| |
Taxes
Page history
last edited
by Mike 2 days, 1 hour ago
Taxes /
- Estate Tax
- Wealth Taxes / Taxing the Rich
- Property Taxes
You can't have a fair society and also give massive advantages to your children and grandchildren at the same time.
No one should be born into an American aristocracy.
America needs to work to avoid an oligarchy.
High taxes for the rich are the only way to keep rich people from sending all their money overseas.
Billionares in America should help the poor in their country, by paying taxes, rather than using effective altruism to fix problems overseas.
The top individual marginal income tax rate tended to increase over time through the early 1960s, with some additional bumps during war years. The top income tax rate reached above 90% from 1944 through 1963, peaking in 1944, when top taxpayers paid an income tax rate of 94% on their taxable income.
There's always somebody who is paid too much, and taxed too little and it's always somebody else. ~Cullen Hightower
- We must maximize the benefits and minimize the cost of our taxation system.
- Taxes are, by definition, a benefit to the government and a cost to the citizen.
- We must balance our government budget (government income) without discouraging economic activity.
- We must ensure the burden of taxation falls equitably.
- We shouldn't try to re-create the world in our likeness. We shouldn't try to play god and social engineer every aspect of people's lives. Government shouldn't be our chance to get back at the world, prove to our parents how good we are, and force everyone to live in our MyTopia (my version of utopia). But when we have to collect taxes and reconstruct the nature of reality we should try to leave a world that rewards those who work harder, are wiser, smarter, and even those who risk more, dream big, and get lucky. We should try to find ways to help the unlucky without rewarding and encouraging more bad behavior.
- We must reform our tax code. Our current tax system is a patchwork of random decisions. It wasn't designed intelligently. Care was not taken to maximize job and economic improvement, to work with our economic growth. Every year, individual taxpayers are forced to confront a Rube Goldberg contraption of bewildering complexity that leads to a range of undesirable outcomes, including the fact that millions of Americans have to pay hundreds of dollars to have their tax returns prepared by a professional who understands the rules. Corporations, for their part, are subject to rules and regulations that all too often encourage tax gamesmanship while discouraging reinvestment in the American economy.
- Tax policy needs to work with the size of government, and the economy. The size of the federal government should only be those things that work extremely well in the states, overseas, and that are universally supported by all the states. Taxes policy should also work with the overall economic policy. You don't lower taxes when the economy is booming, and you don't raise them during a recession. You don't want the economy to grow too fast or too slow. We should structure these obvious decisions so they are out of the short term interest of politicians seeking re-election.
- Tax policy should be designed to support long term financial health of our government, not just to keep the current government officials in power. Government officials don't like investing in the long term health of the economy, because they have to harm the economy when they are in office, and help it when someone else will take credit for it. Listing cost and benefits for each policy will help use highlight those actions that make the most sense, and will help use reward politicians who support politicians who support long term planning by increasing the popularity of actions that require long term planning.
- Tax policy should bring predictability and stability to help investment decision-making. We also need to find a way to keep the tax structure stable so that investors and entrepreneurs are not confronted with a constantly shifting set of rules that makes it impossible for them to plan ahead.
- We need to simplify the system. People shouldn't be able to make careers because the system is too complex for average people.
- We need taxes to pay for the operations of government. But they should be collected by a system that is simple and fair, and that causes the least possible disruption to the productive economy.
- Eliminate taxes for taxpayers with AGI below $200,000 on interest, dividends, and capital gains
- We should avoid extreme aristocracy in which children of the very rich never have to work a day in their lives. We shouldn't feel too much shame when we tell kids that if they end up poor, it is their own fault.
- Pursue a conservative overhaul of the tax system over the long term that includes lower, flatter rates on a broader base
- We shouldn't have corporate taxes a lot more than other countries. It will cause companies to move over seas.
- We should pursue a transition from “worldwide” to “territorial” system for corporate taxation
- America's Tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our competitiveness."
- Raising taxes can often hurt working people and scares away jobs.
- We should go after waste, inefficiency, duplication, and patronage before raising taxes.
- It is unfair to tax people retroactively. It is wrong to change the rules after the fact on taxpayers who sold assets in reliance on the Tax code in effect at the time.
- State should avoid rising property taxes that don't let seniors stay in their homes. Seniors should be able to stay as long as they want in the homes where they’ve raised families and created a lifetime of good memories.
