If you could create a new political party in the USA...

[go west young man]

what would your platform be? Just curious what good ideas DU'ers might believe in. I'll go first.
1) All future elections are government financed/no private money is permitted/no lobbying is allowed.
2) Corporate government subsidies are for new technology only....
3) and so on..... add your own...

[hrmjustin]

1. LGBT rights are an absolute as are a woman's right to choose.

[Jamastiene]

42. I was going to say the same thing.

I'd go further and go for federal laws that legalize gay marriage. This pieced-together state by state stuff is too confusing and leaves gay couples who are married in one state totally unprotected in another state. What if they are traveling and get in a wreck in a place like NC? They'll end up with no rights even if their own home state would have allowed them rights.

[YoungDemCA]

87. +1

If we can't treat all individuals, all people as fundamentally having equal human rights, then we have failed before we have started.

[polichick]

2. Government of the people, by the people, and for the people will be restored.

[840high]

111. Amen.

[Adam051188]

3. :^/.....concerning political parties....

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty." — George Washington, September 19, 1796

[polichick]

4. Solutions to address climate change will be front and center.

[Brigid]

5. Single Payer Health Care System!!

[go west young man]

7. With children's care free.

[go west young man]

6. Here's a few more..

1)Complete restoration of the New Deal policies (40 hour work week, lunch and rest breaks, proper over time pay, minimum wage, guaranteed vacation and time off)
2)Yearly raise of the minimum wage to coincide with inflation.
3) A flat tax at 15%
4) Cut military funding by half
5) Funnel the military money into social programs, education, arts and humanities

[TBF]

36. Flat tax? Seriously?

Well that's a good way to kill off the poor ...

[Adam051188]

56. it would be fair and there is always a way.

Not if the goverment had a minimum income for all citizens funded through publicly owned industries.

[TBF]

58. I guess it all depends upon

your definition of "fair". I don't think there's anything at all "fair" about some folks collecting millions of dollars while others are homeless and destitute. Flat tax only encourages more of that - an unfair advantage to those few who already have so much.

Seeing these types of arguments on DU makes me want to vomit. What has this site become?

[Adam051188]

61. your entire post seems like a straw man.

Maybe you intended to reply to someone else? And bulimia is a serious condition, I hope you seek treatment.

[TBF]

62. And your entire argument

is right off the Ron Paul website. Maybe you are lost?

[Adam051188]

68. really?

Ron paul doesn't support a minimum income publicly.
The smilies on this site are the best, right?

[TBF]

94. He supports a 10% flat tax -

but then I'm sure you know that.

And, yes, we do have good smilies.

[go west young man]

65. The cutting of the military budget by half

would more than enough make up the money for social programs and thereby eliminate poverty in the long run. Chomsky and Joseph Stiglitz even say this.

[TBF]

95. OK, and that has what to do with sweet potatoes?

I would like to see the cite for Chomsky advocating a flat tax.

[Ed Suspicious]

53. Regressive taxation. No thanks.

[Adam051188]

57. you sure convinced me.

I'll go back to the drawing board.

[Ed Suspicious]

59. 15% of my mom's $10,000 income hurts a lot worse than 15% of my dad's $50,000.

Back to the drawing board for you.

[Adam051188]

63. she is under the poverty line

Which needs to be raised by the way. I mention a minimum income for all citizens earlier I believe? Change is scary, I know. I'll explain everything most thoroughly for you in small words after I become grand wizard of the rethuglican party, right? lol.

[brooklynite]

8. Why would I want to create a new political party?

If you think those principles are important, why not work to get the Democrats to adopt them?

[VanillaRhapsody]

9. Why would I want to...I am a Democrat...aren't you?

and NO I don't believe in the fucking "flat tax"! (That's how the Rich bamboozle teh poor.)

[Adam051188]

14. I'm a plutocrat. and if you're a democrat then I own u

I'd b ok with a flat tax rate with no loopholes. Period. None. No deductables. No offshore accounts.

[dionysus]

23. LOL, the old flat tax canard...

[Adam051188]

40. ?

Please continue....?...

