Taxes should be Significantly Cut

Taxes are justifiable: Taxes are justifiable and needed. First, the taxes we pay are used to pay for infrastructure, our legal system, educational resources, and economic opportunities that allow people to make a lot of wealth in the first place. Second, providing for our social programs and our safety net raises the overall standard of living in the nation, allowing for more productive employees, a larger number of active consumers, greater entrepreneurship, and a much more dynamic economy overall. Therefore, the wealthy, having done in life with help with society, they can afford to give back to society, and have a moral obligation to do so. Income Tax: Income tax cuts don't have real evidence that it stimulates the economy. The main reason is because during poor economic times, people save more than they spend, and so only deficits will increase, and job growth will be meager at best. Look at the comparisons between the Bush Tax Cuts and the Bill Clinton Income taxes. During Bill Clinton's presidency, the economy was vibrant. Even after the tech bubble popped, economic growth was still strong. [2] After the Bush Tax Cuts, job growth was meager, and made the deficits come about again. [1] [3] [4] Tax cuts are also unfair, with the rich tax cuts not helping the economy the same way as middle class tax cuts. The rich tend to invest in stocks and in financial securities, not buying products and investing in new factories. [4] Plus, the rich pay 35% of their income in taxes, which is fair, see my view on top. Plus, with capital gains taxes accounting for much of the wealthy's income, they only have to pay 15% in many cases. Concluding, tax cuts are not helpful in poor economic times, because they fail to truly strenghten the economy and increase the deficit. Social programs are also eliminated, and you hurt millions of people this way and weaken American households by eliminating the safety net. America needs a stronger future with equal entrepreunerial opportunities. Plus, the top 20% in the USA receive 61% of the total income in America. [7] National Sales Tax We argree here. I do not support a national sales tax, and if one shall exist, it should be small. Still, this is administered by the states, and I don't think the federal government should dictate the states on what their taxes on sales should be. Plus, the sales tax reduces inflation. Payroll Taxes This is an interesting topic. You are ignoring the societal consequences of eliminating Social Security. You only mentioned Social Security, so I will center my argument around this program. First, if you allow workers to withdraw from the program, nearly all of the rich will exempt out of this program because they do not yield. However, then the millions of poor and middle class suffer because of a lack of funds. Then you see the negatives of exemption. The government should help make a broad prosperity in America occur. With social security, literally 11 million people are taken out of poverty (among elderly). [8] This strongly helps the economy, and helps small businesses, who have already receieved payroll tax cuts. Consensus: A broad prosperity that makes America stronger and helps society should be maintained. Property and Estate Taxes About Property taxes, YOUR SOURCE shows support for property taxes. He says at the local level that they are efficient. The source is opposed to a state-wide property tax, saying it is inefficient. I think that a compromise, perhaps among counties would be good idea. About estate taxes, your claims are unsupported. It prevents all capital from being consolidated to a few families. More important, is that many do not pay any estate taxes at all. In 2009, 99.75% of estates payed NO estate tax. The notion that this prevents the poor from gaining wealth is ridiculous. [9] Excise Taxes If they are sold underground, it does not relate to the resolution. If they are being sold, they initially payed the excise tax. Plus, the excise taxes reduces the likelihood that people engage in dangerous/ poor behaviors. The reason this tax is Constitutional is because it the Constitution grants Congress to "lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States." Corporate Taxes I think that your logic is somewhat off. Currently business' profits in the USA is over $1.6 trillion dollars. [10] However, the businesses are not reacting by increasing employment and reinvestment. Compare this to the Stimulus package. It cut taxes on 95% of working families. [11] However, you don't see a boom, a rush seeing consumers spending their new funds on products. This proves my logic: tax cuts don't increase stimulate the economy in poor times. However, I still do favor a reform of Corporate taxes. I think that, since Corporate taxes are already high in the USA compared to the rest of the world, unlike taxes on the wealthy (we are low compared), I think Corporate taxes should be cut by 10%, to 25%. Then, eliminate all of the loopholes, and the tax code will be more efficient, more businesses will be willing to move to the USA, and tax revenues will continue to be stable, instead of eliminated. Gas and Carbon Taxes The goal of gas taxes is to improve transportation infrastructure. They are critical for having a flourishing economy, and with poor ways of moving goods, a nation will suffer. However, this tax is regressive - it hurts the poor more than anyone else. Perhaps a better method of improving infrastructure could come. About carbon taxes, I have no opinion, but am not for them. I support Cap and Trade as an alternative. Plus, global warming is real, I looked at your source and it was seriously biased. A decreasing majority? ONLY 97% of climate scientists belive global warming is man made. [12] I have much more reasons why global warming exists and is man made, but that is not the discussion topic. Plus, I will answer my opponent's question about taxes in the comments. --- I believe that loopholes can be mostly eliminated, and rates can slightly drop as well. The rich can pay their true fair share. Corporate taxes can be lowered by some, and all loopholes eliminated. Conclusion: Taxes should be kept the same for the most part. The USA has a revenue problem as well as a spending problem. Right now taxes collected is only 14.8% of GDP. In the 1980s, it was 18.2%. There is no evidence that tax cuts will improve the economy. The richest americans (top 400) pay less than the middle class at an average of 18.11%. all: [13] Is this fair? My opponent is saying so. America needs to have a stronger future and the government can facilitate a better, higher prosperity in this nation. Sources: [1] http://www.thefiscaltimes.com... [2] http://www.americanprogress.org... [3] http://www.norman-gregor.co.uk... [4] "What You Should Know About Politics... But Don't" By Jessamyn Conrad. 2008. A nonpartisan guide to the issues. [5] http://www.inthesetimes.com... [6] http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com... [7] http://www2.ucsc.edu... [8] http://www2.ucsc.edu... [9] http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com... [10] http://www.huffingtonpost.com... [11] http://www.politifact.com... [12] http://www.skepticalscience.com... [13] http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com...#