Use Stimulus Money for Tax Relief

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Whenever the government is considering a tax bill, I don't care what they call it, they really just want to get more money from us. For example they were talking about changing to a value-added tax but now it looks like they want to add a VAT to our existing tax structure. The only way to get tax relief is to get help from some pros. We went to http://www.bluetax.com and they got our back taxes reduced.

David Omega of CA 8:51PM May 11, 2010

AND re-examine "EVERY Government Program" for need, effectiveness, waste and fraud...sound familiar?
Think some inexperienced JR Senator read that one day.
WE pay for SO MUCH useless stuff that we cannot afford ANYTHING ELSE.
This HUGE agenda based Congress, Senate AND White House have NO CONCEPT of a "budget".
OUR Healthcare is out-of-control because of Admin Costs associated with processing Insurance Claims, meeting local and Federal MANDATES and Liability Insurance costs.
I was self-employed for 20 years and I usually carryed Catastrophic Hospitalization coverage ONLY. If I needed to go to the Doc or get a Prescription...that was cash.
MUCH cheaper than today AND you didn't have more people in the Doc's office handling claims than you had providing care for the patients!
America is going under because we spend more time meeting Government requirements and shoving paper than we do performing usefull work!

Chris Petty of GA 12:34AM March 05, 2010

First, try and recover the 80% of $1.9 billion stimulus (read American tax dollars) that was SUPPOSED to be used to fund "green" jobs in American but was INSTEAD sent out of country to fund jobs in foreign countries. Of the more than $1.5 billion in question, China just so happened to get $450 million of American tax dollars. This according to Sen. Casey (D) Penns.
Then we lean on Fresno County CA to repay $1 million of $6 million stimulus money it "mistakenly" spent on county utilities and rent rather than jobs for young workers.
Then we take your advice Roff.
And to think that George Bush Senior was lampooned for his "read my lips" remarks. The crap going on smacks hard of treason.

david of ID 2:06AM March 04, 2010

Since the 1970's over 40 years ago when the politicians in Washington of both parties voted and decided it would be good business for the U.S. to discontinue some foreign import taxes but yet to export many of our industrial products with incentives to business owners, they felt they had made the right decision. Especially since in the eyes of Washington the typical so-called rich American citizen didn't have to worry about becoming unemployed or poor because they lived in a rich country with an abundance of jobs. Or so they thought! I'm certain before voting on these measures they had prepared numerous reports, field studies, impact consequences, etc. But more important, was how the passing of these measures would impress third world leaders in their continued alliance with the U.S. It seems that all the planning and the work involved in helping other countries with their economy PAID OFF very well for many in Washington. Every detail, obstacle, point of view and consideration for the less privileged overseas had been accomplished according to Washingtons plan. But what these IDIOTS of both parties were doing without realizing it, was taking away from the American family, their right to live comfortably and free from government interference. Now 40 years later the aftermath of Washingtons STUPID decision then of exporting our products overseas is being realized as millions of Americans are losing their jobs and homes because of the lack of compassion for the American citizen by this Democratic Soc/Communist administration. And I'm certain that many who had voted to balance the scales of fairness by voting for a black man probably felt that they were doing the right thing then. But what Obama a man with hardly any political experience did, was to take advantage of the American people and its system through false compassion and lying to those less fortunate in order to get their vote to become president of the richest and the fairest country on this planet. Now even those millions who are laid off from the industrial and professional sectors who voted for him, I'm certain deeply regret having made the choice between compassion and experience. As millions are now under the stress of losing their job, their home, breaking up of families and possibly losing everything they had worked very hard for. This man is not an AMERICAN! Americans are very compassionate, sometimes they will even put the interests of others before their own. Never before the Obama administration, has the government involved themselves in the social programs of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security because Washington knew that these programs were a nessessity for the survival of its senior citizens who had invested their livlihood for the advancement of the United States and its citizens. But now with this egocentric maniac leading America to its ruin even the senior programs are not immune from economic attacks by this Dem / Communist administration.

BORN AMERICAN of CA 11:44PM March 03, 2010

First I agree with Bill and Norden for sure,Bill always makes and has good points.Tax relief = tax cuts which is even a bigger point.As a country with the seond highest corporate tax rate in the world, how can we really compete or wonder why companies go overseas? If goverment would let companies write of capital investnts faster that will help.Tax cuts to put more money in our pockets to spend will help.If goverment itself would quit spending and promising the world that would more than anything.Go to a FLAT TAX would really really help.We(goverment)must has to stop threatening corporations with more taxes,regulations,unionizing them,EPA rules,heck this list scares me!!And the list goes on with no end in sight.We the people have to get off this mindset of anti rich anti business,without them none of us will have a job.They can't pay for everything.They need all the incentave they can get to invest and expand they can get.And we need the same to get out and spend.Right now the goverment(Obama) isn't giving anyone a good warm and fuzzy feeling.How can it be that everyday people like us can see this but the ones that are supposed to be so smart can't,unless it is their plan,scarey!!
My last cent,historicly unemployment always goes up in the winter due to constuction slowdowns.However, now it should be turning around.For some reason I don't think so this time.

Hunter of WI 7:49PM March 03, 2010

I agree...
Friday the unemployment numbers are coming out. WH is saying snow to blame. White House might be right. Don't know the numbers. But watching the market today there is a lot of worry of second dip.
Market has been saying that for some time. This new push for obamacare could be a factor. But a lot of people fear Friday. obamadebt is unreal and something could happen.
Hope for the best...

