Posted by alexandra_k on November 15, 2005, at 14:39:27
In reply to Re: justice » alexandra_k, posted by AuntieMel on November 15, 2005, at 14:01:44
((((Auntiemel))))
:-)
:-)Hello.
> You seem to have some incorrect impressions of the US.
:-)
Okay.
> We *do* have progressive taxation.Okay.
>Granted the tax code is complicated and there are tax shelters and loopholes...
Yeah. We have those too... Apparantly, thats what 'personal finance management' is all about... Knowing relevant taxation laws. You don't want to 'avoid' your tax by breaking a law (that would be illegal), but you are allowed to 'evade' your tax by exploiting a gap that a law hasn't been made to plug at that present point in time. And I guess... Personal finance managers pay their own way... Hmm... Hmm... And there are things you can do... 'Charity' is tax deductible etc etc.
>but for the most part even the rich pay their share.
I guess it depends on what you mean by 'pay their share'. I would say... (Just as an example). Yeah, Bill Gates worked hard. And yeah Bill Gates had a good idea or two or three. But did he work millions and millions and millions and millions of times harder than you or most of the people you know??? I think the answer to that is no, he did not. So how come he gets to keep (invest) all the wealth? I think he could stand to be paying a little more in taxation... I think most of the people living in billion dollar mansions... The 'hardworking' movie stars and models etc etc could stand to be paying a little more in taxation... And paying a little more in taxation wouldn't impact on their practical lives very much at all... Yet that could be made to have an enormous impact on the lives of the people who are really struggling (if well spent, admittedly).
> The rates this year are roughly between 20% and 35% for single people and between 20% and 35% for married couples.For which tax bracket? Sounds high for the working class (I bet some people really struggle there). Sounds... low for the top few... But I guess it really does depend on the available loopholes. How much people who are investing can get around taxation laws. Easy to make money once you have money and know how to invest it wisely...
> The first 10,000 to 15,000 (roughly) of income is not taxed. The rates apply to money above that.Okay.
> Low income people with kids get a credit, so they can end up with "negative tax"
Welfare? We have the 'domestic purposes benefit'. That means... If you have children younger than school age... You have enough to stay home and look after them (which is terrific for all those single parents out there). Is it that kind of thing??? How long can you get that for? Just wondering because I heard the unemployment benefit was capped to a maximum of 6 months in a persons lifetime.
> We also have programs for the poor, what your article calls "welfare"?
What sort of programs?> But - like I've said we also have, at least in the part of the country where I live, an expectation that people will help themselves.
Help themselves how?
> The state I live in instituted a program several years ago that was designed to recognize that all education is not created equal. The top 10% of graduates of all schools (even the poorest with the most disadvantages) are guaranteed a slot in a state university.Okay. And the top 10% is governed by... standardised tests... Still... Hard to know how else to do that I suppose... I guess we have similar with university entrance tests... Dare I say... Not all state universities are created equal... Does it really work like that???? So if you live in New York and you manage to get in the top 10% of your school... You are guaranteed a place at the State University of New York??? How are you supposed to pay for your 'guaranteed place'?
>You can't be bumped out by the rich kid across town because the rich kid has tutors and all the help he needs.
:-)
Though... Think how much more likely you are to get to be in that top 10% with tutors and help and encouragement from your parents etc etc.> And there are programs to help pay for this.
:-)
> And as an acknowledgement of school inequality the universities have "remedial" programs to get the kids who need it up to standard.I have to say...
I favour that over 'affirmative action'. Oh yes I do indeed :-)
> And *that* is what *I* call fair.Okay.
Though...
What about the inequalities of native ability.
One kid has the native ability which combined with a little hard work could get them in that top 10%...
Another kid doesn't have that native ability but with a little hard work they can do unskilled labour...
The first kids earning capacity (after completion is ____)
The second kids earning capacity (after completion is ____)I appreciate...
Things are much more complicated than I'm aware of. Because each state has its own laws and way of doing things as well as the federal stuff.
And... Charity work is something that I think people are bigger on in the US than they are over here. Especially... When most scholarships have loads of space for you to list your charity work. Seems to be... Very nearly a pre-requisite for scholarships as a matter of fact. Seems to be something that most people... Do in fact do. So in a way... I think that maybe in the US people are more generous with individuals doing that kind of thing. Whereas over here... People aren't typically so generous with volounteering their own time. Maybe because... We think it is part of the role of government. And... We have already done our bit as individuals because the government took our bit already in tax.Hmm.
And that is my one post for today.
No more.I'll allow myself another tomorrow :-)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:578654
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050924/msgs/578988.html