I can't refute non arguments

[dionysus]

43. read any non biased study about it. it's a regressive system and would cause a catastrophic loss of

revenue.

that's why it's been laughed out of the room by anyone who isn't a steve forbes style RWer.

[Adam051188]

51. I totally understand the trepidation on this subject.

I disagree. Just like everything else it would have to be done the right way. I think a lot of things would have to change drastically for it to work, but thats where we are as a civilization. Obama ran on "change" right?

[Walk away]

107. Uh oh!.....nt

[cali]

10. It would look a lot like the Vermont Progressive Party Platform:

http://www.progressiveparty.org/issues/platform

[Warren Stupidity]

11. any system that uses simple plurality "first past the post" elections

results in a duopoly. You cant create a viable third party. The only thing you can do before restructuring the system is take over one of the existing members of the duopoly.

[Nye Bevan]

32. The UK uses FPTP and the "third party" is part of the Government (nt)

[RC]

73. Much as the 3rd Way and New Democrats have done.

[Vashta Nerada]

12. We should create a Democratic Party that's actually made up of Democrats.

That would be a great party.

[VanillaRhapsody]

13. It already is made up of them....just SOME Democrats want to purge...for "party purity" no doubt.

[Vashta Nerada]

15. Ha.

You're funny.

[VanillaRhapsody]

16. funny and I am right...

[Adam051188]

17. ....I think you engaging in psychological projection.

[VanillaRhapsody]

18. I am not the one wanting to throw out all the Democrats..

how would I be the "projecting one"? Nor do I want to create a "new party"....perhaps you're projecting?

[VanillaRhapsody]

113. You started it Pee Wee Herman.

[frwrfpos]

19. If i said I love Capitalism

free trade, offshoring, the military, love droning people, and I called myself a Democrat, would I be a Democrat?

[VanillaRhapsody]

22. If you only disagreed on one...would you be totally disqualified?

I am not the one that is saying that we need to kick out all the Democrats am I?

If YOU think that is what the party favors...then perhaps you are the one in the wrong party...

[frwrfpos]

26. If you agree with most of the positions I listed in my post

then you would be in agreement with Republicans. The point is one cant agree with and support Republican ideas and policies and legitimately call themselves a Democrat.

If you agree with the positions I stated , perhaps it is YOU that is in the wrong party.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. but around here...meaning DU ...if someone doesn't meet the standards of those of the farthest

left...then you are branded "not a Democrat" OR a Republican or some such rot. Even the President or Hillary Clinton...which is demonstrably laughable.

[frwrfpos]

33. Im legitimately curious

We seem to disagree but Im really interested in what positions or policies are considered "far left" to you. Can you tell me what you consider to be "far left"?

[VanillaRhapsody]

35. Well I have said it before....is there anyone that is farther left than you?

then you are probably it...

http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm

[frwrfpos]

39. Obama has done some good, but he is not left or liberal

his policies and actions are often the exact opposite of his speeches. Again, can you name positions that you personally consider "far left"?

[VanillaRhapsody]

41. Oh yes he is and I can prove it....

Go there and read ALL that is said...see for yourself. You all claim to be the "free thinkers" and all...

http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm

(psssst...denial is not a river in Egypt)

[frwrfpos]

45. I read the list

lots of talk. His actions as President have been often the exact opposite of his speeches. e.g. the TPP, his drone program, right wing Republican appointments to agencies, Keystone pipeline, The Heritage foundations health care idea being implemented as forces mandates to buy garbage insurance, his disastrous education policies, ignoring Bush's war crimes, etc etc

the list goes on and on and on.

I think you may be the one in deep denial

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. READ the issues...

I did all the research for you...its there in Black and White...double dog dare ya! Or are you afraid to find you you are wrong and due for a paradigm shift? You see....you are not the starting line for what is Liberal.

[frwrfpos]

50. the issues are mainly Republican ideas and policies

You did no research. You posted White House talking points

You are obviously incapable of honestly responding to what I post. Have fun posting White House talking points until you are blue in the face. It doesnt change the very right wing policies of this administration

[VanillaRhapsody]

52. I posted what is publicly available for anyone to know...who cares to know....the truth.

those are ALL the issues....not just a few that certain Democrats care about.....And why I call that being myopic. Not seeing the big picture.

