Dave wrote:
On Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:18:46 -0400, Marty said:

Dave, can you explain to me how it is, that in america, one can earn
$30,000, spend it all and yet pay no taxes? Are there special lines at
the supermarket market marked "no sales tax at this register"?

In many places, food is not subject to sales tax. Nor clothing to one degree
or another.

To "one degree or another"? So they pay taxes on some things, yes?
Gasoline, televisions, kitchen tables, blankets...... ? If they pay
*any* taxes, on anything, it negates your allegation. As an attorney I'm
sure you are familiar with the concept that if you disprove one part of
a witness's statement, everything else from him is suspect.

Do their
landlords get a special dispensation and not have to pay property taxes
on the places they rent, or on their rental income?

In New York, at least, yes. In fact the gummint is probably providing
housing to them at well below market rents.

"Probably"? You making this stuff up as you go? So if I tell the state
government that I'm renting to low income folks, I get my property taxes
waived? And of course I'll pass that saving on. No wonder I hear so
many complaints about NY state having some of the highest property taxes
in the country.

Do manufactures
have special plants that pay no taxes because the make goods for those
who earn less than 30K?

Generally, we do not regard income taxes paid by a manufacturer as a tax
imposed on the purchaser of the goods. We don't have VAT here. You're
playing word games here, Marty.

No, you made the statement "Do you swallow that line that handing out
money to folks who don't pay taxes is a "tax cut?" I'm merely pointing
out that the old adage about death and taxes is correct. You seem to
think that not paying any Federal income tax is paying *no* taxes, I
assert not.


If you look at the whole picture, those at the bottom pay a greater
percentage than those at the top.

A highly doubtful proposition, particularly if you net all the transfer
payments they receive against taxes paid.

I think that your country is much like mine; if you make enough to have
disposable income, then there are many ways to invest that excess and
get nice tax deductions and credits. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that
I fall into the category that can take advantage of such opportunities,
but I do recognize the basic unfairness of such a system.

"Capitalism, that quaint concept that really nasty men will do the right
thing", can't remember who said it.

Cheers
Marty