Should we tax only business?

[A18]

I would strongly approve of this, as long as businesses are all taxed at a flat rate.

Then we can placate the idiotic 'populists' who think corporations aren't paying enough, and at the same time get a national sales tax.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

A national sales tax would be crazy. It'd have to be somewhere around 70%. That 23% figure has been debunked.

[A18]

A national sales tax would be crazy. It'd have to be somewhere around 70%. That 23% figure has been debunked.

I said business tax only. I don't care what the rate is. It's an effective sales tax, not an actual sales tax, so prices will just go up in proportion.

[David S]

If we tax only business' we would have to apply a huge tax which would make American products even more uncompetitive with foreign made products.

[A18]

If we tax only business' we would have to apply a huge tax which would make American products even more uncompetitive with foreign made products.

I mean tax all business income from within our country.

[Emsworth]

I am not in favor of such an idea. The increased taxation on business-related income will lead to a decline in investment, and will in the long run harm the economy.

[A18]

No, it'll obviously lead to an increase in prices.

[Redefeatbush04]

And how do you expect us to pay for the ongoing "war on terror"? Unless the taxes are insane - which will lead to, as Emsworth said, a decline in foreign investment in American products - it will never work.

[A18]

And how do you expect us to pay for the ongoing "war on terror"?

By taxing business. Like I just said.

[dazzleman]

I would strongly approve of this, as long as businesses are all taxed at a flat rate.

Then we can placate the idiotic 'populists' who think corporations aren't paying enough, and at the same time get a national sales tax.

Taxing business is dishonest.  Everything in business passes through to individuals.  It sounds good to IMPLY that someone else will pay taxes, but those costs will be passed through to individuals one way or another.

[A18]

I would strongly approve of this, as long as businesses are all taxed at a flat rate.

Then we can placate the idiotic 'populists' who think corporations aren't paying enough, and at the same time get a national sales tax.

Taxing business is dishonest.  Everything in business passes through to individuals.  It sounds good to IMPLY that someone else will pay taxes, but those costs will be passed through to individuals one way or another.

UGH! That's the ENTIRE POINT!

[dazzleman]

I would strongly approve of this, as long as businesses are all taxed at a flat rate.

Then we can placate the idiotic 'populists' who think corporations aren't paying enough, and at the same time get a national sales tax.

Taxing business is dishonest.  Everything in business passes through to individuals.  It sounds good to IMPLY that someone else will pay taxes, but those costs will be passed through to individuals one way or another.

UGH! That's the ENTIRE POINT!

I realize that's your point, but I don't agree with it.  If you want to see the results of making people think they can have a free lunch on an ongoing basis, with no consequences, look at Latin America.  Their politics is distorted by this seesaw between leftism and a cynical and false populism.

[A18]

Polls show people think corporations aren't paying enough in taxes. So I say, give the people what they want.

[Emsworth]

Polls show people think corporations aren't paying enough in taxes.

It is for this reason that we have a republic, not a democracy.

[A18]

Polls show people think corporations aren't paying enough in taxes.

It is for this reason that we have a republic, not a democracy.

The thing is, it's not as if it would hurt anything. It would actually be pretty much ideal in many ways.

Though I still prefer my 16% flat income tax.

[Emsworth]

Though I still prefer my 16% flat income tax.

Wasn't there a general consensus that, accounting for exemptions for Social Security payments and the like, the tax would have to be higher?

[A18]

Though I still prefer my 16% flat income tax.

Wasn't there a general consensus that, accounting for exemptions for Social Security payments and the like, the tax would have to be higher?

We all agreed we wouldn't exempt Social Security payments.