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-   -   OT - "Truth about Taxes" (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/39138-ot-truth-about-taxes.html)

NW_Jim 12-17-2002 08:35 PM

OT - "Truth about Taxes"
 
The Truth about Taxes
by Kenneth Wangler

Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for dinner.
The bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men-the poorest-would pay nothing;
The fifth would pay $1:
The sixth would pay $3;
The seventh $7;
The eighth $12;
The ninth $18.

The tenth man-the richest-would pay $59.

That's what they decided to do. The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement-until one day, the owner threw them a curve.

"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20."

So now dinner for the ten only cost $80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes.

So the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat for free. But what about the other six-the paying customers?

How could they divvy up the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share?"

The six men realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would end up being *paid* to eat their meal.

So the restaurant owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so the fifth man paid nothing, the sixth pitched in $2, the seventh paid $5, the eighth paid $9, the ninth paid $12, leaving the tenth man with a bill of $52 instead of his earlier $59.

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to eat for free.

But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man.

He pointed to the tenth. "But he got $7!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got seven times more than me!"

"That's true!" shouted the seventh man.

"Why should he get $7 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night he didn't show up for dinner, so the nine sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They were $52 short!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college instructors, is how the tax system works.

The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.

Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up at the table anymore.

Unfortunately, Liberals cannot grasp this straight-forward logic!

--Kenneth Wangler

Boy am I gonna get it for this one....:frog: :drool:

bajabob38 12-17-2002 08:39 PM

Very well put.

HyperBaja 12-17-2002 08:53 PM

Wow, that seems right!!

florida gator 12-17-2002 09:06 PM

Hard work doesn't pay hah?

Ron P 12-17-2002 09:06 PM

Come on Catman, here is your chance. Show us how this way of thinking is correct.

Tinkerer 12-17-2002 09:24 PM

AMEN

mopower 12-17-2002 09:37 PM

Well guys,
The way I see it is:drool:

1 The first four eat free because they're poor

2 The guys in the middle pay the most , because the have SOME money and no power to decide who pays what.

3 The guys at the top have expense accounts paid for by someone else (I.E. the government , their company , etc), so they , in effect pay nothing.

And this my friends is called REALITY:rolleyes:

OOPS almost forgot about the $20 discount.
That goes to THE guy at the top because he had advanced notice and headed it off before any one else heard about it and pocketed the whole thing:hothead:

Now laugh to keep from crying:crazy:

Tinkerer 12-17-2002 09:57 PM

That is a joke-- Who pays for the expence account. - DA - the guy that owns the company. So if you say the guy that owns the company has the expence account than who pays it? Where does the money come from??

skat 12-17-2002 10:39 PM

(1-4) paid nothing because they are already on the Govt. teat.

(5) Works at McDonalds part time and lives in Govt. housing with
(3) above. He just got a 100% tax deduction and now pays
zero.

(6) is a hard working blue collar factory worker who just saw a
33% reduction in his taxes and is greatful.

(7) is the head of engineering in the factory where (6) is
employed and received his 28% deduction with great joy.

(8) is the sales manager in the same plant and has talked with
(7) about increasing their 401K contribution with the 25%
money he is now saving.

(9) is the general manager. His saving appears to be 33% but he
is scared to death he is going to be downsized due to poor
margins. He has watched corporate wealth decline due to
the Stock Market bubble burst and the manufacturing slow
down since Feb. of 2000. He knows he is next if things don't
look up.

(10) ownes the business where (6-9) are employed. He already
matches all employees Federal and Social Security taxes. He
has absorbed several insurance cost increases and has a
401K matching plan for his employees that comes out of
company profits. His company pays corporate taxes and has
had an assessment made against him to clean up the metal
filings left by previous property owners listed on the phase 1
environmental study. New regulations now make what was
not a problem when he bought the property a violation that
must be dealt with. His personal deduction was 12%.

That is the picture you should see.

Playn 12-18-2002 07:17 AM


3 The guys at the top have expense accounts paid for by someone else (I.E. the government , their company , etc), so they , in effect pay nothing.
Someone else?????????

Let's see now, The Government doesn't MAKE any money, It TAKES ours! So EVERYTHING they do they do with OUR hard earned money!!!.

Companies?? That big, mean spirited, rich corporation I work for and all the rich expense account benefits they give the management? It's MY company! We are frugel because I went into business to allow ME to PROVIDE a better life for my family. The companies money IS MY money. We are over taxed, over regulated with paperwork that creates a heck of a burden and negatively effects the bottom line of the company.

Pay Nothing????? Are you even serious???

The people that CREATE jobs are taxed beyond belief and THAT MY FRIEND IS REALITY!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

riskybusiness 12-18-2002 07:42 AM

That "the richest 1%" B.S. has burned my *ss since it started. It is literally lying with statistics (ever heard that phrase?---'happens every day):mad:

Whenever I discuss the issue, particularly with a liberal Democrat who loves to spend my money, is by pointing out that, if there is a 5% tax cut across the board, dollar for dollar, who will save more money---me or Bill Gates?

Of course, Bill Gates would, but that is because he paid in $20 billion in taxes, and I didn't. He deserves to keep more, because he pays more. Why should I villianize him? He pays more in taxes than the next 50 generations of my family will ever make in their lifetimes. I want my tax break, but in fairness, he should get his at an equal percentage.

I use Gates as an example, because I respect him for his accomplishments (for the most part).

Unfortunately, too many abusers in this country have realized that it is easier to ride in the wagon than to pull it.:(

Before long, there will be more riding in it than pulling it.

And for those of us who choose to pull it, we carry the weight of all the others.:hothead:

bajabob38 12-18-2002 07:51 AM


Originally posted by riskybusiness

Unfortunately, too many abusers in this country have realized that it is easier to ride in the wagon than to pull it.:(

Before long, there will be more riding in it than pulling it.

And for those of us who choose to pull it, we carry the weight of all the others.:hothead:

Now that's telling it like it is!

Chris288 12-18-2002 08:15 AM

I couldn't agree more, pisses me off beyond belief watching these people ***** and complain that they are un-fairly done by..

Reality is that the dems. feed off the poor, promising them more programs, government assistance and health benefits for ALL (which of course WE are paying for) while my benefit contribution goes up and my coverage goes down, all the while bashing the rich for being wealthy.. who the hell do they think pays the taxes in this country... GET REAL !!!

I watched some liberal democrat stand in front of a crowd spouting off about Bush's so-called tax cut. He told the crowd (mostly lower class) that his tax cut would be able to buy the Rich a new lexus, while they could maybe afford the MUFFLER..

Uncle Toys 12-18-2002 09:32 AM

There are two tax rates at which we know exactly how much revenue we will take in, which is zero. Those rates are 100% and 0%. Somewhere in between is the optimal rate, why don’t we find it? After that the government needs to learn to live within its means – like everyone else! :eureka:

The rest of the debate is twaddle.

Uncle Toys 12-18-2002 10:01 AM


Originally posted by catmando
I have no problem with anything said here. As a middle-class businessman myself, I share your frustrations with the tax structure as it stands now. We need to get rid of this inequitable, antiquated progressive tax sytem because it demotivates those who create jobs. I am for either a flat tax or a sales tax, whichever is more equitable and easier to collect.www.mylegacyforlife.net/lifesavers
Somebody pinch me, I agree with Catmando :confused: :confused: :confused: Most be the season;) Merry Christmas Bro :D

CRUBOSS 12-18-2002 12:23 PM

WHAT PLACE IS ALL THIS GOING ON ? i want to eat for free !


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