Thread: Tax the rich!

Americans Want Government to Spend for Jobs, Send Bill to Rich







Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless.



They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy.



A Bloomberg National Poll conducted Dec. 3-7 shows two- thirds of Americans favor taxing the rich to reduce the deficit.



Even though almost 9 of 10 respondents also say they believe the middle class will have to make financial sacrifices to achieve that goal, only a little more than one-fourth support an increase in taxes on the middle class. Fewer still back cuts in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare or a new national consumption tax.



These long-standing contradictions in voters’ attitudes toward taxes, spending and the deficit are intensified as the U.S. grapples with the most severe economic crisis in decades, says J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based firm that conducted the nationwide survey. The rich have become an especially inviting target as the combination of a bank bailout and big bonuses stoke resentments, she says.



“People are hurting,� Selzer says. “They want anything that can help and not hurt them more.�



“It’s hard enough just to get by,� says poll respondent Trevor Wofsey, 32, a postal carrier in Big Pine Key, Florida. “We’re being cut at every level: There are less hours at work and they want us to pay more into medical. Food is up, gas is up.�



More ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20...rpmondw8/print



Is greed finally out and is compassion making a comeback? Or are people just tired of it all?

I was watching a show the other night and they were talking to Ben Stein about a war tax on the rich and he was in full support of it. He thought the rich should pay for the war. Now this comes out and people say that rich should pay for jobs.



My question is this....what do people think that the rich shouldn't pay for? I mean this is getting kind of ridiculous.

[quote name='Gypsy' date='10 December 2009 - 02:18 PM' timestamp='1260476319' post='77010']

Americans Want Government to Spend for Jobs, Send Bill to Rich







Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless.



They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy.



A Bloomberg National Poll conducted Dec. 3-7 shows two- thirds of Americans favor taxing the rich to reduce the deficit.



Even though almost 9 of 10 respondents also say they believe the middle class will have to make financial sacrifices to achieve that goal, only a little more than one-fourth support an increase in taxes on the middle class. Fewer still back cuts in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare or a new national consumption tax.



These long-standing contradictions in voters’ attitudes toward taxes, spending and the deficit are intensified as the U.S. grapples with the most severe economic crisis in decades, says J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based firm that conducted the nationwide survey. The rich have become an especially inviting target as the combination of a bank bailout and big bonuses stoke resentments, she says.



“People are hurting,� Selzer says. “They want anything that can help and not hurt them more.�



“It’s hard enough just to get by,� says poll respondent Trevor Wofsey, 32, a postal carrier in Big Pine Key, Florida. “We’re being cut at every level: There are less hours at work and they want us to pay more into medical. Food is up, gas is up.�



More ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20...rpmondw8/print



Is greed finally out and is compassion making a comeback? Or are people just tired of it all?

[/quote]

The problem with taxing the rich is that it hurts everyone below (income-wise) them. The rich tend to create jobs. The rich won't feel the tax... The people who lose their jobs will feel the tax.



We need to look into implementing the Fair Tax. The rich will still pay more in taxes under that system.



I do wish that rich people would give to those who don't have as much.

[quote name='michaelr' date='10 December 2009 - 03:21 PM' timestamp='1260476511' post='77012']

This is pure bullshit. How about this, stop the spending and end the wars. Allow the crash to happen, it is anyway, and stop tossing money at the banksters. How about never allowing cash for anythiners, and become responsible.



But no, the fascist commie government wants to continue this insanity and tax those who still may have a dollar or two.

[/quote]



So 2/3 of Americans are communist Mike?

[quote name='Conservative15' date='10 December 2009 - 03:25 PM' timestamp='1260476711' post='77015']

The problem with taxing the rich is that it hurts everyone below (income-wise) them. The rich tend to create jobs. The rich won't feel the tax... The people who lose their jobs will feel the tax.



We need to look into implementing the Fair Tax. The rich will still pay more in taxes under that system.



I do wish that rich people would give to those who don't have as much.

[/quote]



But, they haven't been creating jobs.

[quote name='Gypsy' date='10 December 2009 - 02:28 PM' timestamp='1260476902' post='77020']

But, they haven't been creating jobs.

[/quote]

I agree... That's why this is a terrible time for large taxes on those that create jobs. It will make unemployment even worse.

[quote name='Conservative15' date='10 December 2009 - 03:30 PM' timestamp='1260477019' post='77022']

I agree... That's why this is a terrible time for large taxes on those that create jobs. It will make unemployment even worse.

[/quote]



Incentives need to be made for those that create jobs. In a deflated market like this where streamlining and efficiency has been maximized, a blanket tax break will just increase profit margins. Companies are not going to expand and hire workers to make a product or provide services that will not be sold or used.