California Math and the 3.6% (Kennedy: 2014, home, property tax)

[AllenSJC]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Sure when you lump in all the non tax payers / recipients of allowances, CA taxes may not look quite so bad on a per capita basis.

But using real metrics measuring the tax burden on the productive parts of the economy ... WE STINK!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by AllenSJC

If 5 people pay zero tax and 5 people pay $10, the "average" person only pays $5. Of course, the people actually paying any tax are paying much more than the "average" person.

[AllenSJC]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

If 5 people pay zero tax and 5 people pay $10, the "average" person only pays $5. Of course, the people actually paying any tax are paying much more than the "average" person.

They also make a whole hell of a lot more money than the "average" person.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by AllenSJC

They also make a whole hell of a lot more money than the "average" person.

For which they should obviously be punished.

[AllenSJC]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

For which they should obviously be punished.

Only if you view taxation as "punishment."

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by AllenSJC

Only if you view taxation as "punishment."

If you don't think the tax code is used for reward and punishment, you're not paying attention.

[AllenSJC]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

If you don't think the tax code is used for reward and punishment, you're not paying attention.

Who do YOU think benefits the most from the tax code?

Hint: it ain't the poor.

[oldtrader]

Who do YOU think benefits the most from the tax code?

Hint: it ain't the poor.

Yes the tax code does benefit the poor. It is the taxes paid by the middle class and poor, plus the corporations that provide the benefits the poor receive from those taxes paid by the better off.

Benefits that get almost all of the Hispanic and Black vote. Benefits that get almost all the non white vote. Benefits that get the poor vote. Benefits that get the very young vote.

Those benefits are paid, to insure those that vote those benefits will get elected and reelected.

When they get a proposition passed, based on taxing the rich. Let the rich pay. Problem it is the shrinking middle class that pays most of those taxes.

Companies are bailing out of California at the rate of one mid to large company leaving every single day. More of those still in California, open new operations that at one time would be in opened in California, in other states and countries.

Companies are rearranging themselves, so that their profits are paid in other countries where there are no taxes to pay, to avoid paying them to California. The ones that do this such as Google, and Apple, are literally leaving California where it really counts...Paying little or no taxes to California.

The problem is, as more and more people, companies, and divisions of companies, plus arranging things so they don't pay taxes with the taxes all leaving the state, leave the state instead of paying taxes, the tax receipts keep rapidly falling and then who will pay the taxes.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by AllenSJC

Who do YOU think benefits the most from the tax code?

Hint: it ain't the poor.

The income tax code is progressive... so much so that it exempts income below a certain amount...

Sounds like the benefit is weighted to the benefit of those with lower income...

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

The income tax code is progressive... so much so that it exempts income below a certain amount...

Sounds like the benefit is weighted to the benefit of those with lower income...

And let's not forget, at the federal level, the ever popular (Un)Earned Income Credit! Got kids?