we_need_higher_taxes_134842.html

LTC Frank D., pretty soon it will be a moot point. Federal Government spending per GDP, unfunded liabilities, Quantitive Easing, ect will all come back to bite us all. Like you stated, politicians have been running up the credit card and at some point and time the bill collector is going to want his money.

MAJ (Join to see) - I've seen programs like this in other countries, and they seem to work quite well. Your assessment about resentment from the left is completely wrong. This is the type of program they would love.

Even in programs not cut, if thats where it goes, there is great room in many to find frugal financial moves. Too many spend government money as though its Monopoly Cash. or as though they'll be able to expense it at the end of the trip (drinks are on me mentality…oh, I mean my company card)

SGT Edward Wilcox - Glad to hear it, now get the DNC to support it they completely opposed it in the 70's and still call it regressive.

MAJ (Join to see) - Again, 'entitlements' do not dd to the deficit, as they are not paid for out of the general fund. Payroll taxes are not a 'replacement' tax, but a way to pay income taxes slowly, throughout the year, instead of having a huge tax bill at the end. "Classical" economists know that trickle-down doesn't work.

SGT Edward Wilcox Tax is a Tax, regardless of which fund it goes to. Payroll taxes are not income taxes, they are completely separate from income tax withholdings as you describe. Trickle Down is the only thing that works in a free market system, it's just a long term result with short term costs, and it only works in a free market, every classical economists knows that.

MAJ (Join to see) - Social Security with holding go into the Social Security Trust Fund. They are not a part of the General Fund. Medicare with holdings go into the General Fund, and are used to pay out for Medicare claims. Both are completely self funded by the with holdings from our pay checks. So, no, a your "Tax is a tax" position is wrong. It does matter where the money goes. Income tax with holdings, as I have stated before, are there to provide a more constant revenue stream for the government, and to lessen the shock, as opposed to paying it all at once at the end of the year.

Give me one example of how Trickle Down has ever worked. The last time we have a truly 'free' market, we had widespread poverty, far worse than now, and a few ultra rich families that hoarded their money, much like now. Trickle Down Economics is a fantasy.

SGT Edward Wilcox - Tax Definition: "a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government." Income Tax and Social Security Tax (See IRS Definition because the IRS calls social security a tax https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751.html) "The current TAX RATE for social security is 6.2% for the employer and 6.2% for the employee, or 12.4% total."
By the very definition of taxes, Social Security is a Tax. It doesn't matter what the Government does or how it collects it's revenues they are taxes. To simplify it when money comes out of your funds and into the Government's coffers it is a tax, regardless where that money goes.
Please provide an example, the only time we've had widespread poverty with a few ultra rich families is when the Government decided outcomes, like the Rockefellers and Carnegie's. They made their forturnes by bribing government officials in exchange for monopolies by limiting competition. Free Markets always work, like you see in 1980's Chile. Give this link a read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_Chile