You're going to understand the current tax plan alot better after you read the folllowing. Enjoy and share.
Bar Stool Economics
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and 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 would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar 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 beer by $20. "Drinks for the ten now cost just $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 drink for free. But what about the other six men, the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They 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 each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar 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, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the bar, 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 man," but he got $10!" "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!" "That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? 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 the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our 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 anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
I once saw it explained in a bar setting. Wish I could find that little story. It was a very good example of the income tax system as far as which class of people pays what share.
I should have figured Kev would have to be contrary.
Len, I don't necessarily vote along party lines. The sad truth though is that a majority of the Democratic party think like this.
A talk show that I listen to sometimes likes to say "How do you make a conservative angry? Lie to him. How do you make a liberal angry? Tell him the truth." I find quite a bit of truth in that statement, from first hand observation.
Sounds like it is just one step closer to socialism. How long before the government decides that one set of people are more important than another set? For example, this person is more important than you and he needs some of your body parts so since you haven't opted out, we are going to take what we need.
Is she really your friend? If it is always about her, what kind of friendship is that? She needs you? She needs someone to point her in the right direction as far as dealing with HER problems, not someone that will play along. Be gently honest with her and if she can't handle the truth, then is this someone you really want to spend time with?
You love her, but she loves him and he loves somebody else, you just can't win and so it goes til the day you die this thing they call love is gonna make you cry I've had the blues, the reds and the pinks all I can say is............... Love Stinks
I kept the right ones out, and let the wrong ones in Had an angel of mercy to see me through all of my sins There were times in my life, when I was going insane Trying to walk through the pain
Then I lost my grip, and I hit the floor Well I wanted to leave, but I couldn't get out the door I was so sick and tired of living a lie Wishing that I would die
It's amazing, in the blink of an eye you finally see the light It's amazing, when the moment arrives then you know you'll be alright It's amazing, and I'm saying a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight.
Unfortunately, your suggestions are to simple and easy to implement. Our politicians wouldn't be able to "pork" up these ideas. Doing away with the tax code would force thousands of people to go out and get real jobs. This would also have the effect of shrinking the government which few politicians are in favor of.
Since when do politicians follow logic? I'm surprised they haven't tried this already. What better way to get and remain in power than to get the population high. Supposedly intelligent people now fall for the lies and propoganda of the political machine. How much more could they get away with if they could succeed in legalizing drugs that would further contribute to apathy?
I used to think like that however, I think it best to let them see the real me right up front. That pretty much kills it right from the start but better to kill it than to have a budding relationship under false pretenses.
One of the harder things for me to learn lately is to express my opinion without coming across as a rabid dog.
dazzling_dave Forum Posts (1,993)
RE: What would you do if...
I'd say sorry about your luck but I got what I wanted.