[Scuba]

93. You've figured this out now.

[VanillaRhapsody]

99. Yes I get that you think that anything you don't agree with are White House Talking points...

but that is all right there for you to see....its WHAT you are supposed to use to determine where someone stands on issues....What they have actually said and what they have actually done. Its called Historical FACTS.

[frwrfpos]

101. the facts"" you quote on that website

are from SOTU and debates. Obamas policies are decidedly right wing and cater to Republicans.

Your responses are hollow vacuum filled fluff that addressed nothing of what Ive posted.

and you still refuse to answer anything that ive asked.

[VanillaRhapsody]

102. they are from EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY that's not an Obama Cheerleading site

by any stretch of the imagination. They are NOT JUST from SOTU...you better go check yourself. It's a bald face lie...

[frwrfpos]

103. re read post 101 and get back to me.

[VanillaRhapsody]

104. NO...you stop pretending you know what you are talking about...

because obviously, you don't. You purposely misdescribed that site and its intentions...

ALL of the issues are there....if you weren't so myopic...you could see that. THAT is called a big picture.

[frwrfpos]

105. blah blah blah

blah blah blah..you have nothing and you refuse to answer anything..

[VanillaRhapsody]

106. That's all you got when all you got is lies about that site.....you didn't even look to see

what it was... obvious to anyone who has!

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. by the way there is more than talk there...

actions are listed as well...

You are right...Denial runs deep in you....

[Adam051188]

37. you talk in circles

But by all means continue diluting reasonable discussion with unreasonable accusations and nonsense.

[VanillaRhapsody]

38. I make perfect sense....you just do not like what I am saying...

obviously.

[Adam051188]

44. of course.

I admit freely that I don't like unreasonable accusations and nonsense. But I put up with. Just because I think you're special

Very special

[VanillaRhapsody]

46. I just tell the truth....they just think its "accusations"

[Adam051188]

64. mmmk

<gets last word in>

[VanillaRhapsody]

69. that's a word?

[grahamhgreen]

66. Of course that's BS. Most so-called 'centrists' take positions on the far right of America.

examples - Chained CPI, war with Syria, TPP.

[VanillaRhapsody]

98. You have an graphs to back this up?

[grahamhgreen]

114. Yes!

But let's start with Syria. Can we agree that initiating a war with Syria is an extreme far-right position?

[VanillaRhapsody]

121. SO that is the ONLY issue right...

Everyone gets just by just one issue and You get to be the judge.

This is another example of myopic thought....I gave you OVERALL score on EVERYTHING! You got one point.

Epic Fail.

[grahamhgreen]

122. OK, so you agree that war with Syria is an extreme far right position:) Now, How bout the TPP?

[VanillaRhapsody]

123. I didn't say anything of the sort did I?

Do you agree that you cannot determine if someone is Liberal or not based on just one issue?

[grahamhgreen]

124. First, let's see if we can agree on one point. Advocating war with Syria would be considered

an extreme, far-right position, yes?

Let's start there, then I'll answer your question

[VanillaRhapsody]

125. That is called "changing the subject"

and I am not biting....

Do you determine whether or not someone is Liberal by the sum of their beliefs...or just one?

My contention is the sum whole....you seem not to agree with that.

When you have created a graph that covers all the issues I presented and it comes to a different conclusion....let me know...otherwise...Epic Fail.

[grahamhgreen]

129. Answer the simple question. Admit it, I'm right. War with Syria is about as far right wing wacko as

one can get, lol.

You're fun

[VanillaRhapsody]

130. No you answer mine first as I asked first......I don't allow myself to be manipulated.

nice try but no sale...

[grahamhgreen]

131. Lol, I thought I asked first. Well, I think it takes a few issues to

Determine if one is liberal/progressive.

That said, since the military budget is 60+% of the US budget, and every war we fight costs us dearly at home, it is a heavily weighted issue.

I would say if someone is pro-war (any of our current wars), especially if they are holding a position that is to the right of 80% of all Americans on attacking Syria.... It pretty much puts them out there on the wacko right fringe. Implementing the Republican plan for mandatory private insurance and Lilly Ledbetter and advocating for chained CPI and the TPP doesn't change that, in my view.

