 |
|
|
|
« Back to Opinion & Analysis
Let's Talk Turkey About Taxes
Editorial for the Houston Community Newspaper, Inc.
Steven F. Hotze, M.D.
March 6, 2008
It’s political season and, as always, taxes are a hot topic. The Republicans promise to keep taxes low and Democrats promise to tax the rich to help those who want the civil government to provide for them. This is nothing more than the Democrat’s way to buy votes for their entitlement based constituency.
The Democrats say tax cuts are not fair because the “rich” receive the lion’s share of the benefit. Any thinking person realizes you can’t give a tax cut to people who don’t pay taxes. Only people who pay taxes are going to benefit from a tax cut.
The Democrats still ply the tattered garments of greed and envy which have been worn by socialists in every generation. Modern day liberalism is warmed over socialism. “Take from those who have produced, and give to those who have not.”
Like all socialists, Democrats want the State to grow and provide everyone with womb to tomb security. They neglect to tell you that everywhere this philosophy has been attempted it has led to economic decline, poor quality of goods and services, and rationing.
Currently households making over $100,000 per year represent 10% of the population and pay 70% of the taxes. The vast majority of these individuals, who are considered wealthy, can look back one or two generations and see relatives who were of common means but who worked hard and made sure their children had a good work ethic and an education.
Instead of maligning those who have been successful we should hold them up as examples for others to follow.
As conservatives we believe wealth is not a sum total game. The Democrats see wealth as a single apple pie and they want everybody to have a piece. Free enterprise conservatives want to help people learn how to grow more apple trees and bake more pies.
Remember that taxes are paid out of the income of people who have been productive. When you increase the tax burden on these individuals, you disincentivize them and decrease their productivity. Who can best use the money people earn, the civil government or the individuals themselves?
It has long been held as true that whatever you tax, you get less of, and whatever you subsidize you get more of.
If we want economic prosperity, then we must encourage productivity by dramatically decreasing the tax burden. All state and federal business taxes should be eliminated. The first to go should be Governor Perry’s Texas Business Tax which will be paid by businesses for the first time this May. The Republicans will pay for passing this tax at the polls during the November General Election. Nationally, a flat 10% income tax for everyone should be instituted. Alternatively we should consider the fair tax which eliminates the income tax and replaces it with a consumption tax.
The politicians and bureaucrats don’t like this idea because it decreases the amount of money they receive from you. It’s time for the taxpayers to talk turkey about taxes.
About Conservative Republicans of Texas
Steven F. Hotze, M.D. is president of Conservative Republicans of Texas and founder of Hotze Health & Wellness Center in Houston, Texas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
