Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax

Reagan's tax cuts increased actual revenue received by the Federal Government. And being the Federal Government, they went right out and overspent their boon.

Actually, I do.

What you're talking about is a clumsy, merit-less regurgitation of the labor "theory" of value typically championed by clueless college activist-types.

I own the business, I put up the money, I get the benefits. At best, you work for me for an agreed upon rate providing the services I require. If you don't like that setup, you're free to start your own business, put up your own money, and reap the profits.

An obvious and blatant lie.

Preemption. Jenee, please don't respond with any variation on bullshit like "Well they couldn't have made those profits without my labor on the assembly line, therefore I deserve more than the wages we both agreed upon when I was hired." I don't want to get out the cattle prod, but I will.

I'm afraid that's not possible. See look:

That is visible evidence that you have no idea what goes into it.

Yes, because my all my previous posts over the last year or two have led you to believe that I type out detailed posts of exactly the point I'm trying to make and that I would never exagerate or downplay when trying to make a point.

It's a hell of an exaggeration. You are comparing the act of owning a business to the concept of divine right while comparing the owner to a king and the employees to serfs. You are implying that starting a successful business does not entitle one to the greater share of profits despite the amount of work, risk and capital the owner has to put into it.

Not to mention the fact that, more often than not, when starting a business, the owner works exponentially harder than any of his employees, and often doesn't get to enjoy the material/financial fruits of his labor for years, even though the "serfs" have been paid every week for their contribution.

Well, William and his Army fought very hard to wreste control of Britan from ... Edward(?). They deserved the fruits of their spoils, didn't they?

but ..., 800 years later, did their decendants deserve those fruits as well?

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks is "deserved."

exactly. It all comes down to power.

King Harold. Why are you still comparing a business with a monarchy? It is not at all the same thing.

Back on topic, the income tax originally only effected the top 2% of income earners so I have no problem with a graduated income tax not hitting everyone in the country even though I end up paying a good amount to it.

It has nothing to do with power. It has to do with who made the money.

Should my business grow to the point at which I can save and invest and grow wealth that I cannot hope to spend before my demise, it's my right to use each and every legal means to keep as much of that money out of the hands of the government, and deliver it to my heirs. I made the money. I decide who gets it after I'm gone.

Since I'm in that position, it's going to stay in my family, and not given to some bureaucratic monster who wants to throw money and the least common denominator as a means to buy their votes.

You're leaving out the part where people are getting more back in the refund than they paid in to begin with.

Honestly there are so many exemptions and tax credits that businesses almost never get hit with the corporate taxes and instead income taxes only effect people not corporations. Nonincorporated businesses like sole proprietorships can get hit with the income tax but for $300 they can incorporate and get out of paying it. Any decent accountant can show you how.

No, it comes down to who has a legitimate claim to a piece of wealth, and you thinking you "deserve" it more than someone else who you feel doesn't really "need" it is completely fucking irrelevant. If you are paid the wages you agreed to when you were hired, that is the end of it. They owe you nothing further.

People can always ask for more money and then leave if they don't get it. You're not stuck with the original salary at all.

You haven't been reading my posts.

I don't think the rich should be taxed more than others. I just think you would make excuses for whoever is in power whatever the circumstance.

As for taxes, if you've got the money to spend, tax it. If you don't have the money to spend, don't tax it.

Why should the business be taxed at all?

Could we see some links to these "points" that you're claiming you've made here in the last couple of years? Because I don't recall ever seeing one.

Then I suppose it's a good thing I wasn't looking for your approval.

When half the people FEEL NO PAIN WHATSOEVER for increased government spending (because they pay ZERO federal income tax), the path to catastrophe becomes clear.

Everyone has to have skin in the game. Everyone. I don't care how little you make, you should pay something. A situation where a majority can vote itself priviledges paid for by a minority is extremely corrosive to a republic; it turns a republic into a democracy, and democracies aren't stable forms of government (which is why we weren't designed to be one).

And since wealth is relative...

We're gonna take all your money above what we think you deserve to live on and give the rest to the bum on the corner...because next to him you might as well be Oprah Winfrey.

Was anyone here upset about this between 2000-2008, or were you all just too busy spending your refund checks?

If one adjusts the figures for inflation, and growth that was happening anyway, that's not so clear.

And for the huge tax increases Reagan signed into law in 1982 and 83 that undid most of the previous cuts. And for the fact that when Reagan took office we were hit with a major recession in which tax revenue was abnormally low because of the recession--compare with Obama looking forward, and note that it doesn't matter a whit whether federal tax rates go up or down while Obama's in office; federal revenues will almost certainly increase considerably either way because of the state of the economy when he took office.

Of course it worked, the economy was due for a cycle of growth and the oil glut hit.