- States should be able to pursue their own tax policy. California can tax people more than Idaho, because people really want to live in California.
Links:
- Electronic Democracy: Taxes
- "And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the Taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children. This government is yours. Thank you for letting me serve you. I love this job."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 01-15-04 State of the State
- “The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is. The job of management is to find ways to permanently and structurally change the costs of our structure such that we can have a balanced budget without always raising Taxes every time people think there's a need."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Boston Herald, March 22, 2002
- "America’s Tax code is a labyrinth that imposes an enormous and unnecessary burden on our citizens and employers. Keeping Taxes low and simplifying the code will grow the economy and enhance our competitiveness."
- Governor Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC
- “You don’t create economic prosperity by raising Taxes.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, National Review (June 2005)
- “We enacted property Tax relief for our senior citizens and instead of levying a retroactive capital gains Tax hike, we acted to refund $250 million to Massachusetts Taxpayers.”
- “I don’t like Taxes. I think we need less government, not more government.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, Interview with Mort Kondracke (March 2006)
- "Let me come back to something more parochial, which is how our state fits into all of that and how you who are entrepreneurs and investors, financiers, faculty members and others who are associated with the process of innovation fit into, if you will, "our state." I am convinced that this is an extraordinarily attractive place to grow and develop ideas and technology. That this state has many of the features which are unique in our nation and perhaps in our world - the clusters of technology and capability that have assembled here -- means that enterprises that begin here begin with a natural advantage. We have also thought to keep the attractiveness of the, if you will, 'the Petri dish" here for technology innovation very robust and vital. There are some who would suggest we could solve our problems best by, for instance, raising our Tax rates and business payroll Taxes and so forth. I am afraid of going down the path California is going down. I am afraid that going to an 11% income Tax will scare away innovation and scare away jobs. California is a beautiful place. We don't have their weather to compete with, so we have to compete on other bases. For us it's a place where that Tax burden is not overwhelming with a 5.3% Tax rate - they're going up to an 11% Tax rate, with over 9% today. We have to make sure this is a place as attractive for people to come and grow their enterprise - our regulatory structure."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium, May 13, 2003
- "If you want someone who voted for Tax hikes 98 times, send in John Kerry. If you think trial lawyers need more money, our economy needs more law suits, and malpractice costs should go even higher, then send in John Edwards with him."
- Governor Mitt Romney, September 1, 2004; 10:09 PM
- “Let’s put the numbers to a test. Pass my Reforms and I’ll deliver the savings. Even if one thought the savings would be smaller, that’s no reason to abandon the Reforms. If a Reform saves money, let’s take it. This is not a choice between deep cuts or higher Taxes. There is another way. My plan calls for Reform. It’s hard to say goodbye to the old way of doing things, but people are demanding change.”
- “As the reality of last year’s Tax increase sinks in, it is imperative to remember how important it is to hold the line on raising Taxes again this year.”
- “Given our fiscal crisis, we have a unique opportunity this year to make permanent changes to state government that make sense, save money and make us more efficient. Let’s not squander that opportunity, but instead work together to achieve Reform once and for all.”
- “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They provide jobs for our half of our workforce and stimulate our economy. Raising Taxes will force them to cut jobs and will drive them out of Massachusetts to a more business-friendly state.”
- “Higher Taxes are simply not an option for my administration, for working families or for the hundreds of small businesses who are struggling. It is time for Reform.”
- “Analogic’s continuing expansion is extraordinary in light of our challenging economic climate. If we’re going to attract and retain more companies, we need to get serious about Reforming state government and taking steps to foster a pro-growth environment. Those steps include holding the line on Taxes.”
- “I find it unbelievable to hear people in the State House talking about Tax increases as an option to closing the budget gap. Raising Taxes at a time of rising unemployment will hurt working families, drive companies out of Massachusetts and push our economy into an even deeper rut.”
- “Higher Taxes are simply not an option for my administration, for working families or for the hundreds of businesses who are struggling. It is time for Reform.”
- “Massachusetts has tremendous potential – a highly skilled and educated workforce, top-notch institutes of higher learning and excellent health care facilities. But, we need to work harder to convince employers that Massachusetts is a good place to do business – and that starts with a stable Tax structure.”
