tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post112690521600559162..comments2023-10-29T10:54:58.681-04:00Comments on Vox Baby: A Katrina Tax SurchargeAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1127240093408050792005-09-20T14:14:00.000-04:002005-09-20T14:14:00.000-04:00I'm with you. Raising targeted taxes probably isn...I'm with you. Raising targeted taxes probably isn't a great idea for all spending, but for things that are supposed to be temporary (iraq war, katrina, etc) doing so seems to make sense. it would be interesting to see how much more accountable the spending would be if folks actually saw that they were paying for it every week. as is, nobody seems to care about the graft and waste in gov't Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1127026361239600702005-09-18T02:52:00.000-04:002005-09-18T02:52:00.000-04:00If we need something to cut then Iraq should be nu...If we need something to cut then Iraq should be number one on the list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126997694513149602005-09-17T18:54:00.000-04:002005-09-17T18:54:00.000-04:00"Taxes may be bad, but deficits are surely worse. ..."Taxes may be bad, but deficits are surely worse. What's the explanation for why future generations should have to pay for this one, too?"<BR/><BR/>Well, some of the expenditure will be in the nature of capital expenses such as levees and bridges.<BR/><BR/>If, more revenue is needed, and I think that it is, and has been, we should find other sources than the income tax. Given the close connectionFat Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05131003998982897093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126980688455387422005-09-17T14:11:00.000-04:002005-09-17T14:11:00.000-04:00$200 billion divided by 270 million people comes o...$200 billion divided by 270 million people comes out to around $750 per person for Katrina.<BR/><BR/>Or put another way, U.S. GDP is around 11 or 12 trillion. $200 billion for katrina is around 2% of GDP. This is equivalent to a household with a median income of 44,000 spending around $800 to $900 to fix something that broke in the house. People can shop at Aldis, carpool, buy more efficient Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126922406420663412005-09-16T22:00:00.000-04:002005-09-16T22:00:00.000-04:00one more:based on means-testing, raise the amount ...one more:<BR/><BR/>based on means-testing, raise the amount of social security benefits for retired people subject to fed income tax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126921422707734302005-09-16T21:43:00.000-04:002005-09-16T21:43:00.000-04:00On CNBC, both professional investment people (a bu...On CNBC, both professional investment people (a bull and a bear) did not think taxes should be increased. None of them believed govt borrowing would crowd out investment. None of them thought gigantic deficits were a big deal.<BR/><BR/>Everyone was young. I get the feeling like they were in grade school or less during the 1970s. I also wonder if any of them have seen real adversity and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126911531862626322005-09-16T18:58:00.000-04:002005-09-16T18:58:00.000-04:00The stock market "gains" today may not have been "...The stock market "gains" today may not have been "real" gains. All the fiscal spending and debt accumulation may lead to inflation.<BR/><BR/>There is a lot of "ums" and stammering when the President speaks.<BR/><BR/>On taxes, some sort of compromise with the Clinton era would be nice - put the highest marginal income tax rates at 37%. Put capital gains and dividends back at 20%. peace-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8537995.post-1126911431824118142005-09-16T18:57:00.000-04:002005-09-16T18:57:00.000-04:00Forgive my lack of deep knowledge on this point bu...Forgive my lack of deep knowledge on this point but I fail to see why deficits are "surely worse" than higher taxes - other than from an ideological viewpoint. While I tend to agree with the concept that debt should be limited (especially in the hands of politicians), I completely disagree with the implied idea that debt is necessarily bad. The money that is borrowed goes to grow the economy, so Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com