This sums it up

8 Comments »

1. Yes, it sucks to pay taxes. I am saying this as a poor college student who does, in fact, pay taxes. But shouldn’t we be more concerned about where this money is going and how responsibly it’s being spent? Education, health care, jobs, renewable energy all need funding, and you can’t have it both ways. So it’s either higher taxes or crappy government programs. I vote higher taxes, and yes, I’m willing to (and do) pay for them.

   By the way, sales tax, vehicle tax, and cigarette taxes are all luxury taxes. We should be willing to pay more for luxuries. If you don’t want to pay a higher sales tax, shop at Target instead of Hollister. If you don’t want to pay vehicle taxes, ride the bus (I know many who do). And for goodness sakes– we should be taxing the crap out of cigarettes! I believe that and I SMOKE.

   End rant.

   Comment by Hannah — April 15, 2007 @ 4:17 pm

2. So you like the DFL party???

   Comment by Lacey — April 15, 2007 @ 9:00 pm

3. I guess some people don’t understand that it’s not where the money is spent, that’s not the issue that is on the film, anyone can tell that by watching it.
   The issue is this: the DFL party LIED. If there is over a 2 billion dollar surplus and they need to spend 530 million dollars there is no reason that taxes need to go up. I don’t even pay MN taxes any longer and I find it to be a crock. If the 530 million is “well within the revenue the state takes in each month” why are we raising taxes.
   Even if they did spend the 530 million I do believe that means there would be 1.47 billion dollars left. Now I’m no math major but I believe that should be more than enough left over for a rainy day.
   Also, sales tax is the same if you shop at Hollister or Target it’s a flat percent not based on the store so either way you’re screwed because the DFL party decided that they once again don’t actually care about the people they just care about lining their own pockets as shown with previous posts about how much their per diem has gone up this year.
   And let’s see over half the population in MN lives outside the Twin Cities and thus there is no bussing system so yeah there goes that arguement for over half the population.
   I believe the moral of the story is the DFL should figure out how to do programming without raising taxes because MN has enough money saved up for such spending projects already.
   P.S.
   I am glad that I now live in a state where our legislature gets their job done in 2 months instead of 5 and without special sessions.

   Comment by Lacey — April 15, 2007 @ 9:18 pm

4. Yeah but the DFL party needs to feed their family. I hope the tax money is going directly into their pockets. Thats what good politicians do is look out for themselves. Go Minnesota I am proud to be from the great state. I hope their sessions get extended again becuase they can’t decide on a budget. More money is needed Tax Away.
   Moral of the Story: Move to South Dakota – you may become a hick but least you don’t have to pay state income tax.

   Comment by Barry — April 15, 2007 @ 9:23 pm

5. I’m usually up for a good rant. Especially when it comes to economic policy. So here goes:

   I first want to say that I strongly believe in the power of the free market. I consider this the basis for most of my economic thinking. This being the case, I see little need for high taxes and large government. I think the job of government should primarily be to make and enforce laws. They should be looking out for and protecting the citizen by who they were elected.

   Because I believe so strongly in the free market, I see very little need for any entitlement programs which use up so much of our tax money. I don’t think that the wealthy should be taxed in order to support the poorer. I see far too much of this taking place throughout our country. I won’t, however, go so far as to say that we should abolish SS, medicare, medicade, and other social service programs. I would suggest that these be better managed and have a lot stricter standards for paying out. These programs should be for only those who truly need them, not those who for who the program would simply make their life a little easier. Call me cynical, but I don’t think life is meant to be easy.

   Even while saying this, I believe taxes should be collected for the benefit of the public. Government is in power for the good of the greater public, not special interests. There are some things that only the government has the resources to improve: transportation, judicial system, parks, etc. It wouldn’t be wise for private groups to undertake these type of projects. These are for the betterment of the whole country. Thus, I call them public goods, things that everyone can use without detracting from someone else’s use. It is from this stance that I would say we should be taxing things that take away from the standard of living of our citizens: cigarettes, alcohol, etc.

   Wrapping up, I would say tax for the purpose of improving things that the private sector has no ability to provide. Tax in order to better the life of the public who elected our government. Tax for those that truly can not provide for their own needs. Otherwise, the public is better off using their money in they ways that they deem it is best used. Now that is the way we can ensure consistent economic growth.

   Comment by BGerdin — April 16, 2007 @ 8:51 am

6. Ok, so I can’t say I expected my opinion to be received well. No, I’m not neccessarily a DFLer but I am a fan. And if you want to throw the term “liar” around, I can think of a few of the GOP to whom this applies. It’s politics.

   At least no one can dispute me on the necessity of cigarette taxes…

   Comment by Hannah — April 16, 2007 @ 1:25 pm

7. [...] due to the response from the other post I figured I’d expand upon taxes here, and how they’re good, how they’re bad, and [...]

   Pingback by All About Me » Taxes — April 16, 2007 @ 8:20 pm

8. Sales tax is the same no matter what store you shop in. Plus there is no sales tax on clothes. So I could buy a shirt at hollister, or at Target and not pay any sales tax.

   I could go on in a number of posts on this topic.

   Comment by bleaus — April 16, 2007 @ 8:28 pm

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