Everything Is Bad. Blame the Tax Code.

[Gerald]

WASHINGTON — If there’s one thing Americans of all political parties can agree on, it’s that taxes stink. But if there’s another thing they can agree on, it’s that they hate those jerks who don’t pay their fair share of taxes.

This paradox is at the heart of the ess, fruitless debate over tax reform — and nearly all of the pathologies of politics in 2017. Everyone loves to hate our loophole-riddled tax system. But politicians will never truly give it up: Special tax treatment is a crucial way for them to maintain, and disguise, their power. The result is a tax bill from House Republicans that is months late, has something to infuriate nearly everyone, and barely even pretends to offer the long-promised simplification of the tax code.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/o...&rref=homepage
Eh ... hard to understand?

[STEED]

I don't pay TAX.

[Gerald]

^Zero taxis, I knew it.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Vendor

^Zero taxis, I knew it.

I fall outside the TAX band here in the UK so I keep all my wage packet.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by STEED

I fall outside the TAX band here in the UK so I keep all my wage packet.

I see, bunt of money instead

[Buddahaid]

$500,000.00 mortgage interest threshold basically hurts everyone in the major cities and coastal areas which just happen to be areas where democrats are the majority and home prices are high. Coincidence?

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Vendor

I see, bunt of money instead

Straight in to the bank and straight out again paying bills.

[GoldenRivet]

the problem here is that a dependency has been created.

an entire sub culture in America who are entirely dependent upon others paying their taxes. You have a group of people who either dropped out of high school, or got their GED and immediately went into the baby making business trying to maintain a household with mother crawling around on the floor with 3 kids before her 22nd birthday and father heading off to try and make it all work with a minimum hours, minimum skill, minimum wage job. They coast through the year barely making ends meet, until tax season. when they receive an $11,000 "income tax refund" from the Federal Government.

the irony of calling it a refund is hilarious... because undoubtedly, this household's tax burden was likely under $2,000 for the year - so where did the remaining $9,000 come from?

You and I.

so it could be easy to see why someone would be upset that you "didn't pay in your share" - because in their eyes... when you didn't pay in enough, they didnt get enough of your money.

pretty simple.

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

$500,000.00 mortgage interest threshold basically hurts everyone in the major cities and coastal areas which just happen to be areas where democrats are the majority and home prices are high. Coincidence?

So a single person with a million dollar house only gets to deduct the mortgage interest on the first 500 grand. Hard to feel sympathy here.

[Buddahaid]

Well, yes. There are not many homes available in California in the urban areas that sell for less than that amount. Single? So this is a tax on lifestyles that are not in that traditional comfy looking Norman Rockwell style? Looks like more of a tax on individuality. Where's the freedom in that?

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Well, yes. There are not many homes available in California in the urban areas that sell for less than that amount. Single? So this is a tax on lifestyles that are not in that traditional comfy looking Norman Rockwell style? Looks like more of a tax on individuality. Where's the freedom in that?

Maybe not in Beverly Hills or the Hamptons but there are plenty of houses going for much less than that in urban areas. Are you saying that 90210 residents are really going to be harmed by not being able to deduct the interest on the value of their mansions over 500 grand?

As for Norman Rockwell i'm not sure what a dead painter has to do with it but yeah single as in half the deduction given to two people.

[Buddahaid]

You are under the misconception that California is all about the LA area.
http://www.sacbee.com/site-services/...e13255952.html

And you also miss the Norman Rockwell point. Why must someone live like June Cleaver to enjoy tax benefits? Why does marriage carry a benefit? Only to support an antiquated Christian ideal of what is "normal". And I will repeat, where is the freedom in that? Don't want to live by an arbitrary standard? Then pay more for your freedom.

[ikalugin]

Why does marriage carry a benefit?

While it may not apply to the same degree for the US, in case of Russia I would use the argument from utility - that marriage with kids generates population growth, which serves common good.

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

You are under the misconception that California is all about the LA area.
http://www.sacbee.com/site-services/...e13255952.html

From your link:

The median sales price for homes in California - the middle-priced home in a ranked list - was $393,000 in January 2015, according to real estate tracking firm

Note that the median sales price is still $107,000 under the limit for an individual ($607k for a couple) and again we're only talking about not allowing the deduction of mortgage interest on a houses value over the first $500k/$1M

Maybe California ought to get it's runaway housing costs under control before asking the rest of the nation to subsidize it.

And you also miss the Norman Rockwell point. Why must someone live like June Cleaver to enjoy tax benefits? Why does marriage carry a benefit? Only to support an antiquated Christian ideal of what is "normal". And I will repeat, where is the freedom in that? Don't want to live by an arbitrary standard? Then pay more for your freedom.

Well for one thing they are twice the people so of course they should get twice the tax benefit. Seems like you're saying that you think you are entitled to more than June and Ward just because they live together. Does that include Wally and the Beaver too?

[Buddahaid]

That link is two years old. Runaway real estate is driven by thriving economy so perhaps the CA contribution to the GNP and defense industry should be allowed for despite all the terrible EPA laws restricting pollution and waste that stifle business.

The "rest" of the nation as you put it is economically stagnent.