Tax Code

I must disagree with letter writer Neil L. Bergsman's view that high taxes don't drive people out of Maryland ("Tax rates have a negligible effect on people's decision to move out of state," Dec. 29). My wife and I retired from the federal government, and it puzzles us why Maryland is taxing our retirement income when states like Texas and Florida do not tax retirement income or Social Security benefits. Maryland is not a tax-friendly state for retirees, even though Social Security benefits are not taxed here.

Loyal readers of this page are likely aware that we have not been great supporters of the tea party movement. Too often, we have found those anti-tax crusaders who call themselves tea party patriots are simply rebranded John Birch Society members of an earlier time with all the extremist anti-civil rights, anti-immigration, and anti-United Nations rhetoric that comes with it. But the latest disclosure - gleaned from a draft inspector general's report...

As a taxpayer for more for more than 50 years, I agree with your editorial "The Buffett Rule backlash" (April 13) in which you conclude that "taxing the wealthy at rates others already face is a matter of fairness. " However, the other major issue with reform of the tax code is the sheer complexity of the code itself. Of note, today's tax code is 5,296 pages long. By comparison, the initial tax code in 1913 was 27 pages long. Leon Reinstein, Baltimore

Maryland lawmakers voted this year to raise the sales tax on alcohol by three cents on the dollar. But when the increase kicks in Friday, bar patrons could see prices going up by twice as much. Chalk it up to pub economics: Bar owners, who typically include the sales tax as part of a beverage's advertised price, don't like dealing in pennies, nickels or dimes. Prices, particularly at the local joints, are set in 25-cent increments. "If you are tending bar, and it is a Saturday night, you can't make change," explained Andrew Burke, the owner of John Steven Ltd., a bar in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood.

Dan Rodricks ' column, "Voting to give more money to millionaires," (Oct. 21) was right on point. While middle class wages have remained stagnant over the last 20 years, the top 2 percent have seen their incomes triple (with both groups adjusted for inflation). Republicans say higher taxes on the wealthy kill jobs. In 2001, George W. Bush spearheaded the largest tax reduction in U.S. history (overwhelmingly benefiting our wealthiest citizens) and unemployment rates quickly spiked higher and have remained nearly double the Clinton era levels to this day. When were the golden years of U.S. full employment?

FORMER California Gov. Jerry Brown placed a surprisingly strong second in Michigan, by moving into the vacuum on the Democratic Party left. He played to the beleaguered United Auto Workers union, and embraced other populist outsiders such as Ralph Nader and Jesse Jackson. But his flat tax proposal is preposterous and cynical.Take a close look at what Mr. Brown has called the "silver-bullet solution for the 1990s." That slogan alone should be a tip-off; there are no silver-bullet solutions.

BECAUSE income-tax payments are due today, many groups seeking reform of the federal tax code and the Internal Revenue Service stage events to promote their causes. They aren't finding much of an audience.The buoyant economy has taken much of the urgency out of the tax-cut issue. When people are making money, buying cars and homes and even saving a portion, they apparently don't mind when the government takes its cut.Other factors may be at work as well. With electronic filing, taxpayers are getting their refunds in record time, removing some of the animus.

Q: Would you support limiting or abolishing popular federal tax breaks - such as the home mortgage interest deduction and the deduction for state and local taxes paid - to simplify the tax code and help trim the federal deficit? Tax `simplification' could be very costly Federal tax reform is long overdue. According to the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform, since the 1986 tax reform law there have been almost 15,000 changes in the federal tax code. Nearly $150 billion is spent each year by households and businesses and the federal government to comply with and enforce the present code.

IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, a damsel in distress. She has been captured by an evil ogre, who is dragging her into the forest for unspeakable purposes. Riding to her rescue are two gallant knights, each possessing strength, virtue and courage. But both knights are so eager to be the hero that they fight each other for the privilege of defending the lady's honor. As they are consumed by this contest, the ogre sneaks off with the damsel, giving our story an unhappy ending.Unfortunately, this may turn out to be the parable of tax reform.

Every year around this time, the media are replete with stories, both serious and funny, about the density, complexity, and inanity of our tax code ("The Carson monologue" Feb 12). One has to wonder if maybe we've gone a little too far in punishing, rewarding, and buying votes via the tax code. A shout out to Steve Forbes, and a huge amen to Dr. Ben Carson, for their pleas for a flat tax akin to the Biblical tithe wherein God asks a fixed, flat 10 percent year-in and year-out with no loopholes, no deductions, no exemptions.