Wow, Where to begin. Can I just answer as a conservative?
| 1> Is it fair that the office cleaner to get to work uses the same value subway token as a middle manager? |
Yes, you are buying a good. Should the Middle manager pay $1/lb for potatoes and the office cleaner pay .50? It is the same potato.
| 2> Should earned income credit be abolished in favor of a tax table set at 1% of taxable income for the first $5,000 and 2% up to $10,000, and 3% up to whatever the poverty line is? Keep in mind that taxable income accounts for the number of dependents. The point is that everyone should pay taxes regardless. |
Actually, I believe in a negative tax. I.e., set the 0 level, and then those earning less get a rebate, even tho none is paid. It would eliminate a lot of over head and bureaucracy.
| 3> The so-called social security matching funds of the employer actually is built in to the worker’s wages, so why pretend that it is charity from the business world? And shouldn’t the self-employed be made to contribute the same 13%? |
The Self employed do (it is actually 12.6%). It is called the self employment tax, and yes I have paid it. It has a very funny quirk. You get W2 wages of 89k, then all your self employment earnings are subject to the 12.6. Even if it is 50k. You earn $90,001, and then none of your self employment wages are taxed. Stupid? Damn straight!
| 4> Since the entire world was fooled by Saddam, shouldn’t other nations also be investigating their own intelligence system? The very same intelligence is lacking now with respect to Iran but we continue to push the panic button. Is history repeating itself here? |
First, Intelligence is not an exact science. It is a best guess and Saddam was very good at hiding his. But in answer to your question, Yes they should. All need to look at why they got hood winked, and try to correct the errors made.
Great Blog BTW.
