Voting with taxes

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Because if the government included that little form they would collect no taxes. Given a choice I think most people would prefer to keep their money and donate to the United Way or such.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

You wouldn't even have to do that.

Just make donations tax credits.

If you Owe $10000 in taxes but paid $2000 to amatuer sport (or arts or whatever) then your tax bill would be reduced to $8000.

If you donated the full amount of your taxes owing then in essence you'd be telling the government 'I choose to spend my taxes here, here, and here.'

It'd pose a logistical nightmare to governments addicted to spending and never happen, but what fun we'd have.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 23 2004, 11:55 PM
Well I never said it was a well thought out idea.

Don't get me wrong: thats the beauty of it.

What's there to think out? What to do with the policy wonks and government offices who'd be out of job if life were that simple? How much more money those groups get if they got your cheque instead of whatever's left after 20 bureaucrats paid for their oversight?

The feds spend about $200 billion, and I'll bet the average joe can't account for more than half that spending on what we think is important.

Your idea would never fly because even if people wanted to take responsibility for those choices, the government would never admit maybe we can spend our money better than they can.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Lanny_MacDonald@Aug 23 2004, 11:11 PM
Because if the government included that little form they would collect no taxes. Given a choice I think most people would prefer to keep their money and donate to the United Way or such.

Or just keep it and spend it on themselves or save it.

Cowperson