If you agree that taxing the retired is unjust, is term limits the answer?
822740
You're mixing apples and oranges. And why shouldn't retired people be taxed. Aren't they still American citizens? Why should they be exempt? Some retirees are wealthy, you want to exempt them too? \nHonestly, I think some people in this world want to be taken care of by the government from cradle to grave!
394179
Absolutely NOT!  I believe the tax burden on the poor should be light and that those who are successful and benefited the most from society should carry the larger tax burden.  Our current system is set up to do just that.  A flat tax would be nothing but a huge tax increase on the working poor and middle class and a tax cut for the wealthy.
978702
I agree we should limit terms of Senators and Congressmen.\n\nHeck in my State Michigan we do limit terms of Governor, and State Legislator and ok im a Republican myself but from what I noticed Term Limits for State Legislators have actually made both Republican and Democratic Legislators do their Jobs (as I mentioned I am a Republican but even Democratic State Legislators in Michigan are doing their Jobs just as much as Republican ones even if I disagree with this or that Democratic Legislator cause heck at least that person is doing their Job).\n\nThe Michigan Legislature use to be as lazy as Congress but not so lazy these days since the term limit laws.
772722
First of all, I don't think the govt. will pay any monies to its citizens, due to the welfare issue......Trust me, they will find other ways to spend that saved monies.....But you make a great point, MANY MANY Americans move retire to Mexico every year, due to the lower cost of living....I find that hypocritical.....I mean its bad when illegals come here for a better life, but its ok when Americans retire overthere because of the lower cost of living....
1096854
1996 to 1999, the US Goverment led by President Bill Clinton generate the first Surplus's in 30 years.  President Clinton even began paying down the National Debt.  2001 - 2006, President Bush and the Republican lead Congress double the National Debt from 4 TRILLION to OVER 8 TRILLION DOLLARS with no decrease in sight.  Their solution?  Cut more taxes for the Ultra rich, get rid of estate taxes for the ultra rich.  They cloak their agenda by calling Estate Taxes - death taxes; however, only about 5% of Americans will ever have to pay any Estate Tax.  Thomas Jefferson was a strong proponent of having wealth being disappated at the time of one's death so that we do not have wealth staying in the same family from generation to generation by indicating that the dispersal of wealth is a strong contributor to a strong democracy.  Therefore, whenever, you hear the Republican mantra of 'it's your money'; think more about how the meager tax cuts on most of us benefit those with the most and sacrificing benefits for the rest of us.  Vote for the Party of WE (Democrats) and not the self centered selfishness of the Party of ME (REpublicans).
1046749
Well, yes. But that's only one side of the coin. These same social conservatives are very liberal when it comes to pensions and such.
39730
Yes it is in deep trouble. They should allow younger workes to keep the money and put it in their own savings account with the stipulation it can not be touched until they are 65. This is a simple proposal and I do not see why anyone argues with it.
1102676
Taxes dont work like that..a government/public service is not a choice which benefits just yourself, it benefits the community. You cant say ' i dont want to pay such and such' because someday, you will us that service, and whing when you have to pay! Its a duty we all have to pay , wether we like it or not
605898
I disagree. There are a couple of guarantees. \n1. we guaranteed to pay taxes, one way or an other\n2. we are ALL guaranteed to die one day.
153460
No. The poor are tax payers too.  As a matter of fact, since they save less than others almost 100% of their money is taxed.\n\nAs a tax payer if they need that money to help feed their children and get proper medical care, I don't have a problem at all.\n\nI see lazy people get money from the government all the time.  One person can get a goverment grant for $20,000 to go to college.  They drop out and don't get a degree, but you don't see people lining up saying how college students are abusing our tax money to go to school. \n\nBusinesses get government grants to use for their own personal use. Some of the studies that are supported by the government are an obviious waste of money and will not benefit anyone except the people whose received the grant.  \n\nWhy are we so comfortable with our money freely given to the rich, but prejudice against the poor?\n\nWhat makes this country great is how we treat our empoverished, disabled, elderly, and incarcerated.  \n\nAnd we have lots of room for improvement across the board.
863103
Yes it can be . Anything that you are paid to do is considered an occupation . I hope that  soon enough murderers will stop evading taxes. And murderers soon in the near future will even be getting pension.
54627
You aren't the first to ask. http://www.salestax.org/  \n\nHowever, taxes seem to be more about redistribution of wealth than fairness.
275660
yes i would pay, it will affect your pension when you retire otherwise
456473
Yup.  We don't tolerate taxation without representation.  Why should the reverse be acceptable?
827347
The fairtax would not only improve my life, but the life of everyone.\n\nUnder this plan, I would not be punished for saving money or selling stocks for a profit.\n\nI am not sure why Steve thinks this would increase taxes on the poor, and give huge tax breaks to the rich.  This is simply not true.\n\nThis plan, like many national sales tax plans I have seen has a tax refund for all money spent up to the poverty level, which means the poor would pay nearly no taxes at all.  This plan would give an automatic $10,000 refund for a single person household, which increases for each additional person, meaning the poor would have at least an extra $10,000 a year of income.  If you are poor than you will not buy enough goods and services to surpass the $10,000+ yearly refund, so the net effect is more money in the pockets of the poor.  Remember a sales tax is a percentage of money spent on goods.  If the national sales tax is 23% and the refund is $10,000, a single person who pays $20,000 a year on goods and services, would have paid $4,600 in taxes.  However, under this plan he would receive a $10,000 refund yielding a net gain of $5,400 each year to either spend or save, and if he were to save it, he would not be taxed on the interest earned on the $5,400 savings.\n \nThe rich are the ones spending the most money, so they will pay the most under this tax plan. \n\nThis plan is the most fair, since if you do not want to pay any taxes then all you have to do is not buy anything and you won't pay any taxes!\n\nGreat Question!
623372
That's pretty damn good for a Mayor. My Mayor actually gets a double dip because he was police detective with a retirement. He is drawing $75,000.00 plus his $47,000.00 for detective, and he will get his retirement from the Police, and Fireman Union. He had already had 22 years invested in the retirement. I don't that's fair, you should choose one or the other. The city allows him to have both and all of it. We have a population of 100,000 and are just a ordinary city, nothing special. I call it Republican criminals just like George Bush. Those funds could be going to roads or schools, and or for teachers.
1182864
yes, economically the aging are of no benefit to thesociety they are retiree that need to be feed by the youth population