Changing Tax Code Would Resolve Issues

Friday, May 21, 2010

Changing Tax Code

Could Resolve Issues

Changing our tax code may solve the immigration crisis.

The passing of the Arizona law, which is a supplement of the current federal law, has sparked attention to the already heated debate of illegal immigration. One of the main -arguments on the opposing side is that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes or cause an unnecessary -burden on the economy and the health care system providing -medical services to illegal immigrants.

According to a report in The Washington Post, "Households -headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, -creating a net fiscal deficit of $10.4 billion" (Fitzgerald, 2004, p. A21).

A proposed solution to handling the illegal immigration issue and rising costs would be to implement the Fair Tax (HR 25, S 296), which is a flat tax on all items that are sold or bought. The idea is to impose a 23 percent tax "only on what we choose to spend on new goods or services, not on what we earn" (Fair Tax 2010).

The resulting law would eliminate several issues with illegal immigrants to include under-the-table payments, not collecting a payroll tax, which is billions of dollars of uncollected payroll tax revenue.

As Americans, it is our duty as -citizens to pay taxes; however, it is the government's duty to make laws that are for the good of every -taxpayer. I believe the time for change is at hand. The current antiquated IRS tax code should be changed and would resolve two -troubling issues at one time, illegal immigration and the rising deficit.

Jonathan Dozier

Southern Pines

Come Hear the Music

For those people who have stayed away from or have never heard of The Rooster's Wife concert series, which is held this time of year at the Postmaster's House in Aberdeen, you really need to listen. Or better yet, come to a concert.

I did not attend for years because I thought that the artists would be bad, and I wouldn't have a good time. I was wrong.

My daughter and I have attended the first two concerts of this year, and the talent level of the performers so far has been nothing short of fantastic. These are performers that in big cities you would be paying $30, $40, maybe $50 to hear in a large, crowded venue, but at The Rooster's Wife adults are only $8 and kids under 12 are free. What a deal!

The atmosphere is wonderful and very kid-friendly, and you can bring your own food and drinks. The -performances are scheduled throughout the summer starting at 6 p.m. most every Sunday night.

If you are looking for a chance to hear some top-notch performances and have a great time, then be sure to come to the next concert. Check out The Pilot's Friday entertainment section to see which artist is -scheduled for that week, and make your plans.

Michael Florence

Seven Lakes North

More like this story

None 2 years ago

Jonathan Dozier's article is on target with resolving unfair taxation by government: Federal, State and local. "Not to mention the Social Security tax, the Medicare tax, the self-employment tax, the alternative minimum tax, the gift tax, capital gains taxes, tax audits, and some major headaches every Arpril 15th", as quoted by Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder (The FairTax Book).

Fairtax Bill (HR 25) was introduced in July 1999 by Congressman John Linder. The bill was held up the last session by then Chairman of the Finance Committee Rep. Charles Rangle (D) New York. Both parties have obstructed or delayed open discussion on the floor for obvious reasons: thousands of IRS employees would join the ranks of the unemployed, companies who file individual tax returns would be out of business, accounting firms and accountants would serve no useful purpose.

Many oppoinents point to England where petrol prices are about $9.00 a liter; but they pay no income taxes. Now the government is encouraging passage of VAT (value added tax) in an effort to subrogate an additional tax revenue masked as a Fairtax initiative.

Governments continuous financial drain on the American people must stop before we become a communist country where the government will provide what they think we need to survive. Taxation begins with laws requiring payroll deductions, point-of-sale taxes, taxes on property for years of possession as opposed to ownership ~ one never owns property ~ Moore County government owns your property. As long as the rent is paid to the tax office, you can occupy your property.

Until the American people elect those who will make changes to out dated laws, we will sooner than later come to the scienaro of "just take it all" so we know we are broke! As opposed to divviting it out at the check out line.

scottgreene 2 years ago

Some people are against the National Sales Tax replacing the Income Tax They support the current income tax system because they say it is progressive (those that earn more income pay more tax than those that earn less income) But the current income tax system is NOT progressive at all!!
With tax credits, deductions and so-called tax loopholes, there are a myriad of ways for very high wage earners to get around the higher tax brackets of this “progressive income tax system”. Thus the percentage of tax they end up paying is LESS than the percentage of tax paid by those who earn lesser incomes.
So these people are supporting an income tax system that does NOT do what it claims it does.
In theory the income tax system may be progressive but in actual practice it is not.
Since the income tax laws are constantly changing, only very wealthy businesses and very wealthy individuals have enough money to hire tax attorneys and CPA’s to constantly monitor the ever changing income tax laws, IRS directives and tax court cases to restructure their business and investment holdings to zero out the “progressive” tax they are supposedly paying. The current income tax system has proven to be extremely inefficient and it is ALWAYS coming up short on what the government claims it is owed.
Therefore tax reform is needed. But it is IMPOSSIBLE to reform the current income tax system because its model is based on progressive income tax tables which then get zeroed out by credits, deductions and other loopholes. Those that continue to argue for and support the current income tax system are actually hurting the segment of the population they claim to be helping – the middle class and the poor. The only solution is a new tax system. And the only argument that should be occurring today is what that new tax system should be. Anyone voicing support for the current income tax system is supporting a tax system that is woefully inefficient, is made up of mind numbing rules and laws that the majority of citizens do not understand and actually harms the middle class and poor of this country.