Who Are The "Rich", and How Much Taxation Is "Fair"?

From what I read,probably the best idea is a sales tax on incomes under $30K per year and a flat tax on those over.

 

The only way I would ever consider a sales tax would be if they got rid of the income tax. Oregon would have to completely rethink its tax system before I would ever support a new tax.

 

I agree. You can't have both. One or the other.

 

But that's not how it works unfortunately. The government doesn't get rid of taxes... and I think good old Kitzhaber will keep pushing a sales tax until he gets enough out-of-staters to pass it.

 

I don't see how. They keep raising property taxes on houses losing value. I mean, I think a slim majority in the People's Republic of Multnomah County would approve of an added sales tax, butt he rest of the state is more reasonable.

 

You could not be more wrong.

Cost of living (housing, local taxes, food, utilities...) adjusts itself to area incomes/accumulated wealth.

Things cost more in San Francisco or San Diego or New York because people make insane money there, and uber-wealthy people retire there.

Your job in Beautiful Central Oregon would likely pay about half what you get in Houston, but your quality of life would improve tenfold.

 

Oregon property taxes can only increase 3% yearly and never above the market value UNLESS APPROVED BY 50% of the voters.

If market value drops below amount assessed for taxes, the property is taxed at the lesser value.

Probably the fairest property tax system in the nation, created by initiative.

If your taxes are going up in this market, it's because you or your area voted yes on levies for schools, law enforcement, highway projects...

Until people stop voting yes on tax measures, taxes will continue to rise.

 

False. The affordability index of places like New York, the Bay Area and Southern California are lowest in the nation.

 

Not sure what you mean by that.

Very affordable? Unaffordable? For whom? Compared to income or compared to accumulated wealth.

The average laborer in NY lives in squalor, despite earning far, far more than the average laborer in Beautiful Central Oregon who lives in Utopia.

 

You're a realtor and you don't know what a housing affordability index is?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_Affordability_Index

 

Well, my daughter's house and my boss's house have each dropped 35% in value and their taxes have gone up every year for the last 7 years. So go figure.

 

I would. It appears to me to be a fair system. If I suffer in that fairness, then so be it.

 

The IRS doesn't run on charity.

It costs money to file taxes and have this stupid tax code. Hence a flat tax.

 

absolutely.

 

Of course there will be less unemployment overall.