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[Ya-ta Boy]

Going all the way back to 'No taxation without representation', taxes have been a central issue in American politics. It actually goes back even further in our history. The English Civil War was also triggered in part by taxes and that war helped people New England with Puritans.

Biden recently addressed the question and Joe Klein wrote about it. "And Biden's right: in a system of progressive taxation, it is the patriotic duty of the wealthy to pay more than the middle class or the poor...and furthermore, since we're all going to be paying for the mess the Wall Street sharks made, I'd go Biden a step further: there probably should be a confiscatory shark tax for any and all executives whose companies have gone belly up and required a federal bailout.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/patriotism.html

Jon Sanders responded with an article that may win a prize for repeating every single extremist conservative stereotype/distortion on one page.

He dubs paying taxes "patriotic." He did this on ABC's "Good Morning, America," saying that while Obama would increase taxes on the wealthy, "It's time to be patriotic." And has said it in it political rallies, telling a woman who said her friends are worried that under Obama they faced a tax increase, that she should say to them: "It's time to be patriotic."

Now this is a very strange definition of patriotism. True patriotism is not something that is demanded or coerced with the implicit threat of violence the way taxes are. Nations that demand acts of patriotism tend to be dictatorships. They also tend to be run by socialist blowhards, but that must be mere coincidence."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/when_democrats_attack_your_pat.html

Ever since California's tax revolt that started with Proposition Whatevernumberitwas about 25 years ago, lowering taxes on the wealthy has been a regular policy in Washington. With the financial collapse and the soaring deficit, it's clear somebody is going to have to pay the bill.

Question: What is your stand on higher taxes?

[RJjr]

I wish we would cut spending. But if we're not going to cut spending, we need to raise taxes high enough to pay for all of this bullshit up front. It's definitely unpatriotic to saddle future generations of Americans with debt because we're a bunch of wasteful fatasses.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've always been something of a fiscal conservative, believing that you don't buy what you can't pay for. I'm usually for a social program but believe that Congress has to figure out a way to fund the program, even if it means reducing expenditures elsewhere or raising taxes. I feel the same way about wars. You raise taxes to pay for them as you go.

I also feel that progressive tax systems are fair. Not long ago, Warren Buffet (not a raging socialist) made the point that it didn't make sense for him to be paying a smaller percentage in taxes than his secretary.

All during this decades-long tax revolt I've felt people were being unpatriotic, putting self before country. I don't think it's evil to think of all of us as one family, with obligations to each other. For example, it's perfectly correct, in my opinion, to tax people with no children to support public education. I see it as one of the obligations in life.

No surprise, but I agree with Biden.

[Jandar]

Taxes are stupid.

If the government wants money they can print it.

Then the rich and poor will suffer equally under inflation.

[Cornfed]

[Jandar]

Cool.

I may have over simplified.

[Big_Bird]

Paying tax is your subscription to a civilised and progressive society. I have never resented paying tax.

[Pluto]

The Government isn't a proper mechanism for income redistribution. In fact, Governments have only proven themselves to be masters of inefficiency in this regard. Generally speaking, government/state power should be limited to protecting and securing the individual rights of its citizens, nothing more and nothing less. Paying taxes for this government obligation may be considered patriotic. Paying taxes to support useless, and perhaps counterproductive, bureaucracies such as the Dept. of Education is not.

[crusher_of_heads]

Paying as little taxes as possible is patriotic!

[Cornfed]

[Kuros]

[mises]

No.

[Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee]

Yes.

[PBRstreetgang21]

[Ya-ta Boy]