POLITICS: Value Added Tax To Pay For Social Security?

Scoffing at the idea of raising the payroll tax above the current $90,000 dollar level, Representative, and chair of the House tax-writing committee, Bill Thomas said that another ways should be considered to make up the Social Security shortfall. Among those suggested was the imposition of a value added tax across the board, or basing benefits on race, previous job and the like.



While the value added tax may have some merit, I am always skeptical about new tax structure. The income tax system is such a chaotic mess I'm skeptical that our Government can pull it off. However, Canada does have the system and it works quite well. However, what to stop them from raising it over and over to fund pet projects and the like?

[edit on 1/24/05 by FredT]

I'll play the ignorant one today...
I thought the money they took out of my check was for SS, and that it would be returned to me someday.
I receive (as everyone does) a total SS benefits summary once in awhile...
it shows how much i have paid in, and how much benefit i will be able to collect based upon the present earning situation... I think it even broke it down to what my benefit was if i retired at 55,60,65 ect...

So what is the problem... if the money isn't there... then where did it go?
I thought it was just like a savings account... with interest.

I guess what i am trying to say, is that everything i read on this in the past ten years, has said about how the Social security is going to be in trouble... MY COMMENT IS: only if the government didn't do what it was trusted to do... preserve the money i gave them...

are people living SO MUCH LONGER than the government had estimated? I would think the government would err to the side of safety in this regard, so that they could keep the leftovers after someone dies.


[edit on 24-1-2005 by LazarusTheLong]

However, what to stop them from raising it over and over to fund pet projects and the like?

They'll have to keep raising it just to fund social security like they do in Canada and Europe...

More taxes won't help anyone.

how exactly will they base benefits upon one's race, sex, and previous employment?
what guidelines are they going to use or how would they create such guidelines?
and won't this cause some sort of uproar with the ACLU?

and won't this cause some sort of uproar with the ACLU?

Has anything that helps out minorities ever caused an uproar with the ACLU? They've been big protecters of things like Affirmative Action since the beginning.

They just need to do away with income tax and go to a federal sales tax. That should generate enogh money to cover the shortfalls of social secutity as well as do away with the confusions of the tax code. It is also fair. The rich have bigger toys, so they pay more. Across the board I think it is a fairer system. Please disagree with me and tell me if I'm wrong. I've not really looked at the ramifications of going to this type of system.

Originally posted by MattyG555
how exactly will they base benefits upon one's race, sex, and previous employment?

My guess mind you is that the more "disadvantaged" you are the more you get. Im not agreeing mind you, but thats what they are looking at. God help us if we get a bunch of bleeding hearts. Sorry you worked hard and saved instead of flitting away your money. You get ntohing, and have a nice day