The Big Ideas Project

Let's push for a new top tax tier for the super-wealthy, and name it in a way that makes that massive wealth more tangible. Let's call it: "1000 Families Top Tax Tier" If somebody makes $35 million a year or more, a thousand times what a struggling family of four earns, why can't they pay at 72%? That's less than the 1% paid when Reagan came into office. The rate is justified, but the name is what will make it happen.

Submitted by ProgTodd in Taxes & Budget Jan. 9, 2015, 3:30 p.m.

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#866

192 votes

Institute an inheritance/estate tax that is earmarked solely for social security and CANNOT borrow from this fund.

Submitted by Judith P. from VA in Taxes & Budget Nov. 17, 2014, 9:50 a.m.

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#866

192 votes

Corporations with a CEO to lowest paid worker total earnings ratio (inclufing stock) less than 75 to 1 pay a 30% tax. The rate would increase to 90% for CEO to lowest paid worker greater than 300%.

Submitted by Trev in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 10:48 a.m.

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#876

188 votes

Expand Social Security. Increase payments; no cap on payments re. income -- pay into the program on ALL your earned money (including investments). ALSO, increase the survivor benefit to be at least equal to the payment of the spouse earning the highest amount each month. If the wife earns $1100 per month; the husband earns $3000 per month, when the husband passes away, the wife's payment goes to $2600 per month. That is a $1400 cut in monthly income. Pay her the $3000 the husband was paid.

Submitted by deegee in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 1:07 p.m.

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#876

188 votes

Any member of congress who attempts to add amendments unrelated to the budget process to an annual appropriations bill immediately becomes ineligible to hold elected office. If this occurs during an election year where their seat is up for reelection, their seat shall remain vacant until the completion of the election, with their name removed from the ballot. If this occurs during a year in which they are not up for reelection, their seat shall remain vacant until a special election can be held.

Submitted by Terence in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 3:48 p.m.

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#889

186 votes

Any company that makes a profit should also be required to pay taxes in the U. S. Companies that use illegal strategies to avoid taxation should be taxed at 10 times the expected rate.

Submitted by Bear8 in Taxes & Budget Jan. 13, 2015, 9:35 p.m.

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#890

185 votes

Any decisions made by Congress involving tax dollars of the American people should require the vote of the American people. I am specifically speaking of the GOP Congress, with special regard to what happens with Social Security and Medicare. These are programs that we pay into and rely on in our retirement years. There should be NO cutting, privatizing or redistributing of these funds without the vote of the American people!

Submitted by lm c. from OK in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 1:25 p.m.

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#893

184 votes

Capital gains should be taxed - at minimum - at the same rate as regular income. Better yet, reverse the current system and tax capital gains at the higher rates, and regular earnings at the lower.

Submitted by Tammy V. from FL in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 4:45 p.m.

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#897

183 votes

Reform Wall Street: separate banks and investment houses. Eliminate subsidizing gambling on derivatives and credit swaps. Make banks be banks.

Submitted by Dohn H. from DE in Taxes & Budget Dec. 11, 2014, 1:25 a.m.

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#901

182 votes

Make corporations and the rich pay taxes at a minimal level of say 10% before any tax breaks begin. No more subsidies for big oil, big farms or any other big business. Stop throwing good money after bad on military projects like the plane for all four branches of service which has been a nightmare. Give the troops proper equipment instead. Start prosecuting wall street executives and others for breaking the law.

Submitted by Kay R. from MN in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 6:53 p.m.

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#917

179 votes

Tax corporations on a progressive basis like people are. If corporations want to be treated like people then tax them the way people are.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Taxes & Budget Dec. 17, 2014, 3:35 a.m.

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#927

176 votes

Tax goods "Made in China" a penny more than goods made anywhere else.

Submitted by disgusted with "experts" in Taxes & Budget Jan. 3, 2015, 10:56 a.m.

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#944

173 votes

Each citizen should get ONE home exemption! Anyone owning two or more should not be able to access home exemptions. If one can afford two or more homes, he/she should be able to pay taxes on the second one!

Submitted by OKIE in Taxes & Budget Jan. 4, 2015, 7:29 p.m.

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#966

168 votes

Set a limit on CEO pay of 1 million a year that can be deducted as a legitimate business expense. This would include all forms of compensation, salary, bonus, options gifts ect.. They can pay them as much as they want but anything above 1 million is not deductible.

Submitted by Edmund O. from WA in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 8:10 p.m.

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#966

168 votes

Tax exemptions for veterans based on years of service.

Submitted by Chris A. from TX in Taxes & Budget Nov. 26, 2014, 9:44 a.m.

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#983

163 votes

End all oil subsidies, off shore tax shelters, big corporation subsidies, Inversion and tax loopholes for the wealthy.

Submitted by Linda in Taxes & Budget Dec. 20, 2014, 9:46 p.m.

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#991

161 votes

Income Taxes: Increase the number of items taxpayers can choose to put their income taxes towards. Why just the check box for the Presidential Election Fund? Why not arts, education, science exploration, libraries, roads, mass transit, etc.?

Submitted by CW in Taxes & Budget Dec. 9, 2014, 7:40 p.m.

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#991

161 votes

100 % tax write off for any and all secondary education expenses for any family with an annual income of under 750,000 dollars?

Submitted by Jim C. from NY in Taxes & Budget Nov. 17, 2014, 10:50 a.m.

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#999

160 votes

REQUIRE annual or semi-annual PERFORMANCE AND ETHICS AUDITS of ALL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, particularly DEFENSE BLACK BUDGET and TAX SUBSIDIES. REQUIRE clear, objectively quantifiable minimal goals for all defense programs and contracts. REQUIRE PERFORMANCE BONDS be made by ALL government contractors on ALL government contracts, particularly defense and computer spending. Require government contractors to meet time and performance requirements on projects so the US PUBLIC is protected.

Submitted by Christopher M. Vanderwall-Brown in Taxes & Budget Jan. 11, 2015, 12:30 a.m.

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#1003

159 votes

No organization should be tax exempt if the CEO akes more than 5% of overall profits and if the organization puts less than 80% of its profits towards its purpose. The American Red Cross and St. Jude's both manage to do this. All tax exempt nonprofit should be required to follow these guide lines. Jerry Sandusky made $350,000 a year. His #2 made $250,000, in one small corner of Pennsylvania. How is that NONprofit? 80% or better toward the goal of the organizationp.

Submitted by izzibo in Taxes & Budget Dec. 10, 2014, 8:40 p.m.

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#1016

156 votes

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