Sports and Politics it effects our local teams!

It's a hot button topic just look at the critisism Phil Mickelson receive but he was being honest and the rhetoric between the differing points of view.

Have to agree with JDW on this one.

Why punish success?
Whether its a pro athelete, some one who has worked to climb the ladder in the business world, or some one that had a brilliant idea for a product or service (entrapenuer) and took the risks of borrowing money and finding investors to start a business, they all have something in common. Hard work.
Athelete's have to stay physically sharp and mentally on thier game. They have to study and work out many hours a day. Sure they have a talent that maybe others dont, but talent alone doesnt assure success, using that talent and combinng it with hard work ethic maximizes their earning potential. Climbers in the business world have to have viable ideas and strategies for success, these dont come easy, you must constantly be in work mode and thinking outside the box. Entrapenuers must do the same and they have personal risk inviolved in becoming successful. They succeed base on the combination of the idea and hard work. Many fail because they lack in one of these areas.

I understand taxes and the need for funding the Federal, State, and local governments. But they all are way out of control spending wise. (remember the old jokes about $500 toilet seats? Well now thats not so far fetched).

Mickelson is a good example. He pays the highest rate of Federal tax. He pays alot in property taxes, which is his choice since he gets to decide where he lives and what kind of home he provides for his family. Now his State taxes rise to 13.5%. So its reported he will pay around 63% of his income in taxes. I don't even think that takes into acocunt hidden taxes on phone, energy (gas, heating oil, electricity), hidden production taxes and of course the ever popular gas tax that is levied on every gallon you buy, by both the Federal Government and the State you reside in (double whammy).

Whether earned (and thats the key word many politicians do not use....EARNED) by a combination of hard work and talent, ideas and strategies, etc etc..... its still personally earned. A lot of talk goes into "Fair Share" nonsense. Political buzz words for "we want more of your earned money that we didnt earn."

So 63% (and counting) is a fair share for anybody? When did the American dream switch from "the land of opportunity" for its citizens and thier families and become "the land of working for the government"? Giving 63% of our EARNINGS to a wasteful, spend happy government that doesnt pay half attention to where its goes and what is being done with it is grossly irresponsible.

I applaud Phil and any athelete or person that has earned their way to the top of thier earning potential that decides to move based on being over-taxed. Its thier Constitutional right to do what is best for themselves and their families. Why is it seen as greed to want more for your family and your children?

We have a top heavy tax system. According to Forbes Magazine the top marginal rate for anyone earning over $398,350 is 39.6% and it goes down to 10% for low income earners, as low as $8,950 for single filers. We also have the highest marginal tax rate on business in the world. By having a system based on taking away money before its becomes purchasing power for the individual or company we are effectively destroying our ability to grow ecomonically, expand, hire and prosper.

I am a proponent of "The Fair Tax". This would be a Tax system based on purchasing and investing power for individuals and companies. It has multiple levels or "pockets" that would be for exclusive governmental use but only in the area designated.

Example of a Individual or Corporate Fair Tax: The person (worker) would keep 100% of their earnings. This increases the individuals purchasing power immensely. Instead of now earning say $1,000 per week for 52 weeks (currently taxed at 25% rate thereby reducing their purchasing power to 75% or earnings) would keep all $52,000 (not the $39,000 in the current system).
You then place a flat tax rate on all purchases of goods, services or investments. Say 10% for sake of argument and ease of math. What you have effectively done now is provide people with 15% more purchasing power (25% back in the pockets and 10% removed during purchase). Out of that 10% are percentages that go automatically for specific governmental services. Military 4%, Social programs 4%, debt 2%.... etc. The exact particulars would be worked out.

The tax on gasoline orginally was supposed to be for state and federal infrastructure. Unfortunately, that never really happened the the funds just filtered into the general fund to be used for what ever cockamammy idea came along. Once again put the gas tax in place for state and federal infrastructure ONLY. base it as a percentage on the exact amount of profit the oil companies can generate. In others words if the oil companies make 10% profit per gallon sold on the dollar (they currently make 8% on the dollar) then the Federal government also gets 10% and the individual states get 10% based on their sales within the state. So then when someone comes out and says that Exxon made 90 billion last year.... well so did the government and the states off of Exxons sales. Currently the combined State and Federal Taxes on gas can range state by state as high as 43 cents per dollar or 43% on the dollar.

Bottom line. There are ways to change the poor system of taxation we have that would bring in more revenue to the government based on success and economic growth and reward all earners with more purchasing power and thus creating the need for more goods and services and therefore the jobs follow. It would be a system that was proactive, not detrimental.

Then we wouldnt have conversations about athelete's moving due to taxes, since all woul dbe taxed based on what they spent or invested and not what they worked for to begin with.

And this would work easily and bring in more revenue.... no loopholes, no dodges available. And we all know that the richer the person or athelete the more bling or toys they buy.