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

[A18]

What would you pick?

You can set any threshold you want.

[Moooooo]

I think the general consensus is, what, 20%?  I would say 15-20%, but there has to be exemptions.

[A18]

Well, that's basically what I meant by threshold.

A certain amount could be exempt (first $20,000 or $35,000 etc.).

[TexasPatriot2024]

17%

[opebo]

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

[John Dibble]

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

You are insane.

[David S]

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?

[Rules for me, but not for thee]

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. 

[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.

[TomC]

Whatever the rate would be after we eliminated all exemptions except mortgage interest write off and engendered a revenue neutral reform package. I have no clue what that would be.

[12th Doctor]

15% with an exemption for an individual who makes less than $30,000 and an additional $10,000 dollar exemption for each child.  I would then add a 5% national sales tax on high ticket items.

[A18]

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.

[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.

[A18]

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

[opebo]

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

Why should most people care about that?

[A18]

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

[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'.

[A18]

My parents were poor. Now they're rich.

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

[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.

[David S]

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?

[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.

[John Dibble]

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.

[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.