Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Happy Tea Party Day

"No taxation without representation" was the slogan I learned way back in.... what was it... the second grade? It had to be way back because I don't think they teach that anymore... but I wouldn't know.

Since everything else has been turned on its head in the last two score years why not that old slogan as well. I think today we should shout "NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION". I say this because representation without taxation is one of the problems with our current system of taxation. Many are being represented without being taxed. The end result of being represented without being taxed is the same as being taxed without being represented for those who do pay taxes. My reasoning is that if people who are not being taxed are being represented, it only follows that the representation of those who are being taxed is necessarily diluted. Let me explain.

Bob earns a wage that puts him into a bracket where he actually has to pay taxes. He is represented by Bernard. John on the other hand does not earn enough money to have to pay taxes . He is represented by Jim . Now, since John does not pay taxes he's all about tax hikes so that Bob's funds can be redistributed to the more deserved, such as say..... himself; this of course after Bernard and Jim take their share. Bob on the other hand doesn't like that idea at all. So Rep. Bernard and Rep. Jim have it out on the floor of the House. There's one problem though. By design there are a lot more Jims than Bernards. So who's actually getting represented; the taxed one-Bob ,or the untaxed one-John?

So what's the solution? The answer: no representation without taxation; or we could just do a fair tax . But we all kinda know how that's gonna go , as well as any other fix. because those in the middle are out numbered by those who either don't pay, or who are rich enough that it really doesn't matter... and oh yea, or those like Obama's cabinet members who just shirk paying.

9 comments:

Nancy said...

Well...that was an emot-ional article...

Jon said...

My wife and I were saying the other day how nice it will be when we have nationalized health care. Then, not only will I (still) be paying for my own insurance, Jim will make sure that I now pay for John's, too.

ChrisB said...

I have to point out that very few pay no taxes. Even those who don't pay income taxes generally pay payroll tax, sales tax, property tax, plus all the taxes that are tacked onto our phone, electric, and cable bills.

That said, a lot of those taxes are very low profile. The income tax is very tangibly felt every April, and those who make a profit on their 1040 will probably feel kindly disposed toward those who made it possible (government, not their fellow taxpayers).

Stan said...

Nice, Nancy.

In my view I'm still being taxed without representation. I took a test (actually a few) recently that would show me where I stand politically. According to the results, 1) I'm a centrist, and 2) there are no political parties that espouse my position. If there is no one in politics that holds my view, in what sense am I being represented? Sigh! Where's a boatload of tea when you need it?

Mary Lee said...

Peppermint Tea with honey please. No tax, thank you.

Danny Wright said...

Nancy, I wish I'd taken more time proofing and less time putting all those little faces in there, still, emoting was fun.

Jon, I just hate the idea of being treated by my health care provider like I'm treated at the tag office, or tax office, or worse yet at the permits office. But I suppose it'll be better than nothing when I loose my job. BTW, if you still have a job then, I'll go ahead and tell you now, Thanks.

ChrisB, I'm thinking that payroll taxes are withheld income taxes. Perhaps I'm wrong. As far as the other taxes, all users, buyers and owners pay those regardless of income but they are levied by other levels of government. But the same idea pretty much still applies. As far as the kind disposition, that's proof positive that the government's definitely getting our money's worth.

Stan, Isn't a centrist the same thing as a moderate? You have McCain-a moderate if I ever saw one.

About coffee, perhaps we'd have more success if we made it tea.

Mary Lee, we have peppermint tea. You can come over and listen to my usual dribble and bloviating, except this time over a hot cup of peppermint. But don't expect me to make any more sense in person than I was able to pull off in this post!

Danny Wright said...

Chris B, when I said "But the same idea pretty much still applies" what I meant was that when everyone has a part in paying for something they are more likely to count the cost when voting to fund it.

Nancy said...

Dan...that last comment is pure fear mongering...you should have said...Be afraid, REALLY afraid!

ChrisB said...

I think "payroll tax" is used to distinguish social security and medicare from income tax withholding.