Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.

[Freeper]

kentuck (61,890 posts)

 
Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.


That is a quote attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes.

He also said, "A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in colour and content according to the circumstances and time in which it is used."

But if we look at taxes in today's context, we have to question whether or not we are paying enough for a "civilized society" or if our society is deteriorating from lack of attention? Is everyone paying his or her fair share of taxes?

I suppose it would all depend on what type of society we would want?

Personally, I see little value in wealth if it is not to make society better. I want the best roads, the best rapid transit, the best schools, the best jobs, the best workers, the best of everything. What other purpose could we possibly want with wealth, unless it would be for personal greed or aggrandizement? And would that be favorable or good for a society? In my opinion, that would be negative and bad for our society and something we should discourage as a democracy.

Therefore, it is bad for us as a society to put a limit on how much wealthy people should pay in taxes. It is detrimental to say the top limit should be 39%. It is anti-democratic for a society to favor the wealthy in such a way, in my humble opinion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002850566

How does the tax code favor the wealthy? The wealthy pay a majority of the tax bill, the poor pay no taxes at all, and a lot of them get a "refund" every year which is much more than they paid in. Then you have the wealthy jerks like Buffet who wants everyone else to pay more yet won't pay what he owes.

bemildred (61,788 posts)
1. And the higher taxes are, the more civilized you can be. nt

 

deaniac21 (6,113 posts)
2. SOAK THE RICH!!

kentuck (61,890 posts)
8. For greedy people...

It doesn't much matter so long as they make more and have more than their neighbor. They do not need wealth they cannot spend, simply for wealth's sake. They should be punished for such a vile character.

You should be punished for being a huge idiot.

How is it that the people who aren't trying to get money from everyone else is considered greedy? Yet those who want to take money from other people are considered charitable?

If you want money go out and earn it.

[jukin]

As soon as the 49% of Americans that do not pay taxes pay taxes. Until then it is just theft.

[USA4ME]

Side note:  I didn't know until yesterday that the bluegrass primitive lives in Colorado City.  He had some thread up about being able to see the fires in that area from his house.

No wonder the little commie is miserable.  Colorado Springs is where the AF Academy is located and is a good conservative area.  They must laugh at how stupid he is all the time, that is if he ever leaves his house for them to see him.  The quack's online virtually 24/7/365.

.

[Bad Dog]

Pretty sure Oliver was talking about OPM.  Like all dummies.

[Evil_Conservative]

I'm far from rich, but feel as though I pay more than enough in taxes.  I never see my tax dollars being used to actually improve something. 

DUmmies, google North Las Vegas disaster

Thank you.

[franksolich]

How is it that the people who aren't trying to get money from everyone else is considered greedy?

Good question; it needs to be asked of the primitives more than it's usually asked.

Yet those who want to take money from other people are considered charitable?

The prime example--but there's tons of such examples among Democrats--being Vast Teddy, who was generous with other people's money but managed to keep every cent of his own.

If you want money go out and earn it.

One's intensely curious how much taxes the bluegrass primitive pays; one suspects he's part of the 48% that doesn't pay income taxes, but that's not the whole question.  Add up what the bluegrass primitive spends in sales taxes, gasoline taxes, excise taxes, liquor taxes, &c., &c., &c., and subtract that from his welfare checks or other governmental assistance, and I'll bet the number's negative, what he pays in taxes.

[Tantal]

bemildred (61,788 posts)
1. And the higher taxes are, the more civilized you can be. nt

Using this logic, if we'd tax everyone at 100%, we would be in absolute heaven. Kill yourself, bemildred.

[Aristotelian]

If taxes are the price we pay for civilisation, then would it not follow that only taxpayers are civilised?

Given that the vast majority of the DUmp is made up of those who scrounge far more of the government than they would ever pay into it...I suppose that makes then utterly degenerate.

[Bad Dog]

Using this logic, if we'd tax everyone at 100%, we would be in absolute heaven. Kill yourself, bemildred.

Recall the words of Chief Dan George in "Josey Wales" about being civilized.  Endeavor to persevere.

[Tantal]

If taxes are the price we pay for civilisation, then would it not follow that only taxpayers are civilised?

Pretty much. The producers in this country basically just pay the layabouts and criminals not to riot. Look what happens when the freebies dry up for a few days. They damn near had riots in Georgia when a glitch caused the EBT cards not to get reloaded.

[Kyle Ricky]

I am proud to pay taxes, but not the 1950 era taxes that those retards want us all to pay.

[Chris_]

I pay taxes to fund police, teachers, and the fire department, but liberals want to put all of them out on the street so they can give that money to babymamas and do-nothings.

[Kyle Ricky]

I pay taxes to fund police, teachers, and the fire department, but liberals want to put all of them out on the street so they can give that money to babymamas and do-nothings.

That and illegal immigrants.

[I_B_Perky]

I pay my share of taxes dummies. Now for the million dollar question... do you?

[NHSparky]

I pay my fair share--and then some.

[oldcrow]

As a geographer, this just makes my head spin. Taxes are not responsible for civilization,nor do they allow for civilization,SURPLUS food production is what allows for civilization. Without surplus food production we'd all be subsistence farming or hunter/gatherers.