The number of different taxes is constantly increasing, obfuscating the total tax burden, and making democratic accountability almost impossible. Additionally, tax collections are already at a historical high, while government deficits world-wide are also at record levels, with services on the decline, and no realistic prospect of balancing budgets. This is true for most western countries.

Given the current situation, I do not agree that "we need more taxes", but would welcome your clarifying exactly what you mean.

For a long time I agreed with you, but seeing how the tax money is spent I cannot agree any longer. In most cases government is no longer even spending the money itself, instead it is giving the money to NGOs.

I would much rather see people keep more of their dollars and use them to 'vote' for the products and services that benefit them most, via their purchases.

Taxes aren’t 0 right now, nor particularly close for anyone being taxed. Your statement supports taxes as a concept at all, but what’s the specific argument that they must be more than they are today?

No thanks, I too much in taxes as it is. California has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

I think we should start with changing taxes on corporations/companies, specifically being able to indefinitely write off expenses against income regardless of size/etc...

Most companies take profit eventually, but if it's possible for a company to decide to never take profit and grow/acquire perpetually without paying any taxes on gross income, that's a problem.

That'd be like individuals being able to deduct living expenses and having uncapped pre-tax 401k contributions.

this is the sadest assertion i've ever seen. if sucking the life out of people is the only way people can remain civilized then we are truely lost.

The ratio of the economy that gets collected as taxes has only gone up over time. Do you have an idea for how much should be collected as some ideal ratio? At what point do the effects of taxation become counterproductive?

haha. did you say taxes on the poor? I'd like to see you implement that.