Bill Hedges of MO 4:42PM March 03, 2010

Might as well use that unspent $500 billion for something other than political patronage to save government Democratic jobs in 2010 and 2012 elections.
"Shovel ready" was the biggest lie of the Obama administration to date. But then, we now know that if Obama's lips arfe moving he is lying.

Norden of WI 4:27PM March 03, 2010

I enjoy hearing a liberal, off the cuff, discussing economics.
Using Democrat talking points is dangerous thing on site with someone who uses links and a non Messiah believer.
How often I hear Bush caused recession and Republican hate regulation. I just reply with video proof :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo
Of course there is more I can provide.
Cutting taxes to rich increase government revenue. Reason is job creation and rich take their money out of safer areas and invest.
Problem now is unheard of debt level and obama’s agenda.
Yes smaller government is part of the equation. Money is a finite commodity. Our position is not conducive for business growth.
Is reason for my first comment on this article. LaLa Robin Hood economics does not work. Did not work in great depression and will not work today.
Economy was showing signs of improvement after Bush’s TARP expenditure. Takes roughly 6-9 months to show signs. Jobs lag. That was a unique Clinton home loans sub prime mess situation. Obama‘s over compensation devastated the future problems.
The outcome of our present situation is unclear. Only hope we have is gutting obama’s agenda and lowering corporation taxes along with changes author mentioned and smaller government.
Obama job’s saved is a factitious guess. As is his economics.
The longest Bull market in our history was caused by Kennedy-Reagan-Bush tax cuts.
I only hope our Country has the ability to overcome our situation.

Bill Hedges of MO 11:06AM March 03, 2010

“Ten Myths About the Bush Tax Cuts—and the Facts”
“Myth #1: Tax revenues remain low.
Fact: Tax revenues are above the historical average, even after the tax cuts.
Myth #2: The Bush tax cuts substantially reduced 2006 revenues and expanded the budget deficit.
Fact: Nearly all of the 2006 budget deficit resulted from additional spending above the baseline.
Myth #3: Supply-side economics assumes that all tax cuts immediately pay for themselves.
Fact: It assumes replenishment of some but not necessarily all lost revenues.
Myth #4: Capital gains tax cuts do not pay for themselves.
Fact: Capital gains tax revenues doubled following the 2003 tax cut.
Myth #5: The Bush tax cuts are to blame for the projected long-term budget deficits.
Fact: Projections show that entitlement costs will dwarf the projected large revenue increases.
Myth #6: Raising tax rates is the best way to raise revenue.
Fact: Tax revenues correlate with economic growth, not tax rates.
Myth #7: Reversing the upper-income tax cuts would raise substantial revenues.
Fact: The low-income tax cuts reduced revenues the most.
Myth #8: Tax cuts help the economy by "putting money in people's pockets."
Fact: Pro-growth tax cuts support incentives for productive behavior.
Myth #9: The Bush tax cuts have not helped the economy.
Fact: The economy responded strongly to the 2003 tax cuts.
Myth #10: The Bush tax cuts were tilted toward the rich.
Fact: The rich are now shouldering even more of the income tax burden.”
“The Reagan Tax Cuts: Lessons for Tax Reform”
http://www.house.gov/jec/fiscal/tx-grwth/reagtxct/reagtxct.htm
http://www.heritage.org/research/taxes/bg2001.cfm

Bill Hedges of MO 10:20AM March 03, 2010

Remember the equation Gross Income - Expenses = Net Income. Net Income in the real world is like a budget surplus in the world of government. If you cut grosss income, there is less net income, right? Not per Republican logic....
In times like this, tax cuts do not = multiplied surges of investment that create jobs and wealth. Tax cuts for the wealthy just mean the wealthy keep more, and the government must cut services to avoid deficits.
Interest rates are already at rock bottom, so there is no place to go lower. M1 (the money supply)cannot be grown by big drops in interest rates. Bush & Greenspan used all that up.
What does work is building infrastructure that is competitive with the rest of the world - high speed rail, advanced broadband intercom, and material handling that moves goods quickly and cheaply from ports to rail to roads and back. Training our students to work in high skill jobs currently filled by visas from India and China helps too.
The investments we make must have a lasting impact. Tax changes and rebates are only brief injections of liquidity that dissolve into paying past due loan payments and buying lawnmowers. In the end we have fewer services, less growth, and nothing to entice the world to manufacture or sell here.
Fiscal conservatism is not forgoing taxes, it is paying them to cover the mass of red ink we have generated these past eight years. It is creating opportunities that attract wealth while spending responsibly within a speciic long term plan. In the 1950's the interstate highway system created the infrastructure needed to grow this country. Eisenhower (the last true fiscal conservative who was a Republican) saw the benefits of moving goods more efficiently and invested in infrastructure - big time. He also warned against over-investing in the military (yes, and he was a general). That change gave us a huge advantage over our competition. They all caught up though...now we need to do this again with 21st century upgrades.
Tax cuts are yesterday's tactics, and Bush's cuts still are not paid for. Creating INCOME is what will make this government solvent again and improve the jobs picture. If we must cut something, let's cut military spending, end the occupation of Iraq, cut Congressional staffs in half, eliminate government limos, generate solar power on the rooftops of all government complexes, provide more health insurance at half the price as is done by our industrial rivals, stop contracting out government services at twice the pay rate, etc.....
And we must make products again. Handing tax cuts to shop owners who resell Chinese goods does no one any favors....and creates no new jobs. That model results in low salaries, weak benefits, and devalues education.
Someone in the Republican Party needs to find a new economic model...one that works. This tax-cut and spend model has almost killed us.

DeeToo of SC 12:49AM March 03, 2010