Iraq now has a flat tax

[WillyBrandt]

Here is the link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50031-2003Nov1.html

Unbelievable.

[La_Serpiente]

1. OH MY GAWWWDD

[Minstrel Boy]

2. Hideous, and not surprising

We've known all along that Iraq was to be the Chicago school's lab rat.

[WillyBrandt]

4. Not even Chicago school

Chicago has right-wingers who are (semi/hyper?)rational. This school is fucking police academy, high school high, something. It's beyond belief.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. The neo-condottieri...

...will use Iraq as a lab rat for every wet-dream economic theory they ever had right up until the day that Bremmer is whisked off by chopper from the roof of CPA headquarters fifteen minutes ahead of the Shi'a Army of God.

There are things growing in the bottom of my crisper drawer with a firmer hold on reality.

[Skittles]

12. lol................................Davis

"There are things growing in the bottom of my crisper drawer with a firmer hold on reality."

PRICELESS! :thumbsup:

[livinontheedge]

5. What is your concern with the flat tax?

Just curious.

[Kamika]

8. flat tax isnt fair

A flat tax is extremely unfair to low income people.

[WillyBrandt]

9. the flat tax is terrible

is this a serious question?

It lowers the services for working people, and increases their taxes. The only ones who gain are the very rich. Very simple

i mean progressive taxation, if anything, is an utterly basic bedrock Democratic belief. we are not the party of the people in ANY sense if we go for a flax tax.

[oldcoot]

11. I would be concerned about any tax

I feel that the Iraqis, and not the United States, should decide what (if any) type of tax system that Iraq has. The fact that the Bush administration has imposed any tax system on Iraq before Iraq even has a constitution provides additional evidence that the real purpose of this war was not liberation. I also am concerned about who will pay these taxes, who will collect these taxes, what will be done with the taxes, and whether or not there will be any sort of accountability.

The reason that I am concerned about who will pay these taxes is that Iraq has a high unemployment rate (50 to 60%). Will unemployed Iraqis be forced to find the money to pay these taxes? What happens to any Iraqis who can not afford to pay? Will they lose their freedom or their property? Will confiscated property be sold cheaply to American businesses?

Who will collect these taxes? Will the military collect these taxes or will private companies such as Halliburton collect these taxes?

If a private corporation collects these taxes, how will the United States ensure that the corporation is honest. The Bush administration has shown no interest so far in holding large corporations accountable for their actions in the United States or in Iraq.

[Wwagsthedog]

6. Shaking my head at these monsters

The flat tax is totally regressive and hurts the poor.

[Holly]

7. An Iraqi tea party?

Until such time as the Iraqi's have a constitution Bremmer(US) doesn't have the moral authority to institute any type of tax reform. This is colonial imperialism and nothing less. As taxes collection was not previously enforced in Iraq, I predict they'll hold their own " tea party", real soon. Bremmer will certainly be on the guest list.

[oldcoot]

10. "Taxation without Representation!"

You are absolutely right, Holly. Many American conservatives would describe the American Revolution as just because the British taxed the American colonies without allowing Americans representation in Parliament. Not surprisingly, they do not see the hypocrisy of the United States imposing a tax policy on the Iraqis without consulting them. Obviously, the Iraqis should have been allowed to vote on a tax system. Shame on us!

[bluedog]

13. how can they get away

with this? Many people just trade at their markets...are each of them going to get a tax code number...will they impose the irs to take care of the non payers...this is wrong..I don't believe the people had to pay taxes before...they have very meager earnings....and this must go against their culture somehow...