Would you pay more taxes for a better society?

[Ron Green]

Some of us on DU get a chunk of our withholding back every year, and some of us have to pony up even more. Some of us get Earned Income Credit, or have other kinds of tax-relief situations. So would you kick in more tax money for more and better services? and please post what kinds of things you want most from the Government.

[mhr]

1. Simple Question

Do we want a society that supports an economy, or
Do we want an economy that supports a society?

Answer that question and you will have answered the question on taxes.

[Willy Lee]

2. I would like to see the 35% taken out of my check

not wasted on ridiculous military expenditures and used for things that will really make society better. The government has plenty of money. They just don't give a fuck about the well being of their country and choose to squander it on their own self serving political agenda.

[DBoon]

3. I'd agree

Though as a close eyewitness to the LA riots, I would certainly support higher taxes to produce greater justice and social peace.

When people complain about the high taxes in Canada or Europe, they need to consider the alternative.

[Bridget Burke]

4. I end up writing a small check every year...

Single renter with one W-2 form--no fancy tax prep needed.

I'd pay a bit more if it could go to the environment, education, a decent health care system, building up the infrastructure, etc.

[Ron Green]

8. I'll bet you represent many people in this country.

But I think many of them, as another poster has stated, would require that those who are receiving lots of unearned income (trust funds, capital gains, etc.) be more heavily taxed.

[MadHound]

5. I voted for other, here's why

Yes, I'd be willing to pay more in taxes, but only after the following conditions were met. The estate tax is reinstated, the rich aren't allowed to remain untaxed on their offshore assets, corporate loopholes are closed, the rich return to paying taxes at the rate they did in 1960, as do corporations, and we reduce our military spending by half. Also, I would like to see the following programs reworked or introduced, universal health care, a stimulus package for promoting clean, renewable alternative energy sources, ie wind, solar,etc., the return to pre-Clinton welfare programs, with a rise in benefits reflecting the rise in the cost of living, a full and complete funding of election campaigns of all candidates, local, state and national, and a return of the fairness doctrine.

If these conditions were met, and the government still needed money, yes, I would be willing to have a tax hike. As matters stand now though, no, I wouldn't, far all such hikes are doing now is transferring wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich and well off.

[porphyrian]

6. Yes. - n/t

[Just Me]

20. EXACTLY!!! I couldn't choose either of the first two choices because,...

,...they failed to set forth my view. You perfectly reflect my view via a set of conditions!!!

[Cash]

7. Interesting

Still early, but so far there are 5 people who say they get a refund but don't want to give it up (#2 choice) and no one has said they get a refund but are willing to give it up (#1 choice).

[MadHound]

9. Predictable

Those who get refunds are generally in the poor and lower middle class, where every dime counts. Then there are others, like myself, who would like to see some strings attached before they go and write out a larger check to the government.

[Cash]

12. Possibly So

Just for fun, let's say that those who voted this way are those that are "generally in the poor and lower middle class, where every dime counts." Are they saying that any extra money they would pay into the system would not reap for them any more benefits than what they are already receiving?

[Ron Green]

13. I would imagine that many of them are mistrustful of a government that

funds an expensive war and yet does very little about important health and infrastructure needs here at home, and feel that those who control large amounts of cash need to be tapped at a higher level.

[Cash]

15. Maybe

Quite frankly, I don't believe the average "low and middle income" citizen goes around worrying what their fellow citizens pay or don't pay in taxes. They're more worried about themselves.

As far as being mistrustful of government, people have been that way about government for decades on end and I don't expect that to ever end regardless of which party is in power.

[Ron Green]

17. I believe that people are less mistrustful of a government in which they

feel they have a stake. The brilliant move of the right wing over the past 40 years was to convince people that the government was out to take their money and give it to less-deserving poor people, while it's been closer to the truth that less-deserving RICH people have been the beneficiaries.

[ultraist]

10. I'm willing to pay more

I'd gladly pay more to see the poverty rate decrease & social programs' funding increase.

I agree with MadHound particularly on the points that we need to close the tax loopholes for the wealthy & not allow the estate tax to be eliminated. The tax system needs major adjustments. It's simply wrong that the top 6% are getting wealthier while everyone is slipping or falling into poverty.

We also need to manage our spending better by reducing corporate welfare, getting control of no bid contracts, etc...

[Ron Green]

11. I wonder what the numbers would be for this same poll at FR.

They probably have their share of refund receivers over there.

[slackmaster]

14. I'll be willing to pay more only when the money is used more efficiently

Simply throwing more money at a situation does not guarantee it will improve. Let's make better use of the tax revenues we have before any discussion of having people contribute more.

[ComerPerro]

16. Id like to see the rich pay as much in percentage as we do

When you factor in all the taxes we pay, as a percentage of income, and compare it to taxes paid compared to income for the wealthy (such as Bush and Cheney, from their filing releases) they only pay about 20-25%, if that.

[Ron Green]

18. The middle group seems to bear the greatest percentage, since poor people

are in the lowest bracket and rich people have more ways to avoid taxes.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

19. My wife and I do pretty well for ourselves

We're not rich by any means, but we pay a ton in taxes (over $20,000 last year alone). Even so, I'd be willing to pay a lot more if it helps society to advance.

Things like Universal Health Care (capitalized to show how important I think it is :) ), focused math and science education, and environmental controls and cleanup are probably first on my wish-list.

However, I'd require the corporations to start paying their fair share again before committing to a higher tax load for the middle class.

[Ron Green]

21. What surprised me is that more people say they pay high taxes than ones

who get a refund.

[high density]

22. Most of us probably pay enough taxes already

It's just that our government's priorities are very screwed up right now.

[nonconformist]

23. I'd happily give up my tax refund for universal healthcare.

Happily.

[Cobalt Violet]

24. I usually break even. Or...

I owe less than $150. or they owe me less than $150. I don't think that the repug. government spends what they get very wisely. I think we are already paying enought that we should be getting the service I'd like. But we have the wealthfare queen Helliburton to pay.

[AgadorSparticus]

25. i used to be amendable to paying higher taxes if that meant more

social programs, etc.....that was until I saw a documentary on PBS where they figure if the gov't went after corporations and just get them on the money they are hiding under tax shelters, we'd have every imaginable program paid for.

sooo, NO, I do not want to pay more. I want to see corporations held accountable for their share of the tax burden.