Jake Nieman's Open Salon Blog

Why the Flat Tax is not so Flat

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:04:36 -0400

So the biggest dream of any of these nut job Tea Party folks is a flat tax, of about 15%. That's the number I see most often as being a "fair" tax. So this idea is that everyone, no matter what they make (except those below the poverty line I assume) pays x% for my purposes I will use 15%. So whether you make $50,000 or $5,000,000, you still pay 15%. Now proponents claim that this is a very fair tax because everyone is paying 15%, and they claim it is progressive because the rich do end up paying more, due to the fact that they pay a percentage and not a set rate of say $5,000 per person. So in my example, someone making $50,000 per year will pay approximately $7,500 dollars in income taxes. Now the person making $5,000,000 would pay approximately, $750,000 in income taxes. So on paper this looks great. The rich pay more because they can but it is more fair, because everyone is paying the same percentage of income. But where this "brilliant" idea falls flat on it's face is when you realize what is left over and what can be afforded with it. It turns out that this "fair and flat" tax actually turns out to be regressive, not in that it puts the burden of funding the government on the poor but those hurt most by it, are the lower income. So poor people have less money then wealthy people, this is obvious. Though they are not rich, they still have to live: buy food, pay for electricity and phone, pay for medical bills, and yes taxes. Because these less fortunate people make less money, a greater percentage of there income goes towards those necessities. So what this means is that if the poor are paying the same as the rich, the hit being taken by them is still much greater then it is for the wealthy. When you take $7,500 out of $50,000 you are left with $42,500. In some parts of the country this is ample, and allows for a good middle class life. But in other parts of the country (where I live in NJ is a great example of this) this amount would not pay for groceries and a mortgage let alone trips and college tuition. Now on the other hand if you take $750,000 out of $5,000,000 you the wealthy individual is left with $4,250,000 dollars. More then enough to pay for almost any extravagance. Now I know, these people are entitled to their wealth they worked hard... BLAH BLAH BLAH. But lets remember here so did the poor man, and yet they are the ones who suffer from taxes. The rich are the ones who most complain about taxes and yet many of them do not even pay. They shelter it in Swiss and Cayman bank accounts. Now here's a novel idea, maybe if they actually paid their taxes the government wouldn't have to have such high rates. It is my, humble and honest opinion that a progressive tax is the fairest tax. People often complain that "oh i could have bought a house with the money the government stole (taxed)" and you know what that means... you can still buy a house... maybe even two. Yes progressive taxation makes those who have more wealth pay more money, but it also is the best way to make sure our government is strong, stable, well funded, and able to act on what it must.

The end of the world is Obama

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 16:04:28 -0400

SO... Apparently Barack Obama wants to destroy America. He wants to kill people, destroy jobs, deny grandma medical care and give a nice big bear hug to illegal immigrants. He wants to weaken Americas defences and treat terrorists dare I say it, like human beings... And My one questions is to those who are hating on the president... Why would he do these things, do you think he's some evil mastermind, we know some think he is the anti Christ but that is beside the point. Like it just doesn't make sense. Why would he propegate global warming if it wasn't a problem... what is it an evil plot to have people buy hybrids? And yea he wants to lower our guard so we are attacked, he has actually gone further than the Bush administration in actually ordering assassinations of American citizens. This has long been against the law. On the military/terrorism front, Barack has been terribly disappointing to liberals like myself. Why is all this hate just floating around? Look at the facts please, look beyond his skin, and actually think about it. He is not a crazy liberal he is not a terrorist, He is an American Center Left Politician.

The difference is we have something to strive for

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:03:23 -0400

you say we hate America, you call us communists, socialists, fascists, you say we want big government, and we only care about big government. You may tell us to leave because if we don't like America we should. But what you don't get is we do love America, we care about America and it's people. We do not want our country to sit stagnant, we want it to be the country outlined in that timeless phrase... "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."And we will not be satisfied, until that day when this phrase is true for all people, which has sadly yet to come.

The Founding

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:01:59 -0500

America, the United States of America has two main Documents, which have and will influence history. The Declaration of Independance, and the Constitution (and Bill of Rights). The Declaration of Independance is the basis for our founding. The Constitution is our means of governing. It is my opinion that the Preamble especially of the Declaration is the dream of what America can should and hopefully one day will be. It is all our hopes and dreams that one day all men will be created equally. That all will be able to have life liberty and be able to pursue happiness. It is the constitution that is to be the means to the end which as I said is the Declarations Preamble. Maybe just maybe we will one day get there.

Rights, are Universal

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:12:53 -0500

I have written at length numerous times on the topic of gay marriage. It is a topic in which I cannot see why there is such a divide. The fact is that LGBT people are second class citizens in today’s modern society. They are treated as though just because they love someone who is the same as them, their love is less. I am not gay, I have never been in love, and I am a simple person with a simple thought. A thought shared by a fellow by the name of Thomas Jefferson. A thought that all men are created equal, and are entitled to c certain inalienable rights. Those to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The fact is that LGBT people do not have the same liberties that we heterosexuals have. We as a majority suppress them based on the simple fact that we are different. You can quote religion; you can say god told you this is wrong. But did your god not say do unto others as you would do unto yourself. Are you not all in gods mold, all children of god? For all who say homosexuality is a choice. Who would choose to live in such an oppressed way? Who would choose to live in a way which garners them abuse and hate from people everywhere. When you say that marriage is a sacred institution thousands of years old. I will say yes it is. And it is outdated. Who would want to be driving around a ten year old Chevy let alone a Thousand year old one? The fact is that the people are not always right. The fact is what gives me an individual decide how someone else lives their life. I cannot, I will not. I am amazed by the fact that we as a nation have discriminated against a group at all. The United States Constitution, the Law of the Land, states "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This is meant to end discrimination and say black, white, gay, straight we are all the same. But in reality that isn't true. In deciding Brown v. Board of Ed. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that separate but equal was inherently unequal. So sorry folks, civil unions don't cut it. Gay Marriage is the way it should be Gay marriage is just, it will not change anything for you non gays. It will only right a millennia old wrong. And that would be one small step to a better world.