America the myth

[Turtle]

71 posts from this thread were moved to the thread “ The US Pledge of Allegiance”. Although the original thread actually started with this post, It and 70 other pledge-related posts were moved to this separate thread because of member requests and because they are specifically about the Pledge of Allegiance, while the original thread has become a forum for discussion of myths about America in general

___All cultures have their myths. What's the common phrase... the American Dream? How many folks worldwide seek the Brazillian Dream or the French dream in comparison?
___The American Myth is as worthy as any.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

I love this land hate the government. Gotta take the good with the bad I guess.
But I cannot understand why americans would rather live their lives wearing blinders
and ignore the many ways our government which is sworn to protect the rights guaranteed
by our Constitution and the Bill of Rights instead eliminates, modifies, or just plain tramples them whenever it suits the govts. agenda. I can provide countless examples of rights violations that are supported by every level of government that the average joe never even thinks to question. Ex . You have the right to own property. Home owners if you think you own your home think again every year your local govt. blackmails you. They call it property taxes and or schooltaxes... name one other thing that you purchase once but pay taxes on for as long as you own it. or for that matter has taxes based on what they feel the value of the property rather than what you paid or the actual sale value. Fail to pay the randsom to keep your home they take, it sell it, pocket the money, and if you still had a mortgage at the time leave you holding ther bag... Now did you really own your property or were you just renting it from the govt. ? (YOU still have to pay off what was left of the loan not them)

Do a little home work and you will find that all of your rights garanteed by the constitution and the bill of rights are only there if your benifiting from them suits the current regime's agenda (in short are severly limited if at all).

How many times has the right to peaceful assembly been crushed under the boots of the military machine because Uncle Sam didn't like what the protesters had to say?

None of this is anything new. In a nation founded on the principle that all men were created equal why were africans slaves, then second class citizens, and still not considered in the eyes of law makers as equal until nearly 200 years after the birth of this country.
Why were native americans sluaghtered and driven off of their land by the same govt. when as men they were equal and therefore entitled to the same rights as any other citizen born here?

-more later-

[goku]

i think you should have titled this thread american government the myth
i do agree that the gov is corrupt, and if they take away our guns there will be nothing to stop them.
we only need one tax, sales tax. the more expensive items you buy the more tax you pay, hence, the rich pay more tax, the poor pay less.
i think about 15 cents on every dollar should do it. this way everybody pays tax.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

I whole heartedly agree. But I have always thought a flat all inclusive tax of 10 percent would be the way to go. "All inclusive" meaning one tax covering all branches of govt. paid by all citizens 10 percent from the poorest to the richest. no more sales tax no more property tax etc. just income tax 10% flat out that's it.
What could be more fair the more you have the more you have to lose without police fire and military protection.

As far as gun control is concerned I am firmly against it. A hunting rifle is not much of a match for an m16 full auto or any of the military's other toys either.

And yes AG the Myth would have been better!

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by DFINITLYDISTRUBD

… I have always thought a flat all inclusive tax of 10 percent would be the way to go. "All inclusive" meaning one tax covering all branches of govt. paid by all citizens 10 percent from the poorest to the richest

In fiscal year 2004, the total income of individuals in the US was about $6,700,000,000,000. The total amount of federal income tax paid was about $1,922,000,000,000. In order to provide the US federal government with the same amount of money, a flat tax of 29.7% would have been required.

For the federal government to have taken in as much money as it spent (that is, not had a $307,000,000,000 defecit), a flat tax of 33.3% would have been required.

These numbers include only federal income tax.

I believe you are substantially underestimating the percentage that would be required for a comprehensive flat tax, unless government spending is dramatically reduced.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Is that before or after taking out earned income credits and all of the other "deductions" that people use to avoid paying their fair share? I personally know of at least a dozen people (my ex for one) that get between 4ooo and 5000 dollars back annually but pay nothing in. Makes sence don't it I have 2 kids I'm a student my wife is a student we both work and our returns never look that good. My ex has only 1 minor left at home collects SSI and still gets 5000 back every year if this type of nonsence were discontinued along with a few other BS programs I think 10% would suffice.

Incidently other common deductions would be eliminated these include: mortgage, student loans, kids, property taxes(which apparently in some states is tax deductible)(maybe even at the fed level, don't know the misses handles our returns) and I imagine there are others but they elude me right now.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Just remember I said every body pays 10% as apposed to the current system where many people either pay nothing or very little. I would be willing to bet that if you added up the income of every person in the country then multiplied it by 0.10 there would be enough possible with a surplus. (though I think that everybody that registered and voted for govt. officials that employed defecit spending during their term should pay the 33.3333% to repay on the debts run up during their term!!!! Darn republicans shame shame! )

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Hello? anybodythere

[Turtle]

___I am not a side & there is no need to shout. Not all threads garner responses & some languish quite a while before they do. Patience practiced here.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Oh, well I've run out of steam anyway.
I had really hoped to find people that felt strongly for pro or con
no point beatin a dead horse.