From: pearson_steven@tandem.com (Steven R. Pearson)
Newsgroups: ba.politics
Subject: Re: Taxes? What have the Romans done for us ...
Date: 11 Nov 92 19:27:18 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Tandem Computers Inc.,  Cupertino, CA

In article <1992Nov10.190503.28988@netcom.com>, phil@netcom.com (Phil Ronzone) writes:
>
> [...]
>
> The State (the State of California in this case) takes 8% sales tax on
> just about everything. Let's assume I spend all the rest of my money
> and it is all spent on taxable items.
> 
> 44.4% + 8% is 52.4% of my gross income.

BZZT!  Math check.  The "rest of (your) money" is not equal to 100%
of your gross, so 8% of it is not equal to 8% of your gross.  Assuming
the other numbers are correct, the addition is actually 4.4%.

> [...]
> 
> What do I get for this?
> 
> In no particular order:

The street in front of your house.

The computer network on which you so regularly exercise your right to free
speech.

> 1. Unemployment insurance? I've paid into this since I was working at age 12.
>    I may get two or so years of a check that nowhere remotely begins to
>    cover my missing paycheck.

You paid only in the sense that your employer(s) could have paid you a drib more
in salary if it were not going to unemployment insurance.  Or, perhaps they would
have just pocketed it.  And even they did not pay in as much as you would be
entitled to if you were laid off.

> 2. Social security? The SS check, if I am so unlucky as to end up depending
>    on it, may allow me to buy a fairly tasty can of dog food for dinner. And
>    SS is explicitly not a retirement system.

On the other hand, you can take pride in the fact that you are doing your part
to support everyone's parents and grandparents in their hour of need.  The least
you can do, since it was they who ensured you did have this fine country to live
in.  Despite its faults, it could be a lot worse.
 
> 3. Crime? I own a few guns and live in a safe area. Response time to anything
>    other than a shooting is measured in hours. The only criminal around
>    taking anything is the State itself which grabs half my income every year,
>    and has been itching lately to take away my guns (all criminals like their
>    victims disarmed).

You could always move to the inner city where you might experience a higher
level of police presence.

> 4. Transportation. Nope, nothing I can use in mass transit.

Don't forget that if "those other folks" weren't taking the bus, they might be
taking YOUR car.

>    Based on the
>    number of gallons I buy each year and the direct taxes in a retail
>    gallon of gasoline, the State gets another 1.3% of my gross income.
> 
>    Since I do (supposedly) get roads out of this, I can't count this as
>    a tax that I get nothing from. Subtracting the mass transit subsidies
>    of my gas tax, the State gets another .6%
> 
>    We are now up to 53% of my gross income.

Give or take a math error or two.

>    I won't count the tires and battery excise taxes.
> 
> Schools? Nope, my kid will be going to a private school instead of the
> public butchering yards.

That's your choice.  But again, you should be thankful that the "butchering
yards" (???) are keeping "those other people's" kids off the street and giving
them some hope of finding work later on.  Saves on those other expenses in
the future (jails, welfare, etc.).

> Health? Nope, I have to pay for my own health insurance and my kids.

If you fell on hard times, you might be glad that there IS a safety net.

Perhaps the problem is that you make too much money.  You do have the option
of earning less.  Go on welfare, receive more than you pay in, and feel just spiffy
about yourself.

-steve p.  (opinions mine, no warranty, standard disclaimers)
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