20080124 Worldview Item of the Day

Tax rebates to the taxless

Fox News

“Workers who make at least $3,000 but don’t pay taxes would get $300 rebates.”

How does it work that 35 million people who have not paid taxes–that is paid more than they got back–qualify to receive a $300 tax rebate?

Before I go too far into such a question, I first have to disclose a couple of things. First, I think trying to stimulate the economy by giving people “free money” while we have a deficit and a war to pay for is foolish, counterproductive, and likely not to have its ultimate desired effect. The best way to stimulate the economy any time is to cut real taxes–income, fuel, etc.–thereby allowing people to keep what they earn and use that money how they choose all of the time.

Second, I have what some consider a radical view that people who do not pay taxes should not be able to vote. This view is based on my belief that people who do not have to pay for what the government does have no vested interest in what the government is doing.

Those things being disclosed, I will concede the voting issue as being theoretical and untenable, but how in the world can anyone believe that it is fair to give some of the taxpayers’ money to people who have not paid anything? From my point of view, it seems like 35 million hard working, taxpaying Americans just got ripped off by the government to the tune of $300 apiece.

Hence the reason that this whole “economic stimulus package” is a sham, at least as it applies to individuals. If the government is just handing out money, then let’s call it that. The moment we cash that check, we’re all now beneficiates of government welfare.

If President Bush and Congress really want to impress me right now, make the tax cuts bigger and permanent. I know I can stimulate the economy with that money.

-=DLH=-

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2 Responses to 20080124 Worldview Item of the Day

  1. chrispy85 says:

    “how in the world can anyone believe that it is fair to give some of the taxpayers’ money to people who have not paid anything?”

    — isn’t that what 65% of government spending is anyway? redistribution of wealth? Rob from the rich and give to the poor?

    Anyway, can we take your “radical” view that voting can be tied to taxpaying and say “no representation without taxation”? Otherwise, why not let the Mexicans vote in our election too? (the ones who still ive in Mexico, I mean…)

  2. dlhitzeman says:

    This is going down a dangerous path, but the Founding Fathers clearly believed in the same idea, hence the reason only land owners could vote (I understand that system also prohibited women from voting, and I am not suggesting that was right). Basically stated, they understood that the people who paid for the government should be the people who participated in it. I believe this limitation was an encouragement for people to excel so they could vote, as exemplified by the great drive to settle the West.

    The problem we have today is that great swaths of Americans do not participate in actual government except by voting. At least 35 million of them, according to the Democrats, do not pay taxes and likely do not participate in political processes. As a result, they do not care how high taxes are or how the government spends its money (the second part is only partially true, but I will not go there right now).

    So, in a way, “No representation without taxation” is true, but it is always balanced by “No taxation without representation”. That balance is the core of a republic, especially one composed of, by, and for the people.

    Of course, the easy way to fix this problem to do two things: First, eliminate the income tax and replace it with a sales tax (take your pick of plans for that, they all work for this purpose), that way everyone pays taxes because they all buy stuff. Second, eliminate government sponsored social welfare, so that people do not benefit directly from collected taxes. At that point, everyone is a taxpayer and a qualified voter with no prejudices.

    -=DLH=-

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