- “The Investment Tax Credit is one of the vital tools we have to attract employers and stimulate job growth in Massachusetts. I applaud the House and Senate leaders for their efforts to maintain the Bay State’s pro-business environment.”
- “We have successfully closed the largest deficit in our state’s history without raising Taxes. Not many states can make that claim, but here in Massachusetts we can be proud of what we have accomplished on behalf of our citizens. I am grateful to the Legislature for their efforts.”
- “With this budget, we’ve launched the state on the road to Reform. We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we got a lot. And as Arnold Schwarzenegger might say, ‘I’ll be back.’”
- “Change doesn’t happen overnight or in six months. Reform is a four year job and we’ll be fighting for it every step of the way.”
- “This year’s budget represents just the first step,” Romney said. “We still have financial challenges ahead of us, but with ingenuity and hard work, we can solve them.”
- “We will continue to push for our plans to merge the Turnpike Authority, adopt court Reform and institute workforce changes that will give us the tools to manage effectively. Our energy is limitless.”
- “I support the changes to the Quinn Bill. The exceptions I have proposed are fair to our police officers who have either served their country or are more than halfway through their course of study.”
- “They say there are only two sure things in life – death and Taxes. We can’t do anything about the first, but we can make life a little easier when it comes to Taxes. I encourage people all across our Commonwealth to head out to stores and malls this weekend to enjoy the benefits of Tax free shopping.”
- “Our seniors should be able to live their remaining years in the comforting surroundings of their homes and communities. We can help them by providing property Tax relief and other Tax breaks.”
- “It is fundamentally unfair to Tax people retroactively. If we are to keep faith with the Taxpayers of Massachusetts, we need to correct the constitutional error that occurred here.”
- “We’re sending Taxes in Massachusetts on a little summer vacation. Everyone should head out to their favorite stores to take advantage of the Tax-free holiday.”
- "Taxes in Massachusetts have the weekend off. This upcoming sales Tax holiday, consumers can enjoy savings at a range of shops from major retailers to their favorite mom-and-pop stores."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 08-11-2005 Press Release
- During a visit at the shopping plaza in Landmark Center
- “No matter how you look at it, this is extremely positive news for the people of Massachusetts. Revenues were up across the board in every single category. There are more people working, our business sector is healthy and creating jobs and consumers are spending money.”
- “Now, it’s time to take the next step. There is no longer any reason not to give the people what they voted for – a 5 percent income Tax rate.”
- “It is simply wrong to change the rules after the fact on Taxpayers who sold assets in reliance on the Tax code in effect at the time.”
- “We have tried to come up with a solution that addresses the concerns of legislators worried about the impact of the refunds on the state treasury. By spreading out the payment of refunds over three years, rather than all at once, we can soften the revenue impact. Ultimately, it’s going to cost the state some money. But if we don’t act, thousands of Taxpayers who played by the rules will be punished for a mistake they did not make.”
- “With the rise in property values, it makes it difficult for seniors to stay in their homes. seniors should be able to stay as long as they want in the homes where they’ve raised families and created a lifetime of fond memories.”
- “By making this important correction we will keep faith with the Taxpayers and prevent thousands of families from enduring any financial hardship from an unfair retroactive Tax. I commend the Legislature for approving a solution that fixes this problem once and for all.”
- “Any year the government puts money back in Taxpayers’ pockets is a great year. Of course, next year will be even better if we can convince the Legislature to start rolling the Tax rate back to 5 percent.”
- “High energy prices have put a strain on older homeowners and young families alike. This deduction was designed to help people make it through the home heating season, and I’d like to see 100 percent of those who are eligible receive this Tax break.”
- “It may be Tax Freedom Day, but there’s no reason for celebration in Massachusetts. Next year, I’d like to see Tax Freedom Day in Massachusetts arrive a little bit earlier and the way to make that happen is by reducing the income Tax rate to 5 percent.”
- “That money does not belong to the government,” Romney said. “That’s the Taxpayers’ money and we can clearly afford to let them keep it.”
- “One of the highest duties of government is our obligation to take care of the men and women who defend this nation. This legislation follows through on that commitment by providing additional benefits to disabled veterans, as well as to the families of soldiers killed or missing in action.”
Taxes
|
|
Tip: To turn text into a link, highlight the text, then click on a page or file from the list above.
|
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.