Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rochester!ritcv!ccivax!rb From: rb@ccivax.UUCP (rex ballard) Newsgroups: net.taxes,net.legal,net.politics Subject: Re: Silly us Message-ID: <433@ccivax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 17:17:08 EST Article-I.D.: ccivax.433 Posted: Tue Feb 25 17:17:08 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 01:20:52 EST References: <513@kontron.UUCP> <750@ttrdc.UUCP> <624@sigma.UUCP> Reply-To: rb@ccivax.UUCP (What's in a name ?) Distribution: net Organization: CCI Telephony Systems Group, Rochester NY Lines: 46 Xref: watmath net.taxes:1027 net.legal:2994 net.politics:13621 In article <624@sigma.UUCP> bill@sigma.UUCP (William Swan) writes: >Silly you, Dan. You say let's get out and vote against these abuses. >2. Maybe the New World colonists should have tried to work things out within > the system 2 centuries ago, too, before running off half-cocked into a > revolution. (Or did they?) Ben Franklin was in King George's court requesting the rights normally given to Englishmen when the news of the Boston Tea Party was announced. (Clever timing on the part of the prime minester). George was about to grant those rights, when the news changed his mind completely - against the colonists. Had the news arrived a little later, we might still be British subjects today. Interesting that the basis of the American revolution was the suspension of rights (required to enforce collection of taxes). Interesting also that the median tax rate during the revolution was much lower as a percentage than the median federal income tax rate of 1984. A New York City resident making $30,000 can pay a tax of over 50% when Federal, FICA (Not officially a tax, but same effect), State Income, City Income, Sales (max 7%), Property (Renters pay, but don't get credit), and Excise tax are all paid. The employee actually recieves less than 50% of the actual money spent by the employer on his behalf. Remember the employers contribution to FICA, unemployment insurance, workmans compensation, federally mandated insurances and taxes. A lottery winner actually won $1 million, and ended up with $20,000 "after taxes". One invester owned utility has to keep 5 different sets of books to satisfy federal and state mandated requirements. Some corporations spend more on the paperwork of avoiding taxes (deductions), than their total employee paid income tax. Many individuals pay more to their tax accountant than they pay in income tax. There are two known ways to raise taxes without a congressional vote. One of those can be done by a person who is not even an elected official. The other requires co-operation between non-elected parties. The group most likely to support "rights" is also the group most likely to raise taxes. Is the authority given to the IRS a sign of eroding rights? Let's put it this way, when a government gets hungry enough, it will eat anything, including human rights.