From: athos@apple.com (Rick Eames)
Newsgroups: ba.politics
Subject: Re: HERSCHENSOHN: Flat Rate Tax (Q&A)
Date: 14 Sep 92 16:46:02 GMT
Followup-To: ba.politics,ca.politics
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.

In article <26285@dog.ee.lbl.gov>, mike@fionn.lbl.gov (Michael Helm) wrote:

> You're using a dishonest argument here, using some propaganda-like
> rhetoric & probably some special pleading.  However, the same can be
> applied to your case: I object to your getting a special dispensation
> from estate taxes, because I see it as _stealing_ from me -- my taxes
> would be reduced accordingly if you paid what I see as your fair share.
> [I'm recasting what you say above in the manner you originally said it:]
> Your father worked hard all his life &c?  Well that's too bad. 
> I'm working hard too, rite now.  I want my cut, I don't want to pay for yours.
> I'm busy "earning" my money -- how did you manage to "earn" this inheritance?
> The Puritan in me admires your father's hard work, but doesn't see how
> it entitles you to his booty after his death.  And to add to the injury,
> now that you've inherited this heap of stock, or cash in the bank, you
> want to eliminate taxes on the dividends/interest so you can live a life free
> from the responsibility to support the government whose services you're
> free to avail yourself of.  I can't even support the homeless &
> the handicapped, now I have to support the idle rich too?!?!

1) I don't owe you anything.
2) To me, my parents money is *my* money, just as my money belongs to my
children.  So, it's in the family.
3) I work.  I pay taxes.  I pay more in money than I get in services.
4) The amount of "idle rich" out there is sooooo small that it makes lousy
argument fodder.
5) This tax plan helps one group of people in particluar: the senior
citizens.

Yes, folks, if I had my way, old people would not pay *any* taxes
what-so-ever.  None.
 
> You see the problem?  We haven't either of us convinced the other,
> but I bet there's a lot more of "me", inheriting nothing, than there
> are of "you", inheriting whatever.  It's thems that votes that you
> have to convince, & you haven't convinced me.

That's fine.  Noone has been able to convince me of Boxer's worth as a
candidate either.

> What's this "my money" stuff?  I thot you were _inheriting_ it?  Or
> are you talking about something else?

What, if I inherit money it's not really mine?

> Frankly, I see you being dishonest in your efforts.  If you don't
> want big government then you should work on getting it cut down.  What
> you're saying above is you don't want to PAY for big government --
> conspicuously absent is "I don't USE big government".  I guess it's ok
> as long as someone else picks up the tab?  No thanks!

I don't use government services.  I am saving my money right now,
sacrificing and investing so that later in life I probably won't even get
my social security which they steal from my paycheck as well.  I am
sacrificing now so that my children will be able to have great lives.  The
government has no right to punish me for being intelligent in my investing
and saving.  It has no right to steal the money I set aside for my
retirement and the lives of my children and grandchildren.  If you don't
set aside, if you spend all of your money on nice vacations and big TV's,
it is not then my responsibility to ensure you a good life when you get
old.  You blew it, it's your problem.

--
Rick Eames                               My Opinions Are My Own (not
Apple's)
athos@apple.com

HERSCHENSOHN for US Senate.  Just say "No" to Barbara Boxer.
Newsgroups: ba.politics