Viewpoints on Taxes

Taxes make the world go round, but it depends on how you use them and how you think we should use them in the U.S.  Over the years people have had very different viewpoints on taxes.

Now obviously America knows how politicians think on this issue because they usually exploit their viewpoints through their speeches. Now in, “Obama proposes new tax rate for millionaires” Jessica Yellin writes about how Warren Buffet, a current billionaire, feels about what we should do. The author writes, “Buffet has complained that wealthy Americans do not pay their fair share in taxes under the current tax code” (Yellin). Warren Buffet believes that people with higher income are currently paying a lower tax rate on that money. He has compared his tax rate of 15% against his secretary’s rate of 23% on income. His proposal, also known as the “Buffet Rule”, includes items such as wanting to increase taxes on capitol gains items, which can be stocks, bonds, or real estates. Some of the Republicans disagree and have exclaimed, “This will hurt small business owners who file individual tax returns instead of corporate ones” (Yellin). This person is stating that small businesses will not grow because all of the companies’ profits will go to the government in the form of higher taxes.

Now does America really know how people other then politicians feel? Or how middle class people feel?  Well in, “Tax System Seen as Unfair, in Need of Overhaul” the Pew Research Center shows us what people think through a survey. The group shows that the majority of people (57%) say, “That what worries them the most is that wealthy Americans don’t pay their fair share”, which basically means people think most wealthy people don’t pay enough. Another group of people (27%) say, “It is the complexity of the tax system, and the ease of avoiding taxes that worries them the most”. The last group of people (16%) says, “It is the high amount of taxes on pay checks that bothers them the most, because others pay less tax on invested income”. These statistics show how the American people view taxes and who is paying them. (Pew Researcher1)

Most politicians feel the same way as regular tax payers. They are split according to party lines as to what the problem is with taxes. Republican politicians that feel that wealthier Americans pay the right amount, but 73% of Democrats feel the wealthiest are not paying enough. The other issue people have with the tax system is if it is fair or unfair. Democrats feel the current tax system favors the wealthy, but 51% of Republicans feel the current system is fair (Pew Researcher1).

            If there are still some people who are wary about voicing their views, well now it’s possible to do it freely in survey done by JuggleDebates.com called, “Should the Rich be required to Pay Higher Taxes in the U.S.?” People anonymously voice their opinions on whether wealthier Americans’ taxes should be increased. The survey shows the amount of people who think wealthy Americans should pay a higher tax which is 56%; over the opposing side of people who think wealthy Americans shouldn’t is only 44% (Juggler Debates). The main support debaters’ use on the side of people who think wealthier Americans should pay higher taxes is, “that taxes provide services that the wealthy make use of” such police and roads. There is also a concern that “the rich use their money to buy political influence and thereby subvert the democratic process” (Hunter Lewis 31). The main support debaters’ use for the other side of the argument is, “that the wealthy earned their money and should get to keep it” (Juggle Debates).  

            It still remains unclear on what Obama and the Congress will decide is best for the people, but it is now a little clearer to the people on what he they have to think about.

    

  

              

Works Cited

Lewis, Hunter. “Are the Rich Necessary?” Print. February 15 2012.

Juggle. “Should the Rich be required to Pay Higher Taxes in the U.S.?” Juggle

Debates.com. January 8 2011

Pew Research Center. “Tax System Seen as Unfair, in Need of Overhaul. December 20        

2011.

Yellin, Jessica. “Obama to Propose New Tax Rate for Millionaires.” CNN. September 18

2011.

Introduction

Welcome to my blog!
What do you think about wealthier people paying higher taxes? Or should we use a flat tax rate? My article shows how people feel about this topic while also giving factss. If you really want to, give some feedback on what you think we should do about this.

