If you had to pick a flat federal tax rate...

[opebo]

70% with a $60,000 individual exemption and an $80,000 exemption for family of four.

[opebo]

70% with a $60,000 individual exemption and an $80,000 exemption for family of four.

You are insane.

No, this would be the best way I could think of to approximate a reasonably progressive intent into a 'flat tax'.  It is my way of saying the flat tax is a silly idea.

[opebo]

70% with a $60,000 individual exemption and an $80,000 exemption for family of four.

OK we know you don't have to pay SS taxes, but do you actually pay any taxes to the US?

I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

[opebo]

Maybe opebo's crazy tax rate would "work" if we all got our "free" bread-line health care, and heck we probably would have actual bread-lines. 

I'm allowing you $60,000 tax free!  If  you can't  buy health insurance with that I don't know what to tell you.

[opebo]

70% with a $60,000 individual exemption and an $80,000 exemption for family of four.

You are insane.

No, this would be the best way I could think of to approximate a reasonably progressive intent into a 'flat tax'.  It is my way of saying the flat tax is a silly idea.

No, it's the best way you could think of to approvimate an insane progressive intent into a flat tax in order to impoverish the American public, and ensure that no one gets rich.

Most people aren't going to get rich whatever the tax rate.

[opebo]

No one is going to get rich under your tax plan.

Why should most people care about that?

[opebo]

Because most people would like to get rich, and would also prefer a decent economy.

They're dreaming - the likelihood of a poor getting rich is exceedingly remote.  A more reasonable course of action would be to vote in 'Eurosocialism'.

[opebo]

My parents were poor. Now they're rich.

If your tax system were in place, we'd be middle class.

How sad.  My own parents were, if not poor, pretty close (almost everyone was poor in the 1930's), and they're now richish.  But why should most working class voters care if you and I were condemned to middle class incomes?  I'm just saying I am amazed that in a democracy the majority would mind that.

Anyway I don't prefer a flat tax, I would prefer a progressive tax with many rate levels, which would be a little less harsh on people at your family's level and mine.  But since I had to come up with a flat tax proposal, this is what I came up with.

[opebo]

Because most people would like to get rich, and would also prefer a decent economy.

They're dreaming - the likelihood of a poor getting rich is exceedingly remote.  A more reasonable course of action would be to vote in 'Eurosocialism'.

Seems to me that you've made a hard left turn from capitalist, to democrat to socialist. May I ask what brought that about?

Nothing's really changed - I always thought capitalism was great for the upper class.  I always had a fairly marxist understanding of how the economy works.  However now I'm just making the point that the majority of people would be voting in their economic interest if they voted for some redistribution.

[opebo]

Because most people would like to get rich, and would also prefer a decent economy.

They're dreaming - the likelihood of a poor getting rich is exceedingly remote.  A more reasonable course of action would be to vote in 'Eurosocialism'.

Seems to me that you've made a hard left turn from capitalist, to democrat to socialist. May I ask what brought that about?

Nothing's really changed - I always thought capitalism was great for the upper class.  I always had a fairly marxist understanding of how the economy works.  However now I'm just making the point that the majority of people would be voting in their economic interest if they voted for some redistribution.

'Marxist' and 'understanding' probably shouldn't be used in the same sentence.

I don't know why libertarians are so reluctant to face the fact that Capitalism, while it works exceedingly well for the top few percent of the population (primarily the owners),  is not particularly helpful for the lower classes.  You can still prefer it, just be honest about its effects.

[opebo]

My parents were poor. Now they're rich.

If your tax system were in place, we'd be middle class.

It used to be a lot easier to get rich than it is today.

That is so true!  It was like falling off a log in the post-war era, through sometime in the early to mid 1970's.