Although Lilly Ledbetter and govt loans for college were definitely solid liberal issues

[VanillaRhapsody]

132. It takes more than a few...it takes all of them...

this throw Democrats overboard because they don't live up to YOUR expectations is NOT productive...particularly the closer we get to November.

[grahamhgreen]

133. Well, some of the Republican Democrats are actually a hinderance. It's not

a matter of tossing them over, but changing their minds

[VanillaRhapsody]

134. but you WON't change anything like that between now and then...

sorry....doesn't work like that. You will not transform the party into your dream team that quickly...but what you ARE doing is negatively influencing the mushy middle voters...

[djean111]

86. but around here...meaning DU ...if someone doesn't like even one of Obama's policies......

they are called a racist hater. THAT'S the purity purge that I see.....

[VanillaRhapsody]

100. This is a Democratic forum and HE is a Democratic President...

what do you expect....flowers and candy for it?

I find that the ones doing the most whining about it are the ones that use pejoratives the most frequently themselves.

[PowerToThePeople]

24. Here is the enemy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024469471

GOP infiltrators

Here is the enemy.

http://www.thirdway.org/staff

Jonathan Cowan


Matt Bennett


Nancy Hale


Jim Kessler
\

Gabe Horwitz


Lauren Oppenheimer


David Kendall


David Hollingsworth


David Brown


John Vahey


Alicia Mazzara


Elizabeth Quill


Jeff Okun-Kozlowicki


Kimberly Pucher

[VanillaRhapsody]

27. Never heard of any of them....

do they hang around DU? Save for Manny I haven't seen anyone proclaim themselves such....but I have seen others accused of it often.

[PowerToThePeople]

49. Here is my chart

Not sure I like it too much. The tax issue was a trap. It only gave a flat tax question, kinda lame.

[VanillaRhapsody]

96. It looks like you and President Obama are a pretty good match then!

[PowerToThePeople]

109. except for

Drones, nsa, tpp, xl pipeline, sIngle payer, prosecuting corrupt bankers, and whistle blower status for manning and snowden, we are a good match.

[VanillaRhapsody]

110. Well nobody wins them all...

overall STILL a Liberal! Its called seeing the big picture...those aren't the ONLY issues are they?

[djean111]

89. Here ya go - those are Third Way folks - http://www.thirdway.org/staff n/t

[VanillaRhapsody]

97. Yes I saw that....are they DU members?

[go west young man]

112. Here comes the derailing of the thread.

Thanks for nothing as always.

[quinnox]

21. Some things that come to mind

I like the public financing and universal healthcare (and non-profit!)

English would become the official language, all citizens must pass a written and oral test.

The environment would become as important and as much of a priority as the defense industry is today.

The USA would begin a new intensive, well-funded space technology program, with the aim of landing a man on Mars within 20 years.

We make an international statement that we once again respect all nations and countries sovereignty and borders. We apologize to the world for the Iraq invasion.

We make a new focus on new energy technology, including solar, and other green technologies, and try to make new discoveries as well.

We stop being a war-like nation, and announce we are now more interested in peace, prosperity for all countries, and diplomacy.

The USA stops all unauthorized spying, and a new focus on the rights and respect of civil liberties is implemented.

[dionysus]

25. "English would become the official language, all citizens must pass a written and oral test. "

your slip is showing...

[quinnox]

29. I stand by it. I knew it might be a bit controversial

but I think everyone should be able to speak English in this country. It's not too much to ask of those who want to come here, in my opinion.

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. I am sure the Native Americans agree with you...

they are still waiting for you to learn Lakota!

[VanillaRhapsody]

30. whooopsie!!!

[lob1]

34. Corporations are not people would be a nice addition.

[go west young man]

74. That one is a definite!

[go west young man]

75. It would be great to see 3 languages

required for high school graduation. English mandatory. Spanish or French required and a third as a non required minor although not as important as the first two. In order to bring us more into the world arena culturally.

I'd also like to see art and music programs receiving new enhanced government grants at schools. Our country needs a new age of enlightenment.

[BenHoffman]

54. We don't need a new party

The two parties could be easily fixed with publicly funded elections. That would put the power back in the hands of the people. We need to take back the House this fall and then push Democrats to legislate publicly funded elections.

