Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Taxation

Colonnade in color

I can't decide which I like better--this colonnade at the Internal Revenue Service in color or black and white. What do you think? By way of information, the IRS is the tax-collecting arm of the Federal Government. Americans pay approximately 35% of their salary in taxes. The history of income tax in the U.S. dates back to the Lincoln Administration when the government instituted a tax to help finance the Civil War. The tax was never meant to be permanent, but it's also never been rescinded. There is continued debate regarding the legality of the IRS and income tax. I doubt they'll ever resolve it, though. As long as there's government and programs and citizens and the need to pay for services and benefits, there will be taxes.

Colonnade in black and white

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

18 comments:

RoeH said...

I'll go on record right now as saying they are crooks. There. I feel better. And if the country would just take ten percent from everybody with no loopholes for those who do not pay anything, it would be swimming in dollars.

Great pictures though. I prefer the.....hmmm...I think black and white but it's a tough decision.

Miranda McAfee said...

Here here... I'm all for a flat tax.

Love the black and white.

Wayne said...

I don't mind bucking the trend, I like the top shot better.

Income tax works about the same here I guess. The suspicion is that some high earners don't pay tax or don't pay enough but I don't know if that's true.

Virginia said...

Miss Opinion here for once doesn't have one. Please m make a note of it, and you too Wayne. I like both of them. I might lean to the top with W but that's scary. Your perspective is spot on DC. Really!

Unknown said...

Great perspectives!

marley said...

I normally go for black and white on photos like this but the soft hues of the colour is great. I vote for the colour version!

Janet Kincaid said...

Vote tally:
B&W II
Color II
Both I
No Vote I

Lucy: I agree. Ten percent flat tax on everyone and everything. The government would be so flush with money, they wouldn't know what to do!


Just M: Hear! Hear!


Wayne: We have the same discussion here: the wealthiest get off, while the dwindling middle classes bear the majority of the tax burden.


VJ: No opinion?! Are you feeling well? ;-)


JM: Thanks!


Marley: I'm usually partial to B&W, too, for this type of photo, but I like the color one, too. See? I can't decide! Thank goodness I have you guys!

Petrea Burchard said...

This time I favor the color, especially because it's subtle. A lovely shot of a lovely building.

I wish the system were more fair. But I don't mind paying my taxes in principle. Gotta pay for it all somehow. Flat tax sounds good on the surface so I should read more, huh?

FitzFam4ever said...

OOh, I like them both! You are very talented! If I had to choose I would choose the BW. I'm soooo impressed!

Jane Hards Photography said...

For once- colour by a whisker.It's the delicate hint of sublte blue and gold, not overdone. The main thing is you got the composition spot on which is why both shots really hold up. I have no objection at all to high taxes- so long as I see results. Sadly not seeing much.

NG said...

That photo in BW reminds me of the hallway kings and queens are always leisurely strolling through when they do the "walk and talk" scenes in period movies.

Maya said...

That is a tough one. I think I like the color better. Nice photo!

Janet Kincaid said...

Vote tally:
B&W 4
Color 5
Both 1
No Vote 1


Petrea: I think you're right about the subtlety of the color photo! As for flat tax, a lot of people have been advocating for years. It seems to be impossible to make happen, though, because corporations want tax breaks for everything from keeping jobs in the U.S. to implementing environmental standards. And then there are the rich, who want to hold on to all of their money. Flat tax or no, they'll continue to wiggle out of paying as much as they can.


Alison: Thanks! And glad you stopped by my blog.


Babooshka: Thanks for the feedback on the color photo. The subtle hues stand out to me, too. As for taxes, I agree! I don't mind paying 'em, but I want to see positive results for them.


NG: Oh, I'm thinking Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday walking through here! But you're right: this would be a perfect colonnade as a backdrop in a period piece!


Maya: You understand my dilemma! :-)

Petrea Burchard said...

Hmm. I wish corporations weren't so powerful. But wishing won't make it so. One way to combat their power would be to ignore their anti-union propaganda. Oh, but I'm dreaming.

Janet Kincaid said...

Petrea: Oh, don't even get me started on the power of corporations and their lobbyists! I worked for one for a brief time and got out before I lost my soul. They're EVIL. And the amount of money they throw around to win over votes in Congress is shameful.

Petrea Burchard said...

Unhuh. The workers are at fault for breaking the car companies. Sure. The guys on the line - you know, the factory workers earning an hourly wage, the ones without a college education - they're the guys who made all those bad decisions and ran those companies into the ground. Right. And people are believing it! The corporate propaganda machine is...oh, I shouldn't have started!

Anonymous said...

Petrea: :-) Did you see Wanda Sykes take on it? See it here.

Petrea Burchard said...

She's a scream. If only...