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Old 06-07-2016, 12:46 AM
 
Location: ATX-HOU
10,216 posts, read 8,118,333 times
Reputation: 2037

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest View Post
Taxes are theft. There is no such thing as a fair amount of theft.
Don't be naive, it's not a good look. But let's be honest.... it's much easier to complain about it than do something about it.
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Old 06-07-2016, 12:57 AM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,051,710 times
Reputation: 17864
Quote:
Originally Posted by dv1033 View Post
When has anyone every agreed on what is fair taxes?
A fair tax would be one that charges the user for the use of that service to cover costs. Fees and taxes I pay that can be directly attributed to the use my vehicle include the fuel tax (part which already goes to mass transit), sales tax that can easily rival the fuel tax over the life of a vehicle, licensing fees, yearly inspection fees, yearly registration fees, title transfer fees....

All of this revenue can easily cover the cost of me using my vehicle. That's even before we get into things that could be considered borderline revenue like the mutli-billion dollar auto industry paying and the taxes their employees pay. The vast amount of revenue generated from traffic enforcement and things like parking.

To make this fairer we could reduce the fees to just cover administrative costs. With consideration for the sales tax paid on the vehicle adjust the fuel tax to per mile based on the weight of the vehicle which is about as fair as it's going to get. This would drive a lot of long haul freight onto rail where it belongs, everyone will pay a little more in the store for products but in the long run the motoring public will pay less to build and maintain roads.

Bottom line I'm more than willing to pay my fair share to use the road and when you consider the vast stream of revenue generated from vehicles I'm already way beyond that.

If you are going to choose to use mass transit like a bus for example they are often exempt from sales tax and fuel tax. We'll do the same thing with them. Eliminate the funding robbed from fuel taxes, have them pay a sales tax on purchases and implement the same per mile fuel tax with considerations for the sales tax they have already paid. Raise the fares to what it costs to run those services.
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Old 06-07-2016, 07:08 AM
 
25,847 posts, read 16,528,639 times
Reputation: 16025
Quote:
Originally Posted by dv1033 View Post
When has anyone every agreed on what is fair taxes?
Gasoline tax is fair. Fishing license fees (taxes) are fair and pay for conservation and enforcement. Same goes for hunting licenses. Those are fair taxes.

Unfair tax is income tax when you provide shelters and loopholes for the people who pay off the politicians that make the rules.

Unfair taxes are "sin taxes" that unfairly tax legal but unpopular products like cigarettes and alcohol.

A perfect example is the new Vikings stadium built in Minneapolis. When our goofy Democratic Gov's plan to pay for it failed horribly like everyone knew it would (pulltabs if you can believe that for a 1 billion dollar stadium) then guess what they did? Raised cigarette taxes. That's the only way these gutless wonders could think of to close the gap in funding and keep their damn jobs at the same time. So now people who work two jobs, have kids at home and will never be able to afford the cheapest seat in the stadium are paying for it. Just because they are unfortunate enough to have fallen for the Joe Camel ads in the 80's. Criminal is what it is.

No politician in 30 years has been voted out by raising cigarette taxes. See how that works?
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Old 06-07-2016, 09:47 AM
 
Location: ATX-HOU
10,216 posts, read 8,118,333 times
Reputation: 2037
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecoalman View Post
A fair tax would be one that charges the user for the use of that service to cover costs. Fees and taxes I pay that can be directly attributed to the use my vehicle include the fuel tax (part which already goes to mass transit), sales tax that can easily rival the fuel tax over the life of a vehicle, licensing fees, yearly inspection fees, yearly registration fees, title transfer fees....

All of this revenue can easily cover the cost of me using my vehicle. That's even before we get into things that could be considered borderline revenue like the mutli-billion dollar auto industry paying and the taxes their employees pay. The vast amount of revenue generated from traffic enforcement and things like parking.

To make this fairer we could reduce the fees to just cover administrative costs. With consideration for the sales tax paid on the vehicle adjust the fuel tax to per mile based on the weight of the vehicle which is about as fair as it's going to get. This would drive a lot of long haul freight onto rail where it belongs, everyone will pay a little more in the store for products but in the long run the motoring public will pay less to build and maintain roads.

Bottom line I'm more than willing to pay my fair share to use the road and when you consider the vast stream of revenue generated from vehicles I'm already way beyond that.

If you are going to choose to use mass transit like a bus for example they are often exempt from sales tax and fuel tax. We'll do the same thing with them. Eliminate the funding robbed from fuel taxes, have them pay a sales tax on purchases and implement the same per mile fuel tax with considerations for the sales tax they have already paid. Raise the fares to what it costs to run those services.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PullMyFinger View Post
Gasoline tax is fair. Fishing license fees (taxes) are fair and pay for conservation and enforcement. Same goes for hunting licenses. Those are fair taxes.