[RC]

76. We need to stop the gerrymandering first.

Redraw the voting districts to be square or rectangular. Each with approximately the same number of people in them. The only exception to shape would be State and national borders and the occasional river.

[go west young man]

80. I didn't think of that one.

Very cool idea, literally from outside the box.

[Basic LA]

82. Two Will Do

I agree that Two polar opposite parties should be enough, Employer & Employee parties, or R's & D's. Let's just get the legal bribery & campaign costs out of it & emphasize that Dems are the party of Employees (previously known as Labor, Workers or Proletariats).

[MrsKirkley]

55. Single-payer health care and end all free trade deals.

No more NAFTA, CAFTA, etc. and NO TPP!! It's either fair trade or no trade. Off-shoring jobs to the detriment of ones own country should be a crime.

[frwrfpos]

60. http://socialistparty-usa.net/

socialism is a pretty good system. I like all of the ideas on the website.

Disclaimer: this is the official website of the SWP of the USA

[sadoldgirl]

67. Here are another few:

Glass Stiegel will be implemented, derivatives as well as hedgefunds will not be legal in this country.
The media (except for newspapers) will be public outlets with strict adherance to federal laws.
Trade treaties may not be called agreements and will need a two thirds majority in the house and senate only after a debate, which is open to the public.
Supreme court justices will be chosen by a panel of the two parties as well as independents.

Well, I could go on, but dreams don't help much, or do they?

[go west young man]

79. The 1996 Telecommunications Deregulation Act

put a serious hurting on the US. News became opinion from that point on and music became generic due to Clear Channel. Our media became monopolized, our cable bills have risen and we got sold a crap war by the bastards. I would love to see the media broken up and required to report news instead of propaganda and opinion.

[Adam051188]

81. dreams are the best

[go west young man]

70. Back to the subject at hand.....

Here's a few more..

1) Churches are taxed as business's. No free rides anymore.
2) Separation of church and state are tantamount and reimplemented.
3) No government money for charter schools, private schools or religious schools.
4) No prayer in schools or government buildings. They are strictly for learning and government business only.
5) Receipts that are counted for online voting machines.

[RC]

78. No receipts allowed for voting.

Only hand countable, paper ballots. You can use scanners, but the ballots must be hand marked and hand countable. Computer must never be the last word.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

71. socialize banks...

Last edited Sun Feb 9, 2014, 09:03 PM - Edit history (1)

break up monopolies and oligopolies and enact laws that make mergers and acquisitions exceedingly rare
socialize energy (natural monopoly)
add tariffs to create "fair trade" so jobs return to/don't flee the US
raise marginal tax rates precipitously after the first $1,000,000 earned
treat capital gains as income
eliminate tax loopholes for those who can afford to exploit them, that includes corporations
enact laws that prevent states from competing in a race to the bottom by granting corporations tax free status for relocating
enact laws that tax corporations that want to move out of the US
raise the minimum wage to over $11 and hour
single payer health care
reallocate funds away from the military industrial complex to building infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, green energy, etc..); the military gets what's left over
legalize marijuana
enact a STET tax
eliminate the Social Security cap and tie the contribution to income, not payroll (treating capital gains as income, of course)
socialize prisons
restore the power of the Supreme Court to it's original construct (limited)
enact laws that encourage voting including lengthening the time people have to vote
rewrite laws that criminalize blacks disproportionately
define white collar crime, criminalize it, and send criminals to prison (eliminate white collar prisons)

[Adam051188]

77. great ideas, all of them.

I like it. it's just a matter of how much you would work within the current system to accomplish your changes.

[go west young man]

84. Ditto... all great ideas.

Especially the capital gains idea. That alone would pay for all the social programs and educational programs we need and help our seniors to retire early and enjoy their golden years. Nice list.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

85. I'm running for president

[frazzled]

72. Dance Party!!

[go west young man]

88. Best idea yet!

Dig some Soul Train...the host used to make me laugh.

[frazzled]

92. It could succeed in bringing people together

Because, in my opinion, no good idea we might conceive here would be even remotely possible in the current divided state of our country. Job one is to get people to stop clawing at each others' throats. Dancing helps.

