested against way easier in the US than any other place. but how would a system that has all these checks and balances to protect individual rights could allow such laws in first place?
US govn stands for freedom. I'm just holding them to their own standards, The U.S. Constitution is one of the most well-crafted and revered governmental documents in all of the world’s history. but sometimes in practice they go the exact opposite.
I'm still waiting for Lord IranZamin to chime in with his condescending tone.
that legislation in particular can make it legal for the government to arrest you without providing convincing evidence and they can hold you indefinitely without trial. that one legislation in particular does the exact same thing as an authoritarian state does. the only difference in the US is that they can do this based on a law and therefore it wont be illegal which makes it worse. sure they can be talked about in public here, but nothing stopped elected law-makers to not pass such law. and yes I agree this can law can be protested against way easier in the US than any other place. but how would a system that has all these checks and balances to protect individual rights could allow such laws in first place?
US govn stands for freedom. I'm just holding them to their own standards, The U.S. Constitution is one of the most well-crafted and revered governmental documents in all of the world’s history. but sometimes in practice they go the exact opposite.
I'm still waiting for Lord IranZamin to chime in with his condescending tone.
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I personally think that the current change in US government policies is going through worse than better .... I am not comparing US with Iran and merely talk about USA ...
In US the government is making laws and legilations that will prevent the current freedom that Americans have and people should start thinking a little agiated ....
Laws such as "Patriot Act" that was introduced under Bush administration is a little frightening ... It will reach to the state, that the government can arrest you and prosecute you without even having court order ....
I think this is the direction that the American policy and is very dangerous. You see many documentaries and civil groups that are addressing these issues.
But still I think in terms of practicality, the north american society is the best in the world and if the government doesn't change the current rights, the society can improve in the right direction.
In US the government is making laws and legilations that will prevent the current freedom that Americans have and people should start thinking a little agiated ....
Laws such as "Patriot Act" that was introduced under Bush administration is a little frightening ... It will reach to the state, that the government can arrest you and prosecute you without even having court order ....
I think this is the direction that the American policy and is very dangerous. You see many documentaries and civil groups that are addressing these issues.
But still I think in terms of practicality, the north american society is the best in the world and if the government doesn't change the current rights, the society can improve in the right direction.
Could it be that the reason the rich pay 40% of taxes is because the rich earn a big chunk of income perhaps. There is no problem with that as long as the rich pay as much as a middle class family pays in taxes. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has a report saying there are nearly 100,000 millionaires who pay lower taxes than middle class. That's where the fairness comes into play.
The question here isn't about how much freedom the Americans have or how it compares to the level of freedom in other countries. The issue here is "Hypocrisy".
I have lived in the U.S for over 25 years, and I do believe that this is probably the greatest country in the history, but I also think that the U.S Gov (as a whole) has been and remain the biggest "hypocrites" in the history of mankind.
bottom line, west or east, north or south, where ever I look, I see bad guys are in charge.
Still, I rather have the Americans as the big hypocrite power of the world than those freaking Chinese or fucking Russians..
I have lived in the U.S for over 25 years, and I do believe that this is probably the greatest country in the history, but I also think that the U.S Gov (as a whole) has been and remain the biggest "hypocrites" in the history of mankind.
bottom line, west or east, north or south, where ever I look, I see bad guys are in charge.
Still, I rather have the Americans as the big hypocrite power of the world than those freaking Chinese or fucking Russians..
Give me numbers and we can debate. Warren Buffet keeps saying her secretary pays more(in percent) than him. False. Average return pays only 9% effective rate.http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/88xx/doc8885/12-11-HistoricalTaxRates.pdf I am sure Buffet pays a lot more. Now get this,
"The average federal income tax rate of the richest 400 people in the country in 2008 was 18.11 percent."
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/millionaire_tax_rates.html
"The average federal income tax rate of the richest 400 people in the country in 2008 was 18.11 percent."
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/millionaire_tax_rates.html
Exactly..they should follow income tax bracket..but they dont have to! bc they have the luxury of so much tax cuts as high-earners!(thanks to Bush!). The best example that comes to mind is Mitt Romney's income tax rate of just %14, although he made $21M in 2010!! Talking about fairness and equality for millions of middle-income Americans who pay more taxes than him!!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/01/24/romney-taxes.html
Romney paid 14% tax on $21.7M income in 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/01/24/romney-taxes.html
Romney paid 14% tax on $21.7M income in 2010
So because you thought I was "defensive"... you replied to the exact opposite of the point I made!
Sure. Makes perfect sense.
Look dude… I know you’re relatively young and you’re still trying to make sense of the world. That’s why I ignore your copy/past “opinions” most of the time. But you’re not nearly young enough to embarrass yourself like you've done in these two posts! This kind of difficulty with basic reasoning is something one would expect from a 13-year-old, not a young man with a college education.
I repeat my advice: Stick to things you can actually understand. You're WAY out of your depth in serious discussions.
Sure. Makes perfect sense.
Look dude… I know you’re relatively young and you’re still trying to make sense of the world. That’s why I ignore your copy/past “opinions” most of the time. But you’re not nearly young enough to embarrass yourself like you've done in these two posts! This kind of difficulty with basic reasoning is something one would expect from a 13-year-old, not a young man with a college education.
I repeat my advice: Stick to things you can actually understand. You're WAY out of your depth in serious discussions.
Let me give you some numbers, money earned by Buffet, Bill Gates, Mitt Romney etc are either dividends or capital gains. Dividends and capital gains are taxed at 15% thanks to Bush tax cuts. Buffet secretary pays ordinary income tax of at least 15% on her salary plus 5.65% of social security taxes that is north of 20%.
Really, Buffet says he pays less than his secretary but somehow you are sure he pays a lot more. Either he is lying or you are making it up. Could you tell me how you are sure he pays more than what he says he pays?
You are proving my point here. A middle class taxpayer who makes more than $70,000 will be in 25% tax bracket and will have to pay 5.65% Social Security and Medicare taxes. That taxpayer will pay an effective tax rate of well above 20%. So you are telling me that the richest 400 people are paying less than middle class taxpayers. I thought that was my point.
Really, Buffet says he pays less than his secretary but somehow you are sure he pays a lot more. Either he is lying or you are making it up. Could you tell me how you are sure he pays more than what he says he pays?
You are proving my point here. A middle class taxpayer who makes more than $70,000 will be in 25% tax bracket and will have to pay 5.65% Social Security and Medicare taxes. That taxpayer will pay an effective tax rate of well above 20%. So you are telling me that the richest 400 people are paying less than middle class taxpayers. I thought that was my point.