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Where Will Taxpayers Hide?
Forbes ^ | 5/29/2008 | Rich Karlgaard

Posted on 05/30/2008 1:07:15 AM PDT by bruinbirdman

What will happen to the U.S. economy if Barack Obama wins the presidency and he's backed by a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate?

Taxes will go up. Capital gains and dividends will bypass 20% on their way to 25% or 30%. Income taxes will go to 40% for higher earners and possibly more for the "super-rich." The ceiling on payroll taxes will rise to $150,000 or so.

Government tax receipts won't grow at all. The highest taxpayers, feeling assaulted, will flee. To where?

Some will take longer vacations. If your last earned dollar is pinched in the 60%-plus range by the feds, the state and your city, you'll envy the beach bum's life.

Some will move to smaller cities. If a $150,000 income in Des Moines, Iowa, or Spokane, Wash., buys you the same house and lifestyle as a $500,000 income in Greenwich, Conn., or Palo Alto, Calif., why not move? The tax monster will eat most of that $350,000 difference.

Some will move to entrepreneurship. If you can live with a lower income, you might as well build equity behind the tax curtain and harvest it in better times. That's what entrepreneurs did in the 1970s.

Some will switch careers, become tax lawyers and make the most money of all.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; obama; taxincrease

1 posted on 05/30/2008 1:07:15 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
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To: bruinbirdman

Canada has FREE health care!


2 posted on 05/30/2008 1:13:08 AM PDT by Mark (Don't argue with my posts. I typed while under sniper fire..)
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To: Mark
Canada has FREE health care!

Yeah, and the waiting lists are to die for!

... the Supreme Court of Canada found that patients in this country are dying because waiting lists are too long. This finding alone should be alarming to anyone who believes the current system is providing adequate care to our patients.

3 posted on 05/30/2008 1:23:53 AM PDT by Polybius
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To: bruinbirdman

Here’s where I’m going: http://www.livinginthephilippines.com


4 posted on 05/30/2008 1:29:05 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (McCain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary or Obama can!)
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To: bruinbirdman

bookmark


5 posted on 05/30/2008 1:46:38 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
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To: bruinbirdman
Some will move to entrepreneurship. If you can live with a lower income, you might as well build equity behind the tax curtain and harvest it in better times. That's what entrepreneurs did in the 1970s.

This time, though, there won't be a Ronald Reagan to come riding in and save the day.

Owing to dysgenic fertility & the aging of the baby boomers, circa 2020, the USA as we knew it will cease to exist.

6 posted on 05/30/2008 1:58:07 AM PDT by KayEyeDoubleDee (const Tag &referenceToConstTag)
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To: Mark
Canada has FREE health care!

And worth every penny!
7 posted on 05/30/2008 2:02:36 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: There is no god named Allah, and Muhammed is a false prophet)
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To: bruinbirdman
Some will take longer vacations. If your last earned dollar is pinched in the 60%-plus range by the feds, the state and your city, you'll envy the beach bum's life.

As will this ER doc. Screw it, not working nights weekends holidays, GIVING away 30% of my care for free then 60+% of my takehome. You will find me on the beach.
8 posted on 05/30/2008 2:04:34 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: There is no god named Allah, and Muhammed is a false prophet)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Philippines, really?

People are very welcoming (at least in the Northern part of Philippines).....

But climate - sooooo hot?

Then there are earthquakes, terrorists who are active, Mostly in the South but also have been in Manilla area....

ON the other hand 0 someone mentioned Nova Scotia....but why would I want to go to socialized Canada?

Any consideration of Costa Rica?

What do any of the Island nations near the US offer?


9 posted on 05/30/2008 2:09:45 AM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt

People tell me Cebu (2nd largest city after Manila but MUCH cheaper and not near the Muslim terrorists) is the way to go.


10 posted on 05/30/2008 2:12:37 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (McCain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary or Obama can!)
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To: Mark
In the depression of the 1930's my ancestors ate rabbits raised on their farm. Everyone was sick of rabbits after several years but they were all well fed none the less. It may become necessary to go back to rabbits if Obamamamama gets selected by the Arab money men.

There is more foreign money pulling our strings than can be counted. Arab money and Soros cash are running the show on both sides.

11 posted on 05/30/2008 2:14:49 AM PDT by x_plus_one ("let them eat cake, drive small electric cars and take the bus")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Oh - yes - have heard that too about Cebu....

But the heat and humidity? Would not bother you? Would me....


12 posted on 05/30/2008 2:14:59 AM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt
I say conservatives form a corporation to purchase an island in the Caribbean where taxes would be low and a government can be formed that adheres to the Founders’ original idea...a severely restrained central government, an economy based on property and the rights accorded it. If conditions continue to deteriorate in the USA, why wouldn't people replicate the original experiences of those who came here in the 17th and 18th centuries? Only this time it would be a lot easier what with air travel and modern conveniences and an advanced communications network. In this information age, no one needs live in the USA to engage in entrepreneurial activity.
13 posted on 05/30/2008 2:18:35 AM PDT by veritas2002
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To: bruinbirdman

I firmly believe that sometime during McCain’s presidency he will raise taxes especially if he does two terms. He was against the tax cuts before he was for them. Funny how nobody remembers that!


14 posted on 05/30/2008 2:38:49 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: veritas2002

That is an idea....yes have been thinking about our ancestors who left their homes and nations in search of freedom....

The Czech Republic President (I think it was he) sounded so sane - it makes that country look attractive. And what about Poland now?

If NC continues to be enslaved by the taxhikers, businesses will flee this state in droves and NC will descend into third world economic status...for instance.

Seems like conservatives would not need to leave this country but found a “state” somewhere - take it over as the Scientologists have taken over parts of Florida and the Mormons have most of Utah....e.g.

