Estate Tax and Minimum Wage

[coolboy]

I thought I'd like to bring up this topic since I read it on Stephen Handwerk's LeftBlog on the fishwrap's site.

He talked about the minimum wage bill that Republicans attached the repeal of the estate tax amendment to it. In essence, for Democrats to get the minimum wage raised, the estate tax would have to pretty much be taken away. The estate tax affects mostly millionaires. Mr. Handwerk said that only 91 deaths in Louisiana in 2004 where estates were taxed. Kind of hard to argue with him when he has the statistics.

The Democrats of course voted down this entire bill due mainly to the estate tax amendment. Sen. Vitter and Cong. Boustany voted for the bill while saying for years that a raise in minimum wage wouldn't be good for the country and small businesses.

I would definitely like to ask these two gentlemen why they had the change of heart.

It amazes me what politicians can get away with. Republicans are on Capitol Hill playing games to keep Democrats out of office...all the while the American people are the ones getting the shaft.

Another statistic: Minimum wage has remained the same since 1997 at $5.15/hour. Congressmembers' pay went up a total of $21,300 (or 13%) between 1999 and 2004.

Side note: I have no party affiliation.

[abbd]

Sorry, but I hafata disagree with you especially on the estate tax. Why should anything I work for be given to someone else? If I build a business and become extremely wealthy why should my family be forced to sell it and the vast majority of the wealth I accumlated be seized by the government? I don't believe in wealth re-distribution do you? If I make it ,I and only I should get to keep it and pass it on to whomever I choose to give it to, sorry. As far as minimum wage, that's better argued by others not by me because I have no clue how the government gets to tell a business owner how much he has to pay anyone, sorry again. See I ain't much of a socialist or even a collectivist.

[Taureau]

Coolboy, A tax is a tax. Most Republicans will not support
any type of tax or fee. Sure, It will mostly effect (death tax) the
rich but who are creating the jobs? Certainly not someone making minimum wage. The people creating the jobs are paying
a lot of taxes. They are also putting up the money to build
and to put their necks on the line for business.
David Vitter has always been against the death tax; like
most of the other Republicans.
Most Republicans are against raising the minimum wage.
Minimum wage is only a base for someone that has no work
experience. If a person is making minimum wage and has
been there for years; then there is something wrong with the
person working. Most people, my self included, worked for
minimum wage a one time or other but then you learn and
you advance yourself either by promotions or another better
paying job. You have to promote yourself or sell yourself.
You can't expect someone to pay someone
money because the person thinks "he deserves" to make
more. You have to do it the old fashion way, you have to
earn it.
I don't want to sound like an a hole but over the years I
have hired lots of folks and one question I like to ask is,
why should you get this job, some people actually think
because they "deserve" it. Needless to say, they weren't
hired.
Joey and tat-too are RINO. See how they keep raising our
taxes? They would not make a pimple on a Republicans' ass.

[zoe10850]

I am against taxes that are not equitable; property taxes, estate taxes to name two. Estate taxes are just plain wrong. Income taxes are wrong. The govt is not entitled to the fruits of anyones labor, period.

I do not really believe in a minimum wage as such, but fact is we have one, has not been increased in years, and our politicians have all gotten raises, so why not help out the little guy. I make a lot more than minimum wage, and utilities (LUS), gasoline, and food, as well as kids are killing me, so I cannot imagine how someone survives on $5.15/hr. Believe me, anyone working a minimum wage job is earning his money. flipping burgers is not easy as one might think.

I agree with abbd to a point, but unions & civil service boards, dictate wages paid to approx 50% of the workers in the USA. How many times have you heard how underpaid some workers are only to find out that they make more than you, have civil service or tenure or some other form of job security, good benefits and a retirement system ?

You cannot have any medical care/coverage if you make minimum wage. I do not see how one pays car insurance or utilities (must not have a/c). Probably eat a lot of rice & potatoes as well. Show a little empathy and compassion for those who are at least working, and not sitting on their butts or stealing from us like they could be.

[coolboy]

Abbd, Taureau, and Zoe, you all make some really valid points and a part of me does agree with you. I could do a heckuva lot more good with my money than the government ever could.

