Nevada also has a comparatively low sales and property tax rate with no state income tax (with the exception of the Las Vegas area).

So it is possible to live in a state with low taxes all the way around.

Guess I’m getting old and can’t proof read anymore. It SHOULD READ

I found this today and thought of our exchange. I believe it supports my contention that “Tax Freedom Day” reflects only federal taxes. Also, since about HALF the population don’t pay income taxes, the rate for those that DO pay taxes is probably higher THAN reported, since the reported value is averaged across all citizens.

Getting old ain’t so bad when you consider the alternative.

always,
tony

I found this today and thought of our exchange. I believe it supports my contention that “Tax Freedom Day” reflects only federal taxes. Also, since about the population don’t pay income taxes, the rate for those that DO pay taxes is probably higher then reported, since the reported value is averaged across all citizens.

Take it for wot it’s werth. From:

Newsmax.com
Sunday, August 22, 2010 10:01 AM

2. Cost of Government Highest Ever in 2010

American workers spent the first 231 days of this year toiling to pay off the costs of state, local, and federal governments, leaving just 4 1/2 months to provide for themselves and their families.

Each year, the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation and its Center for Fiscal Accountability calculate the day on which average Americans have paid off their share of the cost of government spending and regulations. This year that day fell on Aug. 19, eight days later than last year and the latest Cost of Government Day ever recorded, according to Mattie Corrao, government affairs manager for Americans for Tax Reform.

“The fact that Cost of Government Day falls in the later part of August is alarming enough. It is even more harrowing that the 2010 Cost of Government Day constitutes a 34-day jump from COGD just two short years ago, when it fell on July 16,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Like I sed, about 2/3

Wow! The line “How many people really need more than 2,500 square feet of house anyway?” Really struck me! Thank you Tony and Linda for the well reasoned and inspiring responses. Wish I had one. Mine is more of a rant…
How big is your family? In my area Asian and Indian families live multi-generational, willfully and happily in 3000 sq ft plus. What is your climate? Interests? Etc. I am not picking on Karen, just the line of reasoning. I have heard this many times from friends on the left who think if we all have the same and live the same there will be no conflicts. Who needs more than X amount of income? We can tax them more. This way of thinking is very dangerous. It is the not in my backyard, as long as it doesn’t effect me “mentality“. This is how societies agree to be sold down the tax/regulation river a step at a time.
Unfortunately, reducing my life or seriously restricting my activities to “Starve” the tax beast doesn’t sound like winning to me. Sounds like loss denial or the perversion of genuine production for subversive purposes. The best revenge is to live well and prosper on your own merits. ~C

PS I know the current game is so horribly rigged that prospering on your own merit isn’t as easy as it used to be.

One time it took FOUR attempts to get my post up.

always,
tony

http://www.amazon.com/Cracking.....0974393606

Seems particularly relevant to this topic, and is very enlightening to say the least.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxfreedomday/

“Washington, DC, March 31, 2009 – Tax Freedom Day will arrive on April 13 this year, according to the Tax Foundation’s annual calculation using the latest government data on income and taxes.
This is eight days earlier than in 2008, and a full two weeks earlier than in 2007.”

With such a gross thing (and I DO mean “gross”), there is just one helluva lot of “slop”.

For one thing, many folks pay no (income) taxes, so if we limit the essay to those that DO, it goes up.
The paper was written several years ago. If you look at 2007, you 4/12 or 33%. in 2008, you get 3.5/12 or 30%.

Alternatively, you can look at the GDP vs the federal budget. In 2008 the gdp was about 14 trillion; the federal budget was about 3 trillion, yielding about 21%–BUT that don’t count the “off budget” items like the wars and Social Security, plus other “goodies”.

I think we can agree, that while the actual number (or percent) may be off, the taxes are too high.

always,
tony

http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/sr165.pdf

“Folks, I think it’s time.”

The nation’s general apathy on the subject might have something to do with the fact that Tax Freedom Day has occurred on April 1st or later for almost 60 years.