Comments on: A PATRIOT’S TAX

By: Marymom

Marymom — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 16:02:02 +0000

I was trying to think of ways to avoid more debt. But if it we are going to borrow money for the hurricane damage better that it would be at lower interest rates from the American people. Though I wonder if it is turned into an investment type proposition whether people would accept a low rate of return.

By: mike anderson

mike anderson — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 12:57:40 +0000

What about the idea of goverment Relief Bonds? I’d rather see the goverment in debt to US citizens than the Chinese or some other foreigners. The interest on the bonds could be so low that they wouldn’t really appeal to others as an investment because that wouldn’t be the point of them. Rather, buying them would be a way for a citizen to help carry the load…kind of like the war bonds during WW2.

By: Marymom

Marymom — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 03:01:02 +0000

I don’t think I ever heard of a two tiered tax rate when we lived in Massachusetts but I’d like to think I would have been generous. I think we sell our fellow citizens short. Perhaps if it was all explained and the government appealed to everyone’s higher instincts then a one time let’s rebuild America surtax might be possible. If everyone just gave a little. (But I guess we would really need to feel that the government would use it responsibly.)

By: mike anderson

mike anderson — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 01:58:12 +0000

Even if our elected officials don’t have the nerve to propose something like this, I wonder if there could be a citizen’s movement to voluntarily pay more taxes than legally obligated to. Of course, what would be needed would be the ability to designate where you want your overpayment applied. I’ve often thought this would be an interesting concept. There would be a basic rate that covers the costs of what federal gov’t was originally designted to be responsible for. Then there would be categories that people could make surplus payments to…kind of the “put your money where your mouth is” tax plan. I think i remembered reading that MA has two state tax rates and you’re allowed to pay the higher rate if you want to. I think it came up because of Kerry being from MA and he chose the lower rate. I don’t remember ever hearing about that option when we lived there but I can’t imagine we would have chosed the higher rate since we didn’t overly bond to the idea that we were MA residents and plus, it seemed like property taxes were plenty high and we were paying a goodly share.
Anyway, I like your idea. I’d also love to see the presription drug benefit scaled back and be more tied into need. Jeez, I hate political pork and vote buying.