The discussion in the media about flat tax, progressive tax, business tax, divided tax, and all other taxes, comes and goes every year. Laffer curve is a big one too. But how much taxes do we pay? Looks like more than half of our money is going to various taxes. Considering that college cost and health care is not included in the deal, the financial strain is huge.
Ratified in 1913, The Sixteenth Amendment, states:
The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Why not revoke the The Sixteenth Amendment and let Federal Government deal directly with the states? States would pay whatever necessary to support the Federal Government affairs and citizens would gain a clearer tax picture.
States would set one flat income tax rate removing any property, use, excise, toll, and fee taxes. Feeling underprivileged? Let's set the tax exemption at $15,000 for single and $25,000 for family of three.
You don't like the tax rate? You move to some other state.
What about Social Security? Well, people should be responsible for their own money. I don't mind taking my contributions and investing it myself. And Medicare? The states already run their health care services, taxes should cover that also.
And local governments? The only tax that would be fair is a sales tax. You consume more expensive items, you pay more. One more thing. There is no need to have a city or county employee for every little task. Cleaning lady getting a guaranteed pension plan after 25 years of work? That's sounds good, but only to the cleaning lady.
