What is better ROTH IRA or Regular?

This an area of much dispute if regular or Roth is preferred..and I believe at least in part because of the trendyness (and fees made) by recommending Roths - many popular advisors say do them. I would say no...at least until you have maxed out on most other tax preferred retirement and savings options I have many good reasons to say that....and will suggest one truism that seems to make common sense as well as proving itself over time: NEVER PAY A TAX BEFORE YOU HAVE TO. (And the tax you speed up in this case (pay now rather than later) is done maybe 30-60 years ahead of when it may be otherwise IRAs up to $1,000,000 are exempt from seizure by creditors and even Bankrutpcy under federal law (there may be larger exemptions in some states, and uncommingled roll overs from an ERISA covered plan have unlimited exemptions).

So once again, if your unfortanate enough (and many people are over the course of a lifetime) to have to deal with this....better to come out with as much pure $ as you can...again the traditional would be higher by a lot. Same true when dealing with any of the allowed excuses for early withdrawal (like buying a house is always tossed about too) The tax rate argument....many TV talking heads claim income taxes will inevitably be going higher. I'm not at all sure of that....it's political suicide to raise the actual rates, especially on people rather than biz, and there are other ways (change exemptions, or what exacly is taxed).

In fact, seems that most of the discussions I see revolve around starting a new different type of tax....like a National Sales Tax....which may well someday eliminate (or substantially reduce) the income on you would pay on a Roth today Just look at the basic history here. For years...actually decades on decades...the Feds and every investment advisor said...and had books of reasons...invest in a (traditional IRA...use them to the max). Then in an economic crisis, this idea to raise more funds for the government (and understand, that is what it was written as, a revenue raiser) which makes new businesses and fees and such.....and the story changes?

I think not And lets continue to look at history...WE'VE FALLEN FOR THIS BEFORE....when Social Security started the payments were to be untaxed. Not true any longer. Sound possible that say in 15 or 20 (or more) years...whenever the Govt has a financial crisis and looks for ways to raise some more revenue...that they change and say.."oh 25% of Roth disctribution for people with income over...are taxable"...and then continue changing that until its fairly inclusive.

Again, they did before....why not again. In fact, if you go the route that seniors will be hard pressed (especially with the lack of conventional pensions and a troubled SS program), so the Govt tries to make things better for them....it may do so by making conventional IRA less taxed - say at lower capital gains rates! DON'T PAY A TAX BEFORE YOU HAVE TO, ESPECIALLY DECADES AND DECADES BEFORE.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.