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Vehicle excise tax aside which is based on the sticker price of the car and has no correlation to how much one drives or how damaging it might be to our roads and a tax I see as completely unfair I have never had a real issue with a progressive tax structure. I guess this makes me Liberal?? IDK but I do think there should be a limit to the percentage of ones income the government can take.
I do not think that I am 'for' or 'against' it, it simply is.
I can see the theory where folks who make a lot should pay a higher percentage. Capital-gain tax was once a very high percentage. Is that the 'best' system? IDK.
Would you prefer to be taxed based on odometer readings?
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... I feel the bigger issue is the size of government, and how the money is wasted/being spent. A much smaller more efficient government where the ones who are paying the bulk of the tax can at least feel like the government is working for them probably won't have as much as an issue I know I wouldn't
I agree that our government is huge and out of control; there is monumental waste happening.
I also agree that a smaller government would be better.
I am not sure if there is such a thing as 'efficient government', I think those are contradictory words.
You suggest that folks who pay higher taxes, should have greater access to bureaucrats. I am not sure that I like that idea. I am against corporate personhood. Corporations are not voters, and as such corporations should not be allowed any greater access than any individual citizen.
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... bad roads, bridges falling apart, poor infrastructure, massive welfare and wealth redistribution along with government salaries that appear to be in access leave a sour taste.. and not all of these things do I see here in Maine necessarily but certainly we have a welfare issue!
Leaders have fallen into the idea that road/bridge maintenance does not need to be budgeted for. They have fallen into the 'banker's dream' where every normal routine matter is seen as a crisis, so we borrow money [at interest] to cover each new crisis, and raise taxes later.
In my opinion, the day you build a road/bridge you know that it will require maintenance. You should begin preparing for that maintenance before you even build the foolish thing.
We do have massive welfare going on. Unemployment is hovering around 24% [equaling the Great Depression], but unlike decades ago, today we have magical 'seasonal adjustments'. [Seasons that last for many years btw] So our politicians can brag about how low the Adjusted Unemployment rate is.
SNAP / EBT hides the face of bread lines. We do not see the bread lines, so obviously they do not exist.
We do have all of these problems in Maine. These are Maine topics.
Maine has had a long-term economic recession. Our nation suffered a recent crash, but Maine's economy has depressed long before the nation's economy tanked. Printing more money only drives a nation toward hyper-inflation.
Lack of employment can only be hidden for a short period of time. There are limited ways to hide it; increased welfare, increased unemployment checks, widening criteria for disability compensation, ...
Increasing government spending hurts all of us collectively.
I do not think that I am 'for' or 'against' it, it simply is.
I can see the theory where folks who make a lot should pay a higher percentage. Capital-gain tax was once a very high percentage. Is that the 'best' system? IDK.
Would you prefer to be taxed based on odometer readings?
I think the excise tax mil rates should be lowered and applied to the current value of the vehicle.. you can have a minimum tax dollar amt $50 or something but to have a minimum mil rate based on the sticker price seems irregular.
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Originally Posted by Submariner
I agree that our government is huge and out of control; there is monumental waste happening.
I also agree that a smaller government would be better.
I am not sure if there is such a thing as 'efficient government', I think those are contradictory words.
You suggest that folks who pay higher taxes, should have greater access to bureaucrats. I am not sure that I like that idea. I am against corporate personhood. Corporations are not voters, and as such corporations should not be allowed any greater access than any individual citizen.
We both have worked for government in different capacities. I believe government Can operate efficiently albeit government efficiency is measurably different than the private sector as their goals are completely different. I absolutely do not think those who pay higher taxes should have greater access. I apologize if that was what it sounded like. I am saying the debate between the folks who feel they are over taxed and the folks who do not feel they are taxed enough might find more common ground when instead of debating how much money is being extracted lets talk about where is the LIMITED amount of money that is available going to be spent. I am a firm believer that there are many who when they complain about the income gap are not at all concerned with raising the standards of living for those on the bottom but are interested in punishing and lowering the standards of living for those who they perceive as having it to good! creating a system where everyone pays into it would also have people more invested in their government! I think there are way to many loopholes our property taxes alone should be readjusted to include NON-PROFITS!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Submariner
Leaders have fallen into the idea that road/bridge maintenance does not need to be budgeted for. They have fallen into the 'banker's dream' where every normal routine matter is seen as a crisis, so we borrow money [at interest] to cover each new crisis, and raise taxes later.
In my opinion, the day you build a road/bridge you know that it will require maintenance. You should begin preparing for that maintenance before you even build the foolish thing.
