In comp.os.linux.advocacy rapskat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Of course, such is the way things work. I try to stay away from political > subjects because they are so inflammatory, but the tax situation in this > country is downright oppressive!
I'll grant you that our tax system is overly complex, but the amount we pay in taxes is still relatively low compared to most developed nations. > Try running a legit business without any handouts, it's damned near > impossible! Even if you are making a healthy profit, by the time you > finish paying taxes, you hardly clear anything anyway. And if you are > incorporated, forget about it! Uncle Slam has a finger in every pocket > and a fist up your ass controlling you like a puppet. Actually, it not just 'Uncle Sam' (by which I assume you mean the federal government) but the addition of state and local taxes, license fees, etc, that I find a hassle. Federal withholdings, state withholdings, FUTI, FICA, sales tax, property tax (state and local), corp report filing fees... it is not even the dollar amount that is the problem for me... it is the volume of the damn paperwork! This is why accountants make good money. > So many small businesses in this country fail within the first couple > years, not because they aren't successful and do well, but because of the > ridiculous taxes that are extorted from them. Actually, most small businesses fail because they do not properly manage their accounts receivable, do not track their expenses properly, or do not research their market before diving in (or some combination of the three). Granted, the government does not make things easy with the tangled mess that is our tax system. Many small businesses are probably throwing away much of their profit because they are not taking all of the tax deductions available to them. The best advice I can give to anyone starting a small business is: Hire a good accountant. It will be worth every penny. I do agree that the regulatory regime in America is stacked in favor of big corporations. They have been very effective at lobbying to create barriers to entry for small players in many markets. The current patent system is a prime example. It was originally intended to protect independent inventors but has been twisted into a tool for big business to lock out competition. Small business still has some advantages going for it, however. It tends to be more responsive and innovative than big business. The decision making process is not weighted down with so much bureaucracy. The need to keep investors and a board of directors happy tends to push most large corporations toward the conservative side of the spectrum. It is easier to take risks when you are accountable only to yourself. You could take away all taxes, and most small businesses would probably still fail. It is sad but true: sometimes having a dream does not automatically translate into an ability to execute on it. Cheers, Thad Phetteplace _______________________________________________ Gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
