starrymessenger

Clarity is very desireable whether whether your tax system features a single rate or not. Clarity is the responsibility and should be the objective of the legislative draftsman. Thinking and expressing your thoughts clearly is an indispensible attribute of the legal system, including tax laws. My point was simply that a progressive marginal rate structure by itself probably contributes relatively little to the complexity of tax laws. Taxation is too powerful and effective a tool for the implementation of social and economic policy through its creation of incentives and disincentives that influence and modify behavior. So I think as long as your country in its various activities and endeavours is complicated, and of course it is, your tax laws will be similarly complicated. Compliant rate payers who are also high income earners probably pay more tax under the current rate structure than they would under the flat rate and of course more than low income earners. B-Man makes the point that 10% of a large number is more than 10% of a smaller one. True, but 35% of that bigger number is more than 10% of that number. Its another way of addressing your point that marginal rates are just too high. You think that higher rates for the wealthy (because they are the ones who have to pay them) are immoral. Idk if I'd put it in those terms but ultimately its probably a lever, possibly an ineffective one, against the disparity of social and economic classes. The use and application of the proceeds of taxation can obviously be a much better tool in service of the same goal. If high rates of tax are immoral at least you have the satisfaction of holding the moral high ground relative to almost every other western democracy.

Or Travis Benjamin, who is what Goodwin was supposed to be.

Tax evaders abetted by the wealth management divisions of Swiss and other European banks, and generally individuals and corporations who have the resources to hire expert advisors who can find a way. Amazing how the US tax law enables conglomerates like Tyco to avoid the corporate income tax by setting up brassplate "head offices" offshore. Oh yeah, they do also hold their annual meetings there - anyone up for a trip to Bermuda? For a country that is generally not shy about asserting the extraterritorial effect of its laws its amazing how easy it can be to neuter them. Meanwhile I have no doubt that IRS agents are good at beating up on the little guy they can easily get their hands on because he's not in Bermuda. I'm sure that rich folks would like a non-progressive rate structure and a flat 10% tax. Net marginal rates I would think are for them normally much higher even after application of deductions and credits. And the source of the alleged increased investment is obviously tax savings so whoever is most saving taxes is presumably investing - unless he's just giving it to the Swiss bankers of course. In fairness, an effort is made to correct abuses. When Swiss banks were threatened with loss of their US banking licences it resulted in emergency meetings of the Swiss federal and Cantonal governments, better oversight and large fines. Thing is it usually takes a long time to uncover wrongdoing or practices that are contrary to tax policy even if they are not unlawful. It can take decades. At the end of the day, the top 1% of the tax paying public don't account for much of the national revenue. The rate structure is there more to promote tax equity amongst the different tax paying classes. As for the argument that a flat tax simplifies the tax system and therefore the costs of tax administration, I would doubt that the progressive rate structure accounts for much of the Code's volume. Tax is quite simply too powerful an instrument of social and economic policy, whatever your policy preferences may be, for tax laws to be meaningfully simplified at the end of the day. If you cannot even simplify and clarify the NFL rulebook, good luck taking on the Code and the regulations.

Not to worry. Just another "regional power".

Russia and Boston are running neck and neck in the corruption sweepstakes.

When he was trying to french kiss Kurt Warner.

I think I understand your point of view, but, with respect, IMO it is too narrow a focus.

No, not IMO. Back then his "country" was Virginia. He is a citizen now after all (as a technical matter) and it is known as the "American" Civil War. I can understand African Americans not looking past the politics of the day in considering him. Its a lot to ask and perhaps too much. Speaking as a foreigner we see him as one of your great men in spite of all. He and Grant (and some others who participated in that conflict, it being one of the most important in world history) are giants, and not just of their day.

Wahhabism.

No he's not. And besides, he totally creeps me out.

Dont have any time for white supremecists, but General Lee is without doubt one of the greatest of American commanders and a man of impeccable character. It might be nice if reality were cut and dried, but, for better or for worse, it is complex.

Unfortunately, the barbarous antics we witness today are also Moslem. To that extent Ted Cruz is right. The reason we can say that is because its really nothing new and it continous to have influence today outside of Syria. In the 13th century the House of Saud aligned itself with Wahabism and thats what allowed it to consolidate its hold on the Arabian peninsula. That partnership is still very much in place. Its also true that Moslems as conquerors, Arabs and Turks, have been much more tolerant of non-believer minorities than Christians. At the time of the real Caliphate they were also at the helm of one of the most powerful civilizing influences in human history. Arab moslems were commenting authoritatively on the works of Aristotle when Europeans were living in caves.

Cold Harbour? And just for the record I think General Grant was a great man.

Looks like a wig. Just what we need to make the clown show complete. A cross dressing DC.

Had a great college career and first year pro - almost 800 yards. Second only to AJ Green their rookie year. Did he always have bad hands or, as Yolo suggests, the result of a Browns player "development" program?

How/why did this guy fall off a cliff?

IMO yes.

No dont want him. Dont want EJ either. Taylor goes down and so does 2016.

Burfict is a throwback to the days when intimidation was part of the stock in trade of defenders - Bednarik, Lane, Butkus. Not that I feel sorry for him but its sort of a shame because he is a great player who can absolutely take over a game from his position - like Ray Lewis. Imagine if he had just played the game properly - big sack of Ben, huge interception. I guess lots of linebackers are half baked.

Yeah he's a saint. Guess that's why he got a game ball.

If he comes betcha he'll want Vonn Bell. Dude plays like him.

And that's what the refs "discretion" should be all about. JMO. People know who Pacman and Burfict are but seem to have forgotten who Porter is.

All time great. Father of many other great ones.

Like it. Thanks for posting.

And, lest we forget, theres also Bill Romanowski