A Tax Compromise

[bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com]

American conservatives who complain that the bottom 50% of households don't pay enough of their fair share of taxes often also advocate for a flat tax. What advocates of a flat tax don't often address, consider, or even care about is— (1) the plight of low-income and impoverished households, (2) the fact that the 1.45% Medicare tax is flat, and (3) the fact that the 6.2% Social Security tax is regressive.

I would gladly forfeit the current flat Medicare tax, regressive Social Security tax, and progressive federal income tax structure for an all-three-in-one flat tax on discretionary income, defined as:

The amount of [a household's] income available for spending after the essentials (such as food, clothing, and shelter) have been taken care of.

(Image links to source)

Despite the flat rate, the tax paid under a flat tax on discretionary income would be effectively similar to taxes paid under the current system for all current tax brackets— with the notable exception that the roughly third to half of American households without any discretionary income (i.e., impoverished and low-income households) would not be burdened with any federal taxes.

Also, if anyone has or can access better data on discretionary income in the U.S., I'm interested.

Visit Mom OR ELSE!

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12130140

In response to its ballooning elderly population China is considering making it a legal duty for people with elderly parents to visit them. Elders could even go to court and sue for the right to be looked after by their kids.


First, doing this would take away the fun of threatening to stick old ladies back in Shady Pines. (That's a reference to the TV show The Golden Girls for those who don't get it.)

Second, this is wildly impractical on so many levels. One, you can't get blood from a stone so if someone's kids are barely making ends meet themselves how would forcing someone else on them benefit anyone? Two, what about people who live very far away from their parents or overseas? Third, what about parents who were abusive to their kids? Can you imagine someone who hit or molested you as a kid taking you to court and demanding that you look after them in their dotage?


Frankly, this all just smacks of how clueless to reality and practicality some aspects of the Chinese government really are. I can't help but wonder if this isn't some final swing by the Old Guard who know that in every way their time is running out.