SNET Internet : Features : Survey : Tax Cuts

What do you think of recently enacted federal tax cuts?

Sounds good - 890 (26%)
It's not nearly enough - 990 (29%)
It's way too much - 426 (12%)
I don't care - 184 (5%)
Show me the money - 977 (28%)

Your comments:

"The new tax cut is a 'feel good' shell game propagated by the extreme right. It's designed to look like everyone will benefit and that the extra 'spending money' will stimulate the economy. In reality, however, it is the rich and big corporations only who will benefit. The poor will stay poor, the middle classes will be squeezed even more, and the progress made during the Clinton years in reducing the budget defecit will come to a smashing halt! Even the small refund that some of us MAY actually receive (I understand that millions will actually never get their rebates) will be spent on increased fuel costs (thanks, Mr. Cheney!). We've really been screwed on this one, but our children will be screwed even more. Thanks a lot, Mr. President." D.E.P., Newtown

"There's a group of lawyers, accountants, ex-irs agents at www.givemeliberty.org that syas they can't find a law that: authorizes an employer to withhold money from your pay, requires a citizen to file a W-4, or requires a citizen to file a 1040. One of them also says he's looked through the records of all the state legislatures from 1913 and only 21 states ratified the 16th amendment instead of the required 36. When they go to the government and ask, "Show us the law." the government ignores them. The only tax cut I want to hear about is the government admitting they've been extorting money from us for 87 years and that they're going to stop." Bob, Bethel

"All CEOs who get huge bonuses should be taxed at 50% on the bonus
as this is gift and gift taxes shoud be stiff. These bonuses are nothing but GREED." R.M., Wallingford

"I picked 'sounds good' because thats all it is right now, sounding good. I agree with the retirement changes, 401K, and estate changes. I am concerned about most of the other cuts including the rebate checks. It took us a long time to get out of debt, and I do not want to go back to that. I also want to know why they wouldn't use this money for Social Security, Medicare, education, and to help all of the poverty sticken children in our country. I think those issues would make our country a much better place than an extra check in our pockets." L.J.N., East Haddam

"The surest way to make a surplus disappear is to leave it to Congress. Last year Congress, with Clinton's help, spent 7% or 8% more then the previous year, far in excess of inflation and population growth combined in an effort to buy goodwill ( and votes). There is no assurance that this practice will change, regardless of party in control !" R.G.W., New Canaan

"There should have another category: Put the money into the Social Security Fund." R.H., Cromwell

"I think it is great ... I am going to buy STOCK with my money that I get back because even a little stock helps out and adds some flavor to your bowl of soup." Lynx, Windsor Locks

"Did not like your choices re: tax refund -- how about 'only for the rich!' " H.M., Harwinton

"It's not simply a matter of too much or not enough. Sure, I'll take my little $300 check. But, as usual, the people who will reap the most are the ones who have the most. Nothing trickles down. And down the line, where will the CUTS happen? To programs that benefit the people who have the least. The choices for your survey should have included something that said 'too much for too few' or 'a mess, as usual.' " J.L., South Windsor

"It's a turn in the right direction and I hope to see this kind of postive action continue. Enough with the tax burden -- just exactly where does all our money go anyway? Yeah, yeah, yeah....I am tired of supporting those who choose not to work and those who say they work for the people, but are really lining their own pockets. I am grateful to have a President that recognizes that the excess tax money is the people's money. And it belongs to the people who paid it, not those who haven't but think they are entitled. We have had enough!" Lauri, Wilton

"Well, another tax 'cut' enacted is a good thing ... BUT it takes 11 years to come to fruition. This means that the Congress can change it at any time before we ever see the whole cut. There aren't really any people out there that think you will ever see the cuts in totality are there? Especially now that we have the U.S. Senate back in the control of the Socialist whoops, I mean Democratic party. Their motto has always been they have never seen a tax INCREASE they haven't liked nor a spending INCREASE they don't like." D.D., Sherman

"The supposed money we are getting is the money we are using to pay for the higher gas prices. So the money is going out faster than it is coming in." A.F., Old Saybrook