We want everyone to go out and get a job, but what if the only job a person can get pays $5.15 an hour? The problem is that someone on minimum wage is probably on some sort of government assistance. I believe that the government is subsidizing big companies with healthcare, house payments, and food allowances. Wal-Mart has been known to actually coach their employees on how to apply for government benefits. By raising minimum wage, employees are eligible for less government aid and pay more in taxes. They are more equipped to pay their own bills and not so dependent on the government. Also, if the minimum wage increases, then most other hourly wages will increase as well to compensate. Of course businesses will be hurt, but who can live on $5.15 an hour?

If minimum wage rises by $2, a full-time employee makes about $320 extra a month. A common fact is that the more money people have, the more they purchase. Those purchases are what can drive an economy. In actuality, this is helping businesses, because people have more money to shop. The government benefits because this is more money in taxes being paid as well as taxes on the purchases. If Fat Cat Exxon CEO makes all the money, he buys one car while employees take the bus. That doesn't help the economy. If employees make a decent wage, more people can buy cars.

Concerning the estate tax: I am not a tax and spend liberal. I'll even meet you halfway...the percentage of the estate tax can be reduced and the exemption increased to $10 million or more. However, I still won't feel sorry for Paris Hilton if she doesn't get 100% of her papa's money.

My reason for beginning this thread was that I really wanted the minimum wage bill to pass, but Republicans found a way to make the Democrats look bad while getting the hopes up of the lower-paid workers.


Maybe I am liberal in that regard. I'll save my conservative views for another thread.

[zoe10850]

I think we all forget the purpose of the minimum wage. It is in fact used to calculate among other things, union scale. An increase in minimum wage increases union, railroad, government wages as well.

It is unfair to say a good worker will not stay on minimum wage. Many workers have no job skills other than manual labor, and as such, are stuck at, or near minimum wage. Many have little education for whatever reason. I am not a bleeding heart, but a little empathy and compassion would be nice. This is the richest country in the history of this planet, can't we help the people who are at least trying to get ahead, do so ? These are not people sitting in government housing with no job. These are people who must rely on not so reliable public transportation to get to work. Have you ever ridden a city bus ?

[Taureau]

Nick, Right on. That is exactly what I was talking about with
the minimum wage issue. If you are worth your salt, You will
be promoted or someone will pick you up for another job. I am
a living example of it. You have to promote yourself (by working ) and you will command the money you rightfully deserve.

[zoe10850]

And now comes Wal Mart to prove my point. They freeze (cap) salaries of older & experienced employees to "encourage people to move up". Right.

I am about as anti socialist as can be, however, raising minimum wage does help those people a little, and I have no problem with any working person catching a break, 'cause god knows, the cards are stacked against the little guy. Who cares if Wal Mart loses a couple of dollars ?

Estate tax will not affect me, but again, what does government do to deserve more than they already have.

BTW, did anyone read article in Advertised where it tells us that it costs IRS $.65 for every dollar it collects ? If that does not justify abolition of IRS, nothing does. A 10% national sales tax on every purchase (except a first home) would resolve this and eliminate tax dodgeball. If the public would demand a change, we might be free at last. Of course a lot of lawyers and accountants would have to go to work, but...

[zoe10850]

And while I am griping about IRS and La Dept of Revenue, why do we have a state income tax / Florida & Texas do not, both have comparable sales tax rates to ours, and property taxes are similar from my experience so?

I believe that a sales tax of 20%; 10 for feds, 5 for state, & 5 for local should about do it. Govt should have to live within that parameter. If you do not have the money, do not fund the project. No more tax nazi's, no more property tax bs (people who have no property taxing those who do), no corporate tax. That would be interesting to see all the lawyers, accountants, software people & bureaucrats actually going to work.

[JeffC]

Would put too many people out of work who depend on the complicated tax system. IRS alone must employ several hundred thousand. Whatever would those rascals do if they could not harass citizens ? I would love to bring Thomas Jefferson into our world and get his take on things. I bet he would propose a revolution.