Unfair tax is income tax when you provide shelters and loopholes for the people who pay off the politicians that make the rules.

Unfair taxes are "sin taxes" that unfairly tax legal but unpopular products like cigarettes and alcohol.

A perfect example is the new Vikings stadium built in Minneapolis. When our goofy Democratic Gov's plan to pay for it failed horribly like everyone knew it would (pulltabs if you can believe that for a 1 billion dollar stadium) then guess what they did? Raised cigarette taxes. That's the only way these gutless wonders could think of to close the gap in funding and keep their damn jobs at the same time. So now people who work two jobs, have kids at home and will never be able to afford the cheapest seat in the stadium are paying for it. Just because they are unfortunate enough to have fallen for the Joe Camel ads in the 80's. Criminal is what it is.

No politician in 30 years has been voted out by raising cigarette taxes. See how that works?
And how many folks are going to agree that's fair?

Again.... Folks agreeing on what's fair has been an issue as old civilization.
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Old 06-07-2016, 02:16 PM
 
Location: Dallas
31,290 posts, read 20,740,494 times
Reputation: 9325
Quote:
Originally Posted by dv1033 View Post
That is factually incorrect. But hey.... you are one of those who thinks railroads are 19th century technology. First you think ingesting 0.04% of your body's weight of cyanide won't harm and now you say this.... Christ..... You are so out of touch.
I guess facts are meaningless to you. That's OK. Lots of people don't like the facts.
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Old 06-07-2016, 02:27 PM
 
Location: Dallas
31,290 posts, read 20,740,494 times
Reputation: 9325
Quote:
Originally Posted by GregW View Post
The important factor is the Chinese are establishing the infrastructure they will use to fuel their growth while we are wasting our wealth on wars to protect existing investments. They are not that far behind and are catching up as we stagnate because we moved our industries to China because their wages were lower and our businesses short term profits higher.
.
"Not far behind?" Now that's funny. Check some stats before you post.

Our GDP per capita is now $55,800. China is just now getting to $14,700 which is where we were 80+ years ago. China is way behind countries like Mexico, Iran, Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, etc. China is right there with countries like Libya, Colombia and Mongolia. And the only reason they are as high as that is their huge government spending programs.

China is a 3rd world country and will be for our lifetime. In fact, given their central planning government model, they will NEVER catch up. Central Planning Socialist governments always fail. Just ask Venezuela, Russia, North Korea and Cuba.
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Old 06-07-2016, 02:28 PM
 
Location: Dallas
31,290 posts, read 20,740,494 times
Reputation: 9325
Quote:
Originally Posted by dv1033 View Post
A billion Chinese don't live abject poverty. That's another factually incorrect statement.
Yes, they do. Go there and you will see how they live.
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Old 06-07-2016, 09:30 PM
 
Location: ATX-HOU
10,216 posts, read 8,118,333 times
Reputation: 2037
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadking2003 View Post
Yes, they do. Go there and you will see how they live.
I have. Terrible pollution but Shanghai and Beijing make Manhattan seem small, just midrises and high rises as far as the eye can see. But their infrastructure is head and shoulders better and cleaner despite how crowded it is. Tokyo is probably the most intimating megacity in the developed world, but again their infrastructure is head and shoulders better.

I know you haven't been to China before so who are you to speak about it?
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Old 06-07-2016, 09:32 PM
 
Location: ATX-HOU
10,216 posts, read 8,118,333 times
Reputation: 2037
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadking2003 View Post
"Not far behind?" Now that's funny. Check some stats before you post.

Our GDP per capita is now $55,800. China is just now getting to $14,700 which is where we were 80+ years ago. China is way behind countries like Mexico, Iran, Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, etc. China is right there with countries like Libya, Colombia and Mongolia. And the only reason they are as high as that is their huge government spending programs.

China is a 3rd world country and will be for our lifetime. In fact, given their central planning government model, they will NEVER catch up. Central Planning Socialist governments always fail. Just ask Venezuela, Russia, North Korea and Cuba.
LOL. You definitely got a grudge about a place you'll never visit. It has worse inequality than America but you are a fool if you think a billion Chinese live in abject poverty..... You're stuck in the late 80s and early 90s.
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Old 06-07-2016, 09:34 PM
 
Location: ATX-HOU
10,216 posts, read 8,118,333 times
Reputation: 2037
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadking2003 View Post
I guess facts are meaningless to you. That's OK. Lots of people don't like the facts.
Let me know when you post some.... I'll still waiting on you to prove how 0.04% is some insignificant number....
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