Trump calls tax avoidance 'smart,' most Americans call it 'unpatriotic': Poll

[HonestJohn]

By Chris Kahn | NEW YORK
Tue Oct 4, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-poll-idUSKCN1242FH

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says paying no income tax would make him "smart." While nearly half of Americans agree with him, more people think it is "selfish," and "unpatriotic," according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.

Some 67 percent of Americans said it is "selfish" for a presidential candidate to pay no taxes, while 61 percent said it is "unpatriotic," according to the poll, which allowed respondents to pick more than one adjective to describe paying no taxes.

(more at link)

[mystery-ak]

At the same time, the results showed grudging respect for a candidate who can figure out how to reduce their tax bill. Some 46 percent of Americans, including 35 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Republicans, thought a presidential candidate who pays no taxes is "smart."

[Oceander]

This is what Trump gets for not being open and honest about his taxes months ago - he's single-handedly allowed the democrats and Clinton to set the terms of debate and to paint him as a tax cheat when, in point of fact, if you really had a net operating loss of $900 million - and trust me, the IRS would make damned sure it was a legitimate NOL when it showed up on the first return - then it's only fair that you get to deduct that NOL in future years.  That's been a fundamental premise of the Internal Revenue Code almost since 1916.  Trump had the opportunity to explain that to folks if he'd come clean with his taxes in the first place, instead, he's allowed the democrats to paint him as what he ain't in this case:  a tax cheat.

Dumb, Dumber, Dumberer.

[dfwgator]

Most Americans are stupid.

[XenaLee]

At the same time, the results showed grudging respect for a candidate who can figure out how to reduce their tax bill. Some 46 percent of Americans, including 35 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Republicans, thought a presidential candidate who pays no taxes is "smart."

I'm finding it really hard to believe that Americans..... while struggling harder than they've ever had to struggle before...IF they're even lucky enough to find a job, and working more than one job just to keep food on the table and a roof over the heads of their family, not to mention struggling under the higher cost of healthcare thanks to the Democrats...... would approve of someone as rich as Trump NOT paying taxes for nearly two decades. 

Seriously?  Who believes that?  Especially when...with the liberals/Democrats, it's always "higher taxes for thee but not for me".   Just as Trump wants a tax on the rich and for folks to pay their 'fair share'.   I would think that most logical folks would look at Trump, and at his history of being a Democrat-supporting NY liberal, and will say hell no to that.
 

[Gov Bean Counter]

This is what Trump gets for not being open and honest about his taxes months ago - he's single-handedly allowed the democrats and Clinton to set the terms of debate and to paint him as a tax cheat when, in point of fact, if you really had a net operating loss of $900 million - and trust me, the IRS would make damned sure it was a legitimate NOL when it showed up on the first return - then it's only fair that you get to deduct that NOL in future years.  That's been a fundamental premise of the Internal Revenue Code almost since 1916.  Trump had the opportunity to explain that to folks if he'd come clean with his taxes in the first place, instead, he's allowed the democrats to paint him as what he ain't in this case:  a tax cheat.

Dumb, Dumber, Dumberer.

His ego wouldn't allow him to admit that he had a billion dollar loss.

[skeeter]

There was a time when patriots fought taxation without representation. Which in effect is what we have today.

[sinkspur]

Lisa Desjardins ‏@LisaDNews  21m21 minutes ago
NEW: sources in both parties tell me their (separate) internal polling shows @GovGaryJohnson is sliding fast and it benefits @HillaryClinton

Trump is completely on defense now.   And he is at the mercy of some external event to change the inevitable.

He is on his way to becoming the thing he hates the most:  a loser.

[Frank Cannon]

Trump is an idiot for letting this get out of control. It's bush league clown stuff that he claims he is better than. We have Romney 2.0 going on right before our eyes.

[corbe]

@Frank Cannon   


    Ya think the trumpers will admit THEIR mistake if it Morphs into Mondale 2.0?

[Frank Cannon]

@Frank Cannon   


    Ya think the trumpers will admit THEIR mistake if it Morphs into Mondale 2.0?

LOL. They'll be on suicide watch if that happens.

BTW, I think what Donny did on his taxes was prudent. I pay a CPA a pile of money every year to do the same stuff. The fact that he can't defend it and let it become an out of control mess is the real issue. He is easily the stupidest person to ever run for President.

[Frank Cannon]

How did he gain so much personal wealth at the same time his tax documents show a loss so large that it could wipe out 20 years of his earnings, at least on paper?  At minimum it shows we need tax reform.  It is also crazy that the tax code is so complicated that people have to pay a CPA so much money just to find all the loopholes. 

Trump takes laws like bankruptcy and the tax code beyond their intent for his own billionaire enrichment.  It may be technically legal, but it is unethical.

