since taxes pay my and my wife's salaries:

taxes are necessary to provide services that we could not have as individuals but are able to purchase but collectively pooling our money. for example, it takes a huge amount of $$$ to hire a personal police force. but it's not so bad to come up with the money as a city or town.

but as a person hired by the govt, i'll be the first person to jump in the line that screams about excess spending and waste. it ticks me everyday that our budget is wasted on purchases that have no value. and don't forget all the needless regulations governimg how we dispose of funds, etc. and most of the time you get what you pay for (meaning if you don't fund the cops or the teachers or the fire depts or the road crews, you get crappy services)

i also favor a straight tax, whether it's 10%, 24% or whatever. everyone pays an equal share of their income. that's a biblical concept, you know (yikes, mixing politics and religion! )

[This message has been edited by quickdraw (edited 04-17-2001).]

 

I too am an employee of state goverment. Usually gov.'s have enough part time employee's to let go during the tight times so that F/T employee's aren't effected. SC is having large problems with pork spending. My county sheriff needs 36 cars replaced this year but the county can't give him the money. However I can go play softball for free two blocks from my house at a complex good enough for 6 pro teams. And I can primp in the marble walls at the 8 new public library's. I don't know about y'all, but I think if you keep a book warm and dry, people will still read it. Why spend millions of dollars making the library's look like a freaking castle? Gov. spending is going to have to be brought under control, or I see alot more people refusing to play their game in the future!

HR

 

I actually know of a guy that works in the same complex as me that pays no taxes(no state, no federal,no propertyand we don't have a sales tax)one of my friends works with him.Apparently somewhere out there someone has made up all the legal forms that you need to fill out to be tax exempt.He did this 3 years ago and nothing bad has happened yet.I *think* he also got refunded 5 yrs worth of taxes.I do know for sure that he got some back but to to exact on how many years. I do agree on an even % tax so everyone pays their fair share.
What irks me (my ex wife does this) Is when single parents work part of the year. Quit when they get in the earned income bracket and make a killing on a tak return. 2 yrs ago she got 2300 back when she only paid around a grand. ( we alternate years on claiming the little monster )

 

my gramps make about $500,000 a year with 15million divided into different banks

he only pays $100,000 a year