Why One Democratic Congresswoman Wants To Drug-Test The Rich - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Sableye;50542532]you don't understand, the government has already calculated that that person owes X, by allowing the deduction, they are essentially saying they now owe X-y. while the government isn't cutting them a check for +150,000$ they are writing off the sum y from the books, which is identical to writing a check for the same amount[/QUOTE] It really isn't. They're simply saying, "Hey, you paid too much in taxes once the deductions are accounted for. Here's the rest of your money back." They aren't giving them anything. They are just taking less. Those are incredibly different things.

[QUOTE=sgman91;50542538]It really isn't. They're simply saying, "Hey, you paid too much in taxes once the deductions are accounted for. Here's the rest of your money back." They aren't giving them anything. They are just taking less. Those are incredibly different things.[/QUOTE] no, deductions are not money paid in taxes to begin with, they are money spent on other things that the government has decided you can write off your taxes if i buy a 100,000$ milling machine, i can deduct a certain amount of that cost each year for up to 20 years. i'm not paying the government 100,000$ and they're giving me back that money, i've spent that money elsewhere and i'm also getting extra money each year because i'm allowed to lower my tax liability. functionally the government is writing me a check each year for my deductions by canceling that portion of my tax liability. the same thing happens when the government writes a check for benefits. seriously, deductions are free money. thats why companies don't keep factories open past 20 years any more because it becomes more expensive to operate at that point as the deductions from construction have run out

[QUOTE=Sableye;50542558]no, deductions are not money paid in taxes to begin with, they are money spent on other things that the government has decided you can write off your taxes if i buy a 100,000$ milling machine, i can deduct a certain amount of that cost each year for up to 20 years. i'm not paying the government 100,000$ and they're giving me back that money, i've spent that money elsewhere and i'm also getting extra money each year because i'm allowed to lower my tax liability. functionally the government is writing me a check each year for my deductions by canceling that portion of my tax liability. the same thing happens when the government writes a check for benefits. seriously, deductions are free money. thats why companies don't keep factories open past 20 years any more because it becomes more expensive to operate at that point as the deductions from construction have run out[/QUOTE] So is the government giving everyone free money when they lower tax rates?

Election year bills. Won't pass. Done for publicity.

[QUOTE=sgman91;50542593]So is the government giving everyone free money when they lower tax rates?[/QUOTE] how is it any different than cutting a check? the government has a sum on the book, they either cut a check that reduces that sum or they reduce the amount of taxes they collect from you, which reduces that sum, in both cases the government now has less money and no i'm not confusing the tax refunds with deductions

[QUOTE=Sableye;50542652]how is it any different than cutting a check? the government has a sum on the book, they either cut a check that reduces that sum or they reduce the amount of taxes they collect from you, which reduces that sum, in both cases the government now has less money and no i'm not confusing the tax refunds with deductions[/QUOTE] The difference is that in one case I earned all my money and the government didn't take it from me and in the other case I earned none of my money and the government gave it all to me. It's the same as it relates to the government's bottom line, but it definitely isn't the same as it relates to the individual involved.

[QUOTE=sgman91;50542707]The difference is that in one case I earned all my money and the government didn't take it from me and in the other case I earned none of my money and the government gave it all to me. It's the same as it relates to the government's bottom line, but it definitely isn't the same as it relates to the individual involved.[/QUOTE] Pushing libertarianism aside, it doesn't matter how it relates to the individual, the government is in both cases paying out either by reducing taxes or direct payment. A person on welfare is certainly not receiving 150,000$ in aid yet we can't even trust them with the few thousand a year in benefits they receive but we can trust other people with massive payouts because they have more money?

[QUOTE=sgman91;50542491]Deductions are a decreasing of the amount of taxes that a person owes by lowering the amount of money in higher tax brackets. The person in question just owes less taxes. They aren't being given any money. Any money they receive at the end of the year is the result of them overpaying, not the government deciding to give them money. I'm not even arguing that any drug testing is good at the moment, just that this idea about rich people isn't comparable on it's face.[/QUOTE] Pointless semantics. The terms of tax breaks as well as welfare are both up to the government to dictate. So yes, they are comparable.

Mandatory unscheduled / employee wide Drug tests shouldn't be a thing anyway at all. If your co-workers / boss can tell, then it should be requested, else it should be left. What you do in your personal time is not the companies business, only if it affects company work. Work/Home barriers should be respected.

[QUOTE=sgman91;50541338]They want people on welfare to get drug tested to ensure that other people's money isn't being wasted on things like drugs. No one cares what you do with your own money, whether you're rich or poor. The government isn't entitled in any way to money that's being kept through a tax break.[/QUOTE] If you actually believe that then whats wrong with drug testing the rich to ensure that other people's money isn't wasted by having to pay significantly more taxes than the rich that get many tax breaks? "Oh, lets allow these people to hoard all their money, inhibiting the economy at the cost of everyone else who actually pays taxes, while the rich are paying very little taxes to buy drugs and use public services"

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;50541421]Ya' know what fuck it, lets go the extra mile Lets make it so everyone has to get drug tested for a tax refund. Watch as no one ever wants a tax refund again, or drug usage rates suddenly drop in the January-February-March area :v:[/QUOTE] Nah, people would probably switch to drugs like LSD, which most drug tests don't test for and are completely out of your bloodstream in ~72 hours. Might just make this country a better place, too.

[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;50544360]Nah, people would probably switch to drugs like LSD, which most drug tests don't test for and are completely out of your bloodstream in ~72 hours. Might just make this country a better place, too.[/QUOTE] People don't do LSD like that. LSD is not a drug for most people, it's not a "fun" drug by most peoples accounts. It's an interesting and mind bending one, and personally, one of my favourites, but the average person will not enjoy that experience. And LSD is also nearly impossible to make or get a hold of currently.