LA Mayor on US taxes: Corporate too high, capital gains too low -- aim is fair middle ground

[fromhereon]

Everyone's definition of "middle ground" is completely different. This term needs to be abolished when we're talking about relative tax brackets so listeners can be clear. Use ACTUAL numbers! 9-9-9 was a bunch of garbage, but at least Cain used a rational figure so we could understand his position.

[rwcbanzai]

If taxes were based on who benefits from public services provieded, then corporations would be taxed the most!!!!!

[jxaxmxixn]

Every single human being should be taxed a precisely equal amount on their wages - Every single business should be taxed a precisely equal amount based on their earnings. All based on the previous years totals. Somebody write a simple equation with a few variables and let it control itself so the government can concern itself with other issues - how hard is that?

[WillBobBill]

Capital gains are WAY too fucking low

Mitt Romney paid 15% in taxes because most of his income is from capital gains, the same as most rich people. They just make money by sitting on it

[timaustin2000]

I'm with many of the below commentators; a great many multi-billion dollar corporations in America use fancy accounting to pay no tax whatsoever and, in some cases, get rebates. Less get them paying tax in the first place; you'll marvel at how quickly the defecit disappears.

[xinzang]

This guy should go back to selling tacos in Boyle Heights and keep it in his pants. He sounds more like a republican and corporate puppet.

[zime2006]

Tony Vilar is a cretin!

[lonelytrixter]

I definitely think capital gains in the US is too low. If you were to look at lowering corporate taxes at all, you need to first do a serious overhaul of the tax code and get rid of major loopholes and deductions. When companies like GE are able to pay no effective taxes and get rebates something is seriously wrong with the tax structure. Right now for all the rhetoric about it no one has seriously taken a decent shot at it. Stuff like a flat tax or formerly Cain's BS 999 plan don't count.

[JJLatBIM]

Typical Villaragosa going out on the limb: "I think there should be a real discussion and real debate around fixing our tax structure." "There should be a middle ground." WHEW! Look out there Tony, the limb is gettin' pretty shaky. You're so bold and insightful.

[legi0naire]

Shouldn't Corporate start paying taxes to begin with before someone claims they pay to much.

LA Mayor should just inform any company he is a shareholder/owner off how to evade taxes(like a mail box in Holland) why reduction when they can pay nothing.

[DimmedDiamond]

Interesting. The giant corporations of the US don't pay taxes to the government AT ALL tinyurl dot com/7vf9tpx

[Ramsez]

isnt it "le mayor"?

[Alexiscom1]

How about no income tax period and very very small government?

[eirefrance]

@Alexiscom1 Sure, how about we ride horses to work and enslave coloreds to pick the cotton in our fields?

[DaDoctaBoom]

@Alexiscom1 Sure, and while we're at it let's use the poor as doormats and all be one big happy corporation.

[csjbo1990]

@Alexiscom1 The problem with that thinking is that government would have to be smaller than it's EVER been, because part of the way the government raised revenue before the income tax was through tariffs )which was abolished in the early 1900s). If you eliminate the income tax and don't put in other forms of revenue, it would be a disaster.

[timaustin2000]

@Walhei960 are you for real? Holy mother of God in heaven! I thought such stupid "LOOK COMMUNIST!" rhetoric became extinct last century! Simplistic, de-humanising, black and white, knee-jerk stupidity is still alive and kicking in the good-ol US of A, it seems! Good luck, America; you're gonna need it .

[mhgreen3000]

@Walhei960 just what amongst these regulations has shackled opportunity and innovation? You do realize that as a percentage of taxes paid and collected in this country corporations pay far less than they ever did, including the 1940's and 50's when we had a rather robust economy compared to today. No not all regulations are good ones, but not all are bad, consider the Glass-Steagall act that was repealed by Clinton and contributed mightily to the mess we are in now with the banks.

[i7q]

fix LA first then give your advice for the rest of america

[Licmycat]

A lying, cheating, immoral mexican renegade. Figures. May he receive what he gave as the bible says....

[Walhei960]

This is a change for a Liberal Mexican Democrat. Like Rats leaving a sinking ship these Liberals finally, are coming to the right side. The Republican side. Not because they are less Socialist, but because they are forced by reality. Obama's campaign of race baiting, envy, and covetousness, is being exposed as typical Socialist/Communist lies. Over 10,000 new regulations since Obama has been in Office. This shackles opportunity and innervation, and business start ups. Environmentalist also.

[whoo689]

@Walhei960 10,000?? Lol. Where did you get THAT figure? Bloomberg already exposed that nonsense about "overregulation" for the fraud that it is. Bush's regulations actually cost a little MORE than Obama's during the same time period. Look it up.

[thesparitan]

I support that.