We do have massive welfare going on. Unemployment is hovering around 24% [equaling the Great Depression], but unlike decades ago, today we have magical 'seasonal adjustments'. [Seasons that last for many years btw] So our politicians can brag about how low the Adjusted Unemployment rate is.
SNAP / EBT hides the face of bread lines. We do not see the bread lines, so obviously they do not exist.
We do have all of these problems in Maine. These are Maine topics.
Maine has had a long-term economic recession. Our nation suffered a recent crash, but Maine's economy has depressed long before the nation's economy tanked. Printing more money only drives a nation toward hyper-inflation.
Lack of employment can only be hidden for a short period of time. There are limited ways to hide it; increased welfare, increased unemployment checks, widening criteria for disability compensation, ...
Increasing government spending hurts all of us collectively.
Aside from the monetary systemic problems that occur because of this system it is really the social issues that are going to hurt us for years to come. I just see a complete breakdown in the values of our grandparents to todays generation. As a landlord the difference is night and day.. many young people here in Maine just do not have any integrity!
We have created an entitlement society where people believe they are entitled to something they have not earned. They simply do not understand that they are not entitled to what they want. They are like a 2 year old having a tantrum in the supermarket. "But I wanna!" It has worked so far in all of his life. When the adjustment comes and he wants what you have, you will be faced with an important decision.
I think the excise tax mil rates should be lowered and applied to the current value of the vehicle.. you can have a minimum tax dollar amt $50 or something but to have a minimum mil rate based on the sticker price seems irregular.
We both have worked for government in different capacities. I believe government Can operate efficiently albeit government efficiency is measurably different than the private sector as their goals are completely different. I absolutely do not think those who pay higher taxes should have greater access. I apologize if that was what it sounded like. I am saying the debate between the folks who feel they are over taxed and the folks who do not feel they are taxed enough might find more common ground when instead of debating how much money is being extracted lets talk about where is the LIMITED amount of money that is available going to be spent. I am a firm believer that there are many who when they complain about the income gap are not at all concerned with raising the standards of living for those on the bottom but are interested in punishing and lowering the standards of living for those who they perceive as having it to good! creating a system where everyone pays into it would also have people more invested in their government! I think there are way to many loopholes our property taxes alone should be readjusted to include NON-PROFITS!
Aside from the monetary systemic problems that occur because of this system it is really the social issues that are going to hurt us for years to come. I just see a complete breakdown in the values of our grandparents to todays generation. As a landlord the difference is night and day.. many young people here in Maine just do not have any integrity!
I agree with you 100% on this. I'm also a landlord and work in social services. I get to know all kinds of people very well. I am amazed at what has happened with younger people today. It is just absolutely demoralizing.
Corporations are not voters, and they are not people. Corporate donations need serious reform. ...
I agree.
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Originally Posted by flycessna
I think the excise tax mil rates should be lowered and applied to the current value of the vehicle.. you can have a minimum tax dollar amt $50 or something but to have a minimum mil rate based on the sticker price seems irregular.
It is irregular. This is the first state I have been in that taxed vehicles in this manner.
Quote:
... I absolutely do not think those who pay higher taxes should have greater access. I apologize if that was what it sounded like. I am saying the debate between the folks who feel they are over taxed and the folks who do not feel they are taxed enough might find more common ground when instead of debating how much money is being extracted lets talk about where is the LIMITED amount of money that is available going to be spent.
I agree.
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... I am a firm believer that there are many who when they complain about the income gap are not at all concerned with raising the standards of living for those on the bottom but are interested in punishing and lowering the standards of living for those who they perceive as having it to good!
I have seen that also.
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... Aside from the monetary systemic problems that occur because of this system it is really the social issues that are going to hurt us for years to come. I just see a complete breakdown in the values of our grandparents to todays generation. As a landlord the difference is night and day.. many young people here in Maine just do not have any integrity!
I seem to recall my grandparents saying something along those lines decades ago.
Rock music was a sin. Men's hair long enough to touch your ears was a sin. Pants on women was a sin.
After meeting my bride, talking with her for an hour. My grandparents told me how disappointed they were, that I had not learned any lessons from my elders. I was clearly going down a path that we would soon be divorced. It was just so terrible, ... Two days ago was our 32nd anniversary. Which kind of reminded me of what my grandparents had said.
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Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man
We have created an entitlement society where people believe they are entitled to something they have not earned. They simply do not understand that they are not entitled to what they want. They are like a 2 year old having a tantrum in the supermarket. "But I wanna!" It has worked so far in all of his life. When the adjustment comes and he wants what you have, you will be faced with an important decision.