Sources Article

Authors Viewpoint

<http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/19/should-taxes-on-millionaires-be-boosted/?iref=allsearch>

My first article “Should taxes on millionaires be boosted?” CNN Political and Political Director Paul Steinhauser are trying to inform the reader on how other people feel about the increase of taxes on wealthier people. The author’s main idea was that polls of Americans feel that people with greater income should pay higher taxes. The text structure of compare and contrast supports the main idea by comparing the how Obama thinks and how the people think. The author is unbiased because he is just presenting opposing points of few and wants the reader to make up their minds. Evidence that supports the authors viewpoint is when he says, “CNN/ORC International Poll conducted last month, 63 percent of the public said they were OK with any deficit reduction bill passed by Congress that included increased taxes on higher-income Americans and businesses, with 36 percent opposed to the idea.” This is just stating how other people feel not the author. No conflicting evidence because the author isn’t trying to persuade the reader. The author is choosing a statistic that most people feel the same way. These facts are reliable because the facts are from a big news corporation.

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/what-the-rich-can-afford-in-income-tax/?scp=17&sq=should%20wealthier%20peopel%20pay%20higher%20taxes&st=cse

In my second article, “Raising Taxes on the Rich: Not Whether, but How” Bruce Barlett, is trying to persuade the reader to agree with increasing the taxes on wealthier people by showing data tables and other facts. The author uses compare and contrast to state his idea more clearly. The author has no clear bias shown in the article. He uses neutral statements that are just stating facts about how people with certain incomes are taxed. No conflicting evidence because the author is just illustrating how the tax system currently works. One quote is when the author is talking about how a character in Casablanca was shocked that there was gambling, when he was winning at the gambling. He is comparing that to the republican’s ideas of taxation. This is logos because the author is using data tables and facts. This is a reliable source because the author has worked for two presidents.

 http://www.bankrate.com/financing/taxes/flat-tax-not-so-fast/

In my last article, “Flat tax? Not so fast,” Kay Bell is trying to persuade the reader that the idea of a flat tax rate is bad. The author uses the text structure of compare and contrast to show how this will affect lower class and middle class people differently then those considered wealthy. In one statement the author says, “Obviously individuals with higher incomes would pay more taxes. However, they have more discretionary income.” Then the author said, “Sure 10 percent of 20,000 is “just” 2,000. But that’s 2,000 that a family depending on the full 20,000 needs to pay or buy utilities, transportation and groceries.” This is stating how a flat tax will have a worse affect on those who have lower income. The viewpoint on the topic is that a flat tax rate won’t solve all the inequities. Some evidence that supports the author’s viewpoint is when she uses data from The Tax Policy Center and the Treasury Department. On this view point there is no conflicting evidence. The author creates connotations when she gives the example of taxing a family living on $20,000 a year versus a family living on $200,000 a year. The author uses the persuasive strategy of logos because throughout the article the author puts facts and data to use in her article. This is reliable because all of the articles she has written are all about the same topic so she must now a lot about it, also she has degrees in journalism.      

Why Teens Shouldn’t Destroy Their Brains with Marijuana

Why Teens Shouldn’t Destroy Their Brains with Marijuana

            Teenagers should not smoke marijuana (also known as pot or cannabis) because it affects your health, and ruins your social life. The brain is not fully developed until you are 25 years old, and when a teen is smoking marijuana it will have a bigger affect on this brain then someone in their late 20’s, but there are still a great amount of risks for adults. A major problem pot causes in the undeveloped brain is creating the appeal for other drugs, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse has said that early exposure to cannabis makes the move to more addictive and dangerous drugs such as heroin and meth a greater possibility.

            One saying I know is “Quit while you’re ahead,” and here is why that applies to never trying marijuana. It can create symptoms such as distorted perception (sighs, sounds, and touch), increased heart rate, problems with learning and an inability to complete tasks which require memory. Inhaling marijuana creates symptoms such as those listed above and the effects increase as more pot is smoked over extended periods of time. Smoking marijuana has side affects that impair judgment and can lead to death. Marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers who die in car accidents because they thought they were fine and did not realize they should not be driving.

            In addition to health risks, marijuana affects teens’ ability to play sports because it affects movement, coordination, and timing. The depression and anxiety created by pot can affect participation in clubs and after school activities and prevent teens from maintaining friendships. A loss of ambition will affect grades which can lead to not getting into college or holding down a job.

According to an anonymous person, “There are a million better things to do than smoking grass”. So teens should go to the beach, go to the movies, play a sport, join a club, and participate in school activities do anything that does not involve smoking marijuana.

Sources:

National Drug Abuse: facts for teens

 US Department of Health and Human Services