Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (Art A Layman) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:47:41 GMT

Doc:

You mean that Exxon, with sales of $404.5 billion applying a .6% tax rate (just doubling the revenues) paying $2.4 billion in APT taxes would graciously let that pass through to the shareholders as additional expenses? What a novel idea! One deserving of a prize for fiction.

Analyzing further; they paid $29.9 billion in taxes last year on $70.5 billion of before tax profits. To get to revenue neutrality their total transactions would...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (Art A Layman) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:35:55 GMT

fug220:

Keep in mind that under APT, the IRS for all intents and purposes ceases to exist. It is one of those selling points. Currently IRS has that capability in its "net worth" tax audit. They arrive at suspicion based on, often a tip, but sometimes on the living style versus the tax returns filed. Under APT there are no more tax returns either and their exists no information available to the government as to the origin of incomes or the...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (wjhermann) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:03:57 GMT

The rate is indeed critically and beautifully small such that it is moot for most traditional arguments and considerations.

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (rubicon) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:57:47 GMT

Dr. Hermann:

Just a quick comment to your last post. The smallness of the APT tax rate is key in that it really isn't a consideration for most transactions. We get hit with fees with almost everything we do now as it is anyway. I can make the same purchase in different counties and pay 7%, 7.5% or 8% sales tax. I give it no thought, and I certainly don't travel out of my way to make my purchase based on this small sales tax difference. It seems the smallness of the APT...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (wjhermann) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:40:49 GMT

Well I proposed those one liners out of fun trying to encapsulate a complex idea is very hard especially for an amateur.

Brian.

There is a central point being missed here that is critical to the whole concept. The tax base is actually increasing by 70 to 100 times. That is enormous and no other reform concept can claim this. It is 70 -100x given the current setup and as has been frequently stated we expect behavior to change so the tax base is cut in half when...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (fug220) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:32:09 GMT

APT does nothing to stop the criminal from dealing drugs or commiting a crime. Thats true. But all I really said was that a crimimal who makes a lot of money and lives an exorbitant life style is going to draw a lot of attention . And since the IRS and other government agencies are envisioned to become more focused on such things{ after all what else do they have to do but look for high living and non working suspected criminals? }; I think it would help law enforcement. You are right...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (Brian Winters) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:29:47 GMT

"What if you suddenly had twenty partners to help you pay your existing tax bill in equal shares and one was an accountant who guaranteed accuracy without a charge, and no need to gather records?"

I'm pretty sure I've heard this reasoning before on here and answered it already, and it's still a horrible argument to make. I'd also call it an outright lie. You don't get other people to...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (Art A Layman) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:36:28 GMT

Doc:

Would guess that medical curriculums in higher learning institutions do not include Advertising 101 classes. If I'm wrong then sorry that your grades in that class pulled down your averages. Just kidding; as an adman (and a tax economist) you'd make a good doctor.

"What if you suddenly had twenty partners to help you pay your existing tax bill in equal shares and one was an accountant who guaranteed accuracy without a...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (wjhermann) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:07:36 GMT
Glad you found this extraordinary concept. You seem to have gotten your mind around it. There is nothing hidden or undisclosed about it just exists as presented. As I've said many times, I have debated this idea for nearly 3 years and have yet to find a fundamental flaw -- only conjecture, personal biasis and obvious selfish interest in the existing system. I know politics is a different animal than logic BUT if the logic isn't there you're...

Re: Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (boydsd) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:51:22 GMT
Fug220,

I too am enamored with APT. However, I don't see it doing anything to reduce what we legislate as illegal, in fact I see it perhaps facilitating some of it. Let's just take a drug dealer for example. He works in cash, which in APT will pay its tax when it leaves the bank. The dealer is free to then spend that cash as he pleases in any legal or illegal transaction. As stated on this site, APT does nothing to help law enforcement monitor illegal activities.
...

Fear is a Factor, unfortunately.

feeds@yuku.com (fug220) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:10:27 GMT
First off I think that this idea is one of the boldest, most ingenious plans ever created. I mean it is right up there with the wheel. It is so different from what we all have ingrained in our heads, and it makes sense that people would be scared at such a radical change to their lives. Forget the number crunching for a moment and think of the personal aspects of this change. The plan calls for taxation of every-body's 401k's, IRA's, and any other type of tax shelters we currently...