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Re: OT: this is the last thing we need

From: Allan Nelson <anelson_at_houston.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 19:49:16 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.002B7455.20010216184620@fatcity.com>

I believe rich in the US includes all households making over $60,000.00 / yr ----- Original Message -----
To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 3:25 PM

>
> At 12:21 PM 2/16/01 -0800, you wrote:
> >Yeah I don't think you will get any money due to these tax cuts..Its
> >intented to rich people. I don't understand Instead of developing further
of
> >social net and Education system, I don't see any nice thing to cut taxes
and
> >draining the money from vital systems like federal spending either its
> >defence,social security and education.
> >
>
>
> (disclaimer: my experience is with Canada, although I bet my comments will
> be mostly true for the USA as well)
>
> Left/middle govts are always talking about "the rich". People complain
> about tax breaks because they'll mostly benefit "the rich". I wonder how
> many people realize that these govts' definition of "rich" includes
> probably as much as 90% of the working population? In Canada, at least,
you
> are one of "the rich" if you can afford a second car (not paid for, mind
> you). You are "rich" if you can afford mortgage payments or have some hope
> of being able to in the future. Lest you think I'm kidding, it's not all
> that long ago that our local government slapped huge tax increases on
> residents of Vancouver's west end, based on the idea that "those rich
> fatcats" could afford it (The West End is upscale real estate here FYI).
In
> fact the government reps made very heavy use of the words "they" and "we".
> Trouble is, it turned out that most of the rich fatcats were seniors on
> fixed incomes who'd bought their houses long before the West End became
> trendy, and who now couldn't afford the taxes. The governments reply:
"They
> can sell their houses or get mortgages". Yeah, so much for representing
> "us". The only "them" we need to be saved from are the politicians.
>
> In fact there is very little in the way of "they" when talking about "the
> rich". It's mostly "we". And the reason is simple. Governments can get
away
> with a lot more if they can define an enemy to capture your attention --
> some horrible "them" who are actually responsible for all your troubles.
> Trouble is, in this case, the definition of "they" has gotten so broad
over
> time that there is very little "not they" left.
>
> As to tax breaks mostly benefiting the "upper middle" income tax brackets,
> why are you surprised? Sliding tax scales mean that not only are "upper
> middle" earners paying more on an absolute basis, but also more as a
> percentage of income. Not to mention the various "temporary surtaxes" that
> have been imposed over time. It is very difficult to come up with a tax
> scheme that benefits "the poor" and doesn't benefit "the rich" -- at least
> one that means anything -- by playing with the income tax tables. However,
> a very good plan based on guaranteed minimum income was recommended by a
> government task force a few years back -- and was rejected out of hand by
> our oh-so-compassionate liberal government.
>
> And BTW, if you're thinking of claiming that high taxes benefit "the
poor",
> come to Vancouver. Canada has (last time I looked) the 4th or 5th highest
> marginal tax rate in the industrialized world, and we've still got
> panhandlers on every street corner. In fact Canada, with one of the
highest
> tax rates, and the U.S. with one of the lowest, have roughly equivalent
> poverty rates overall.
>
> As to "safety nets", if someone in my family ever gets sick, we're going
> straight over the border into Seattle for treatment. The Canadian medical
> system exists in name only.
>
> Face it -- high taxes pay for only one thing -- politicians and political
> patronage.
>
>
>
>
>
> Dennis Taylor
> --------------------------------
> To laugh at men of sense is the privilege of fools.
>
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> --
> Author: Dennis Taylor
> INET: ismgr_at_pctc.com
>
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Allan Nelson
  INET: anelson_at_houston.rr.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
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Received on Fri Feb 16 2001 - 21:49:16 CST

Original text of this message

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