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From: ray@vger.UUCP (Ray Swartz)
Newsgroups: net.taxes
Subject: Re: Responses on Schiff stuff
Message-ID: <362@vger.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 09:47:40 EST
Article-I.D.: vger.362
Posted: Fri Mar  7 09:47:40 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Mar-86 00:06:16 EST
References: <1177@decwrl.DEC.COM> <521@mmm.UUCP> <12205@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: UC Santa Cruz, CIS Dept.
Lines: 36
Summary: Indirect Taxes

In article <12205@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, tedrick@ernie.berkeley.edu.BERKELEY.EDU (Tom Tedrick) writes:
>>      Just out of curiosity, how do you propose that the government
>>finance its operation?
> 
> Well :-) here is my plan. All taxes should be "indirect", ie no
> 
> For example, heavy taxes on oil imports and other imported
> goods, taxes on liquor, cigarettes levied on the producers,
> etc. No direct income or sales taxes.

Indirect taxes have indirect impacts!  Taxes on consumption are
notorious for being regressive - actually forcing poorer people
to pay higher taxes.  An example would be a tax on toilet paper.
Since we all use it, those with less money would pay a higher
percentage of their income to the government.

My own complaint about income taxes is not that they are immoral,
illegal, etc, but that they are unfair.  What's wrong with a flat
tax (everyone pay 10% of their income to taxes).  Also, I would
like to see check offs on the tax form so that I can specify
where my tax dollars could be spent - like the presidental
campaign check box.

Lastly, who will make these taxes?  The congress can't even
agree to end tabacco subsidies, increase the taxes on
liquor, or perform any kind of meaningful tax reform.
Indirect taxes would be a nightmare of special interests
buying influence with taxpayer's money.  No thanks.
The current IRS code is chock full of those little goodies.

At least simplicity will hurt us all equally.  I wouldn't
mind being gouged if everyone was gouged the same....

Ray Swartz

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