Some of those 'entitled' are one bottom of the economic scale, and some of them at at the top of the scale.
The solutions of today, become the curses of tomorrow.
We invested in Multi-Family-Residences [MFR], that was our nest-egg that eventually allowed us to buy land and build a home here without mortgage. We lost the last MFR when the bubble crashed. Perhaps we were lucky, that property is located between two competing casinos. Once the casinos were built, our tenants were all casino employees. We were able to avoid the welfare crowd. But when those casinos began their lay-offs the boom town went bust.
I remember one day, as I was making repairs on one unit. I heard a young man saying how he was going to shoot police men. He described how he was going to do it, in detail. I followed the sound which eventually led me to the teenage son of a tenant, sitting out on their porch. He had headphones on, and was 'rapping' along with the 'music'. "Ain't no big thing man" [But it sure did creep me out]
Help is on the way! On Wednesday, January 7, I attended the inauguration of Paul LePage to his second term as governor. He was elected with the greatest number of votes for any governor in Maine history and that happened in a field of three candidates. One of Paul's goals in his second four year term is to eliminate Maine's income tax. Lots of states don't have income taxes. Our next door neighbor, New Hampshire has no income tax and no sales tax. However they own the race tracks and liquor stores. Those profits are in essence a "sin tax", but their prices on liquor and wine are still lower than Maine's.
The simple truth is that we don't need all those tax dollars in Maine because our bureaucracy is far too big for a state with just 1.3 million people. We don't so much need to be governed as we need to be served. We need to plow the roads, maintain the bridges, provide adequate policing and jail the crooks and killers. Most other needs can be met through private enterprise.
At the inauguration our new state senators and representatives of both parties were also sworn in. When Paul said he wanted to eliminate the income tax, some of the legislators began to fidget, but none walked out. The tax won't be eliminated all at once. There will be a transition. As an example of how we save money, three large departments were consolidated during Paul's first term. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Agriculture and Forestry are all one department now with one department head. The Maine State Planning Office is GONE. It was a bloated bureaucracy that had been created by Governor King some 20 years ago to create a position for his good buddy, Evan Richert. It went from a two person office to an office with 50 people that in the King administration lorded itself over most state offices. It's gone.
This could turn into a book. I'll just conclude here by saying we should not be distracted by the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth as Maine government relaxes some of its domination over Maine people. As I said above, we don't so much need to be governed as we need to be served.
Help is on the way! On Wednesday, January 7, I attended the inauguration of Paul LePage to his second term as governor. He was elected with the greatest number of votes for any governor in Maine history and that happened in a field of three candidates. One of Paul's goals in his second four year term is to eliminate Maine's income tax. ...
At one time, Paul's goal was to eliminate LURC; returning control of the UTs to local elected officials.
One of Paul's goals in his second four year term is to eliminate Maine's income tax. Lots of states don't have income taxes. Our next door neighbor, New Hampshire has no income tax and no sales tax.
No doubt you are aware of the compensating level of property tax in New Hampshire. My modest Mass. home would be twice as much in property tax in NH. In states eliminating sales and income tax, the uptick in prop taxes will be borne by both homeowners and renters alike. That will probably not fare well for the aging - elderly - population in Maine, as elderly often cannot bear the steep rates in tax on their homes even if they have paid off their mortgage.
I know you all think taxes are really high in Maine, but compared to the Mid-Atlantic states such as PA and Maryland, everything in Maine is less expensive.
And you can complain about the income taxes, but where I used to live the local taxes were as high as where I live now, and the local taxes were a max $100 deduction off of the state taxes, not a credit to take of the total tax bill like it is in Maine. When I moved here, my food was cheaper, my car insurance didn't have to be paid to Allstate(but MASS) for 9 months, my house insurance was cheaper, my total tax bill was 1/2 what it was. Even my trash removal was 1/4 of what I had to pay before. There is not one thing that was the same or more for living here in Maine.
When I paid registration costs, none of it went to the town I lived in, whereas all my registration goes to Bar Harbor. When it snowed it took county town and state services days to remove 10 inches of snow, whereas where I live now, its gone before the storm is over. Where I lived before, good luck if you needed help from the cops; you waited an hour for the state police to arrive. If I call the cops here, there are courteous, and are there in 10 minutes.
People who complain bitterly about Maine simply have no idea what they'd have to pay for a similar dwelling and circumstances in Pennsylvania or Maryland. I just have to laugh.
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IDK but I do think there should be a limit to the percentage of ones income the government can take.