Thinking outside the box....things are going to become VERY bad economically in this country if the dems take power in the WH and in Congress....while staying in power in the states where they rule....


15 posted on 05/30/2008 2:40:16 AM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: Kozak

Im opening a quilt shop. See you on the beach!


16 posted on 05/30/2008 2:40:55 AM PDT by Mom MD (The scorn of fools is music to the ears of the wise)
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To: bruinbirdman

If this occurs, it will be because that’s what a majority of the taxpayers want. I’m astounded that they do, but everything happening now tells me that in addition to higher gas and food prices, people want higher taxes. If it weren’t the case, you’d see a big majority in favor of the Republicans or a big majority going none of the above/third party.


17 posted on 05/30/2008 4:13:14 AM PDT by Dahoser (America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.)
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To: Dahoser
If this occurs, it will be because that’s what a majority of the taxpayers want. I’m astounded that they do, but everything happening now tells me that in addition to higher gas and food prices, people want higher taxes.

That assumes that a majority are smart enough to make the connection between all the freebies they are "entitled" to and higher taxes/costs. They don't want higher taxes on themselves, they want them on you and me. Besides, half the people in this country pay little or no taxes anyway so they have no reason not to vote themselves more largess.

18 posted on 05/30/2008 4:42:23 AM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt

Right. Patriotism is for suckers after all.


19 posted on 05/30/2008 4:51:54 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: Dahoser

Almost half of the voters pay no (that is a big fat 0) federal income tax. Others take far more from the government programs than they ever put into it. Only a small minority pay the majority of taxes. The top 10% of earners pay 75% of the taxes. So they can never influence the outcome directly.


20 posted on 05/30/2008 4:52:49 AM PDT by mart7789
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To: MileHi

Exactly. The “progressive” tax system in our country has created a subclass of people who bare none of the responsibility of paying for anything related to the government but who reap massive dividends in return.

They collect from the government and pay very little in return. Of course they want more, and they’re definitely voting themselves a pay raise.

One straight out of your pocket.


21 posted on 05/30/2008 4:52:58 AM PDT by CaspersGh0sts
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To: bruinbirdman

Guaranteed that Obama will do all he can to transfer wealth from “rich privileged Whites” to poor downtrodden “have nots”.


22 posted on 05/30/2008 5:05:41 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: CaspersGh0sts
You can trace this right back to FDR buying votes with tax dollars (you don't think republicans in the day were getting those government make work jobs, do you?). And LBJ ratcheted it up for a “great society”.
23 posted on 05/30/2008 5:35:55 AM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: bruinbirdman

Moving to Galt’s Gulch. Using my peasant-fueled SUV. . .


24 posted on 05/30/2008 5:43:32 AM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: bruinbirdman

Look back to the 1950’s when the highest marginal tax rate was 90%. The wealthy shipped their money overseas to places like the Cayman Islands and the economy was almost stagnant.


25 posted on 05/30/2008 6:55:04 AM PDT by The Great RJ ("Mir we bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
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To: bruinbirdman

Two words: cash economy.


26 posted on 05/30/2008 6:57:39 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (Peace Is Not The Question.)
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To: Dahoser
If this occurs, it will be because that’s what a majority of the taxpayers want.

I don't know if that's true. Consider the majority of people voting democrat (ie - voting themselves a raise) don't pay that much in taxes, especially income taxes.
27 posted on 05/30/2008 7:00:10 AM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We deserve the government we allow.)
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt

What about Panama?


28 posted on 05/30/2008 7:01:45 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: AD from SpringBay; mart7789; MileHi

I really never considered the aspect of people who don’t pay taxes and how it would affect their voting like this. Dang, makes me think we should never have people who don’t pay taxes if this is the result.


29 posted on 05/30/2008 7:50:22 AM PDT by Dahoser (America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I'm with you. As soon as I get some business settled that's my plan.

First one there chills the beer!

30 posted on 05/30/2008 7:59:29 AM PDT by realdifferent1 (I hope the 'War on Terror' goes better than the 'War on Poverty'.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

You realize that if this really happens, and things get bad, you are at extreme risk.

If the balloon goes up, you are a gringo in a far away place filled with very angry people. Now if you are there long enough that you become part of the community, it is a different story. But there are many ex pats who live in gated communities and think all will be hunky dory no matter what.

History has shown other wise.


31 posted on 05/30/2008 5:56:40 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Dahoser
Because those who vote will vote themselves money from the treasury. Every democracy ends this way. We are nearing the end of ours.
32 posted on 05/30/2008 6:00:24 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: JZelle

Hmmm - that’s worth exploring...maybe others know more about Panama....I don’t.


33 posted on 05/31/2008 7:53:00 AM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: bruinbirdman

Simple...house is paid for, no debt.....great job with lots of money...plan to reduce my percentage of work time to hit the AGI that is the ‘best’ in terms of tax-bite. Rest of the retirement funds will be moved/converted to where I can get at them quickly.


34 posted on 05/31/2008 7:55:43 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: bruinbirdman

Go, Rich. Good column.


35 posted on 05/31/2008 8:02:19 AM PDT by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again. And Always Act.)
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To: Dahoser

It is even worse. All those college kids that want Obama and the college money he will give away will actually be out of college and will be paying for this instead of reaping the rewards. If they are smart and get a good paying job they will not even be entitled to the money for their children because they will make too much money and be exempt from this deduction like so many of us are now with the current system. If you get and education, work hard, are successful, make some money, the feds will find a way to get as much as they possibly can. Just look at what deductions you don’t get. In fact, if you make over about $120,000 you did not get a tax rebate check in the mail while everyone else did. And they did not even say thank you.


36 posted on 06/03/2008 1:57:51 PM PDT by mart7789
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