As a conservative... - Page 6

vossron · 03-26-2008, 06:24 PM

"And I personally think we should get rid of the estate tax, it's double taxation, first income tax when earned and then again when transferred."

I pay my dentist with money I've already paid tax on, and she pays again; it's double taxation. Inheriting is income, and the super rich (the only ones who pay inheritance tax) should pay income tax just like the rest of us.

garland · 03-26-2008, 06:35 PM

Agreed; I pay my property taxes with money I've already paid taxes on; ditto sales tax. Why should "estate taxes" be especially burdensome?

mercymom · 03-26-2008, 06:53 PM

Your dentist paying her taxes and you paying yours are two different people paying taxes, so it's not double taxation at all. The deceased who paid the income tax is also the one who pays the estate tax (it's paid from the deceased's property before it's transferred to the heirs).

Last I checked there is no federal property tax and no federal sales tax either, so no double taxation there as well - different taxing entities.

lizschup · 03-26-2008, 07:13 PM

Nice to see a little honesty - that for most Republicans it comes down to their own piece of the pie.

Zoosermom, I'm curious about your comment regarding McCain and how important perceived strength is. Don't you think being strong economically as a country is a huge part of strength? Did you know McCain admits that he doesn't understand or know much about the economy.

coureur · 03-26-2008, 07:14 PM

>>Last I checked there is no federal property tax and no federal sales tax either, so no double taxation there as well - different taxing entities<<

I pay federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents/gallon with money on which I've already paid federal income tax. Same taxing entity.

I pay state sales tax with money on which I've already paid state income tax. Again, same taxing entity. "Double taxing" happens all the time.

zoosermom · 03-26-2008, 07:20 PM

"Zoosermom, I'm curious about your comment regarding McCain and how important perceived strength is. Don't you think being strong economically as a country is a huge part of strength? Did you know McCain admits that he doesn't understand or know much about the economy."

You asked for my opinion and it is that the economy is a whole other issue. A healthy american economy is good for the entire world, of course, does anyone really think that Senator Obama would take military action if the situation warranted? I don't.

garland · 03-26-2008, 07:22 PM

I do. And in that "if" lies all the difference.

zoosermom · 03-26-2008, 07:30 PM

"I do. And in that "if" lies all the difference."

Oh I think that's absolutely true Garland. I just can't envision any circumstance under which senator Obama would use force. But, honestly, that's his fault because he's never addressed such a circumstance and I have watched every debate, read his website carefully and have a very positive disposition toward him.

DukeEgr93 · 03-26-2008, 07:30 PM

I suppose the difference would be in the threshold for "warranted," maybe?

Kenshinsan · 03-26-2008, 07:32 PM

^^^
Exactly. I see him using force but only when it was ABSOLUTELY necessary, extremely well thought out, and all other options were exhausted. Some may find a problem with this, I do not though.

kluge · 03-26-2008, 07:33 PM

The amazing thing about the knee-jerk opposition to estate tax is that the people who have been indoctrinated into that mindset are so thoroughly impervious to facts. Anyone should be able to determine from observation of everyday life that a big part of most people's estates is the value of assets owned which have increased over time - an increase in value that has never been taxed prior to their death. Add in the fact that the tax isn't imposed on the person who amassed the estate, but on the heirs - and then challenge them to tell you who else should pay the extra tax needed to replace the lost revenue from eliminating the estate tax - and all you're going to get is incoherent blather about "commies" and the truly fatuous "double taxation" riff (does that actually make any sense to anyone?) and the like.

Amazing.

zoosermom · 03-26-2008, 07:33 PM

" suppose the difference would be in the threshold for "warranted," maybe?"

Can anyone give an educated guess as to what Senator Obama's threshold might be?

vossron · 03-26-2008, 07:34 PM

It makes no difference what the taxing entity is, nor who pays the tax. If the heirs get it all, they have income with no tax. Why do we lowly taxpayers even want these super-rich to receive huge incomes tax-free?

garland · 03-26-2008, 07:35 PM

Why hand out circumstances? Why suppose? I think force is pretty rarely warranted, and the last thing I would want is to lay out a blueprint for its use.

And I do know you've been very positive on him. I have said in the past that I could see myself voting for McCain. It's only in the last couple years of his over-willingness to "suppose" that I have turned away from him. He just "supposes" way too much for me. (Bomb, bomb Iran....) Even if I didn't have a son, who is now after some ill-disposed decisions very open to being drafted, I would still be against this over-willingness to believe that military action is the answer.

Garland's law--whatever causes more deaths, I'm aginst.

DukeEgr93 · 03-26-2008, 07:36 PM

For instance, from Time

Quote:

, Sen. Obama at the Texas debate:
My number one job as President will be to keep the American people safe. I will do whatever is required to accomplish that. I will not hesitate to act against those that would do America harm. Now, that involves maintaining the strongest military on earth, which means that we are training our troops properly and equipping them properly, and putting them on proper rotations.

Hopefully, whomever gets the keys to the troop carriers and the aircraft carriers will use them with great care, proper planning, and appropriate resources.