"I'm all for cutting taxes. After all, if the government doesn't need our money, then they shouldn't take it. But the real problem here is this rebate thing. People who make lots of money (Republicans) are going to get larger rebates than people who don't have lots of money to start with. And how much is it going to cost to send out all those checks? That money is being wasted. Forget about the rebates and simply lower our taxes for future years. Use the 'rebate' money to improve schools!" Joseph, Mansfield

"It's amusing to me to see that an overwelming majority of people would like to pay less taxes. However when liberals like Dodd, Lieberman or State Sen. Jepson say that conservatives like President Bush want to cut this or that out of the budget it's going to hurt someone. Then the people of Connecticut who say they want to pay less in taxes vote for the liberal (Democrat). I don't understand this." Alex, Bristol

"People seem to always think of their own self. What will I get? They never think of the poor people, single mothers or older people, who will receive very little tax cut. I feel this tax cut should go to help people who need it. Not the family that lives in a nice house with two nice cars and a lot of food to eat." Hutch, Wallingford

"What kind of bang is this dinky $600 'buy-off' going to get for the buck??? Not much ... politically or otherwise. Does President Bush really think we're that unaware?" R.A.F., Noank

"Want a REAL tax cut? One that will exceed 10% of what is paid in taxes by every tax payer? Pay off the national debt ! It's that simple ! It really, truly is. About 10% of every tax dollar we pay right now goes to pay just the interest on the national debt. We have a 'surplus', which Mr. Clinton was using to address this very problem, paying off some of the debt. It was about 15% not too long ago. Now, Bush has pushed this agenda of his, which amounts to a hill of beans for us. The national debt is still there, and the interest is accumulating, taking 10% of our tax money and giving it to those who own the paper; that's generally not the little guys. Let's say we have to pay about $3000 in taxes to the IRS. 10% of that is $300 ... The "Lord" giveth and the "Lord" taketh away ... perpetually. Until the national debt is lowered, we can count on giving away 10% and more of our tax dollars to no one who needs the money. That's the government doing a redistribution of wealth in its worst form, taking from the little guy and giving to the big guys." J.J., Essex

"When are we going to a flat tax system? I still pay more income tax than General Motors! On my lousy salary!" J.R., Bristol

"I will not believe it untill I see it. Anyway the people who will get the full amount probably have gotten a large return and the people who had to pay $800 will get little if any. The system Isn't right. How is the Government supposed to pay for it? get even more in debt just so Dubya can look good. GIVE ME A BREAK!" Mike G., Lisbon

"Bush's failure to address the way the Alternative Minimum Tax affects more and more middle income families shows his vindictiveness: New Englanders, who didn't support Bush are the most hurt by this lapse. This happens because we have the highest state income taxes." E.A.G., Sharon

"These jerks in Washington take thousands per year and NOW give back a lousy 3-600 dollars? i will give mine to my mother who gets practically nothing from Social Security. I think those people in Washington should have to live and retire by the same rules the rest of us do. Same pension most of us have (none), same insurance the rest of us have (lousy), get the same benefits we all get...lousy. Then they might think twice about taxing us so much or spending so freely." J.R., Forestville

"I think it's about time they gave us a break. Sometimes money is tight and this gives people the extra change in their pocket. Let's face it, with the rising cost of fuel, any extra money will do us a bit of good." Mia, Southbury

"President Bush claims that we can solve our problems by cutting taxes by huge numbers, but this idea has been tried and found wanting. In 1981, we let Reagan try it, and we ended up with one of the worst recessions in history. 'Reagnomics' created a decade and a half of huge deficits and trade imbalances that have caused serious economic and social turmoil in the U.S. Now, under the present administration, we seem poised on another economic abyss. This may prove to be the most disastrous presidency since Calvin Cooledge's pre-depression 'give-to-the-rich-and-screw-the-rest-of-'em' economy of the mid-1920s. Supply side economics means big money gets bigger and everyone else gets squeezed. When will we ever learn?" P.D., Winsted

"I think the tax cut will benefit the wealthiest individuals the most." C.C., Lisbon

Previous survey results are available.