Subject: Request for Consideration/Analysis Comment: 1- What was American Gov't like before there were income taxes (Priorities? Were there career politicians? What were the types of problems goverment solved?). 2- Prior to the income tax wasn't the main concern of government just energy, water, transportation infrastructure mainly to allow commerce? Wasn't it mainly commerce that was taxed? 3- Isn't "progressive tax" a socialist concept? Wasn't it free markets and lots of trade that made America great? (I think the tax system is draining alot of peace of mind, energy and resources that could and should be re-invested in other more productive and constructive things). 4- If some "small" tax was collected from everybody-EVERYBODY- would't more money be collected? Especially with a National Sales Tax? (BUT not both income and natioanl tax - or have both but each a very low %). 5- I got serious in my late 40's -after earning little and mismanaging my money most of my life- I worked very hard to increase my income only to find that with all state and fed taxes I now pay 40%. This is ridiculous. With salaes taxes I prbably pay about 50% or even more. I will be very poor in my old age. PLEASE HURRY. I am 52 and I have very little time left to pay off debts and save so I can provide for myself in my old age. It is wrong to penalize hard workers who can and do increase their income. It was not worth all the hard work and long hours -someone else gets my money - and it looks like I will still be poor anyway. PLEASE TAX OLDER PEOPLE LESS SO WE CAN SAVE TO PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES IN OUR OLD AGE. STOP SOCIALISM! 6 - This country is divided between wanting to become socialist and capitalism. Perhaps establish a very low minimum tax for everybody. Then offer additional voluntary taxes for additional services. Such a system might be a way for different groups to pool resources to subsidize the different services they need or want: ESPECIALLY eduation, medical, retirement - and cover the services they want. These funds would have to be managed intact to be paid out with some claims procedure. Even just a few token %'s for say 1/2 the population would probably cover those expenses. I believe that freebies just encourage laziness or trickery to work the system. BUT- still allow and maintain the free capitalist style where people could work hard, accumulate wealth-yet still pay taxes without utterly penalizing hard work. The go-getters, work-aholics would pay more taxes but if you did not penalize their ability to create wealth you would have more poeple playing that game. These are the people who would pay for government, and all the other public works, and various protective and scientific agencies and could also cover safety nets for those that still fall through the cracks. Pleae consider my suggestions and please give us a bit of historical context too. I think we shoud be sure not to forget or destroy our roots. Thank you very much! Sincerely, Caro Locus |