There are many times when what is technically legal is still morally/ethically wrong.  For example, I think what a lot of people do with their mortgages when their real estate drops in value is such a case.  Yes they can default on their loan and stick the bank with the loss.  But that is ethically deplorable, imo.  I have argued this with many people.  When you get the mortgage, the bank is not a co-investor.  They loan you money for your investment.  If there is a loss, it is on you.  Certainly if there is a gain no one gives some of the profits to the bank. 

There are many ways in which people manipulate technicalities which are ethically wrong.   Trump calls this being smart and being a good business man.  It is really nothing more than a con, only with banks and the government as the target instead of an individual.  Well, actually with his bankruptcies individuals were also conned.  It is my belief that Trump pre-planned the bankruptcies.  He loaded those casinos with debt in order to free up other assets.  He hired contractors knowing ahead of time he would short them later.  It was a con on a whole wide range of people, all to Trump's personal benefit.

Who cares. What he did was totally legal. Hitlary did the same thing to the tune of $700K. An argument for tax reform can be made but morals in filing a tax return? Get real. The tax law is the tax law and if you don't maximize it to your benefit you will be out of business, sitting on the curb selling pencils from a tin cup while you enjoy your moral superiority.

[EasyAce]

Taxation is nothing more than organised, sanctioned robbery, and there the subject ought to be dropped.
---Frank Chodorov.

[EasyAce]

There was a time when patriots fought taxation without representation. Which in effect is what we have today.

You didn't get the memo 40 years ago?

Today's conservative has reached into his heart of hearts, prayed hard, and decided it was high time that
the government cut his neighbour's benefits.---George F. Will, 1978.

[Fishrrman]

Title:
"Trump calls tax avoidance 'smart,' most Americans call it 'unpatriotic': Poll"

All this proves is that the poll respondents misunderstood the question (at best) or were stupid (at worst).

How many folks can YOU name who willingly pay more to the IRS than they need to?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Who cares. What he did was totally legal. Hitlary did the same thing to the tune of $700K. An argument for tax reform can be made but morals in filing a tax return? Get real. The tax law is the tax law and if you don't maximize it to your benefit you will be out of business, sitting on the curb selling pencils from a tin cup while you enjoy your moral superiority.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

How many of the phony hypocrites criticizing Trump on this issue paid more than need to in taxes?


Probably none I would guess. Because that money goes right down the shitter and they know it.

[LMAO]

Title:
"Trump calls tax avoidance 'smart,' most Americans call it 'unpatriotic': Poll"

All this proves is that the poll respondents misunderstood the question (at best) or were stupid (at worst).

How many folks can YOU name who willingly pay more to the IRS than they need to?

@Fishrrman

This issue won't be the one to doom his candidacy as, even though the idea of Trump paying no taxes upsets people, no laws as far as anyone has been able to discover have been broken.

Hillary is attempting to us this issue to define Trump as unethical but she may not want to go there based on her history

[Chosen Daughter]

I'm finding it really hard to believe that Americans..... while struggling harder than they've ever had to struggle before...IF they're even lucky enough to find a job, and working more than one job just to keep food on the table and a roof over the heads of their family, not to mention struggling under the higher cost of healthcare thanks to the Democrats...... would approve of someone as rich as Trump NOT paying taxes for nearly two decades. 

Seriously?  Who believes that?  Especially when...with the liberals/Democrats, it's always "higher taxes for thee but not for me".   Just as Trump wants a tax on the rich and for folks to pay their 'fair share'.   I would think that most logical folks would look at Trump, and at his history of being a Democrat-supporting NY liberal, and will say hell no to that.

My sentiments exactly.

[driftdiver]

My sentiments exactly.

So many people here have such a liberal view of taxes.   You should be condemning the law and not those who follow it.  Perhaps it's just more fun to join the socialist crowd in condemning people who have more money.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

This is what Trump gets for not being open and honest about his taxes months ago - he's single-handedly allowed the democrats and Clinton to set the terms of debate and to paint him as a tax cheat when, in point of fact, if you really had a net operating loss of $900 million - and trust me, the IRS would make damned sure it was a legitimate NOL when it showed up on the first return - then it's only fair that you get to deduct that NOL in future years.  That's been a fundamental premise of the Internal Revenue Code almost since 1916.  Trump had the opportunity to explain that to folks if he'd come clean with his taxes in the first place, instead, he's allowed the democrats to paint him as what he ain't in this case:  a tax cheat.

Dumb, Dumber, Dumberer.

Agreed it would have been best to get this out of the way many moons ago and then it would "old news" by now.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Title:
"Trump calls tax avoidance 'smart,' most Americans call it 'unpatriotic': Poll"

All this proves is that the poll respondents misunderstood the question (at best) or were stupid (at worst).

How many folks can YOU name who willingly pay more to the IRS than they need to?

Well there is a spot on the form you can send in extra money for some cause or other. I always laugh at that one. Like you'd trust the IRS to get the money were they say it is going.