I always find it interesting when people can opine what they believe is "fair" and "unfair" when this is discriminatory in and of itself. Like the progressive tax, this kind of thing promotes nothing but "class warfare", and really doesn't address the real problems that we face as a people whose government is that of a Republic. Why some continue to support failing policies is also something of a curious idiosyncrasy, but that can (and should) be discussed on another forum.The least unfair solution to me, is to suspend tax statute of limitations and pursue every tax abuse from the past, to remove all of the new and tax loopholes and all tax grants to business, to reintroduce the progressive income taxes of the 1970s with a max of say 70% on income over 15 million per year, to adjust SS payments to inflation without limit on income assessed and to levy a scaled one time wealth tax on those with assets over 500 million. Yes President Obama, tax the millions earned by star athletes, and maybe bring back income averaging again for people with erratic short-lived careers, since this is still allowed for "corporate persons".
Being in the heart of the beast here in Sacramento, I have witnessed first hand many shenanigans that don't seem to get printed or talked about in the media for one reason or the other. Like everything else political, it's all a matter of what the media wants us to know where public opinion can then be swayed into agreement. Here again, there's no sense in my discussing this topic here in this forum, but let's just say it's far better to do a little digging before pointing any fingers.
As to the topic at hand, the citizens of the United States currently have no power with respect to this poll question. We have and we already do pay for other mistakes made by both public and private venues as the recent bailouts of 2008 can contest to (California was also beneficiary of the bail out). The very fact that our bankruptcy laws do not allow states to file for protection will also put increasing pressure that we all "share the load" by mandate. Those who don't assimilate in this public venture will then have their rights confiscated (something of which we have already seen take place).
Suffice it to say, much of what is happening here can be quickly addressed and the ship righted, but there is a flagrant lack of co-operation right now with the boys and girls under the golden dome in making the tough decisions. It's the same thing nationally as well. It's up to all of us to remind our legislatures that they "constitute" what our opinions are and not of what they feel is in our best interests, and then continue to beat a dead horse because it's easy to do or it still sounds good in theory.
Remain silent and you get what you get.
The new solvency deadline is March 1st...we'll see how they handle it this time around, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Fib