So I was a bit serious in suggesting Dance Party!

[liberal_at_heart]

83. I saw a great show today called Richard Wolff:Democracy at work:A cure for Capitalism.

He had some great ideas about how instead of companies being run by a board of directors, they should be run by employees. Every single employee should automatically have a vote in how the business or coop is run.

[Jefferson23]

90. If we can accomplish the first one you listed, all the rest will fall into place.

Without it, all we do is back peddle, for the most part. We know that most Americans
approve of many liberal policies, but we don't have them enacted.

It is a poison in our system.

[longship]

91. The only other party I'd vote for is the Free Beer Party.

I am a Democrat, lifelong. If one does not like the Democratic Party one does not jump ship in the USA, where there are only two choices. Instead, one works within the party to change it from within, just like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson did for the Republican Party beginning in the late 70's.

It has to be done from the bottom up, precinct by precinct. They had churches all over the country cooperating and were very well organized. No delegate got elected/selected without passing the Jesus test.

We are in a living Hell now because those in the Democratic Party did not listen when many of us told them what we saw happening before our very eyes. We are paying now for the party's myopic view.

In the meantime, the Democrats look back at the days of Senators like Dirkson, Baker, and other intelligent, moderates and make the claim that there is a deal to be made.

It's an astounding situation. There is no dealing with people who know that they have God on their side.

But nobody is saying that. That's a shame.

[CanonRay]

108. Corporations are NOT people

First line on my platform; constitutional amendment making it law.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

115. the party should make unequivocal promise to oppose Putin at every turn

[go west young man]

116. Can't help yourself can you?

Schadenfreude tastes nastier when it comes back up.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

118. the man is an evil repressive dictator. I want nothing for him to go well.

I want him to be ousted by the people he is persecuting, imprisoning, and killing.

[go west young man]

117. A much better idea would be to establish

normal relations and help nations like Russia/Cuba, etc. to move more fully into the 21st century. The spreading of goodwill instead of denigration and embargos would do wonders for "our" image. Our own house isn't exactly in order you know?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

119. we have normal relations with Russia. Or did you not know that?

[Iggo]

120. Gay Rights are Civil Rights.

Even if that makes me a fascist loving DUer.

[Orsino]

126. The Citizen's Wage.

A nation that never learned to feed, clothe and shelter all its citizens has little claim to the word "liberty."

[Distant Quasar]

127. I'd vote for a party that supported workplace democracy

Employee representation on the boards of all publicly owned corporations might be a good place to start.

[Maedhros]

128. Here's mine:

1. Public financing of elections
2. Proportional representation
3. Dismantling of the National Security State

[grahamhgreen]

135. Here's 15 + my bonus END ALL PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND ONLY TAX CORPORATIONS!!!

1) Medicare for All

2) Re-taxing the wealthiest at the Greatest Generation rate of 91%, or 74%.

3) Killing the TPP and withdrawing from our costly trade agreements.

4) Ending the wars and finding non-violent solutions to conflict like other adults.

5) Prosecuting torture and other war crimes committed by prior administrations.

6) Restoring Habeus Corpus and closing Gitmo.

7) Ending the war on drugs and supporting Cannabis legalization.

8) Curbing police brutality and the police state.

9) Protecting privacy, net neutrality and enshrining it into law.

10) Increasing the minimum wage to $15/hr. or more, breaking/unionizing up Walmart and neo-monopolies.

11) Prosecuting corrupt bankers and Wall Street personnel, reforming the Fed.

12) Supporting Move to Amend.

13) Passing card check, supporting unions

14) Supporting our teachers unions and public schools

15) Ending the privatization of schools, jails, and other public institutions.


BONUS - End all income tax on people, persons, and entities earning less than $250,000/year unless they are a subsidiary of a larger corporation. This is my response to Republicans who are always telling me that you can't raise taxes on corporations because they will just wind up charging the consumers more. Well, if that's the case, then there is no reason to tax us at all. It would be far easier for the IRS to monitor all entities with $250,000 income and above than to monitor 300 million Americans..... OK that, and a VAT tax, and some tariffs, etc.