RE: How to solve the tax problem w/o anarchy or force (fwd)
Forwarded message:
From: "X"
Subject: RE: How to solve the tax problem w/o anarchy or force (fwd) Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 11:31:00 -0700
Sorry, everyone, for this crap coming up, but JIM CHOATE wants you all to see it...
Jim,
You keep reposting this to the cpunx list, and I keep trying to discuss it with you in private.
I have zero desire to discuss this in private. If you don't want to discuss it here then we won't discuss it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the gist of your system was a two-tiered payment schedule where Group A could be called TaxPayers and Group B could be called NON-Payers. Right?
And basically, Group A would get all of the benefits that a fully paid membership would entail, right? Secondly, Group B would "not pay taxes" and would NOT be entitled to any benefits save for on a pay-as-you-go type arrangement. Right?
What USGov't services do you include in your proposal?
Each and every one of them, except the criminal courts. I would include the state and local government as well. Perhaps you could think of it as a discount card....;)
(feel free to jump in with some more.)
You're doin' fine.
U.S. Mail services
If you don't show them your tax receipt before Jan. 1 of each year they will remove your address from their delivery list until you do so. If you don't either pick it up there in person within 10 days, every 10 days it goes back. The Constitution says they have to deliver your mail. It doesn't say they have to drop it on your front step. Personaly I think this would be a great position for those folks who have learning disabilities but still need a job. The irritation factor alone would be worth it...;)
Common defense
Already covered that one.
Air traffic controlling
When you buy your ticket from a commercial carrier and don't present a tax receipt your ticket price goes WAY! up.
roadways and interstates
Already covered them too.
Food and Drug Administration approvals
When you buy food or drugs if you don't present your tax receipt then you pay the full price for foods and drugs.
Federally mandated minimum wage
I also covered this one already.
automobile safety standards
See the one above.
Is your tax progressive or regressive?
Depends on what *you* mean by progressive or regressive. Personaly I would go for a flat tax rate but a scaled mechanism would be ok. It isn't the particular scaling mechanism that I dislike about our current tax system.
If I'm right so far (which I may or may not be) then we have to talk about your definition of "paying taxes."
Taking a percentage of your monetary income each period (say a year) and sending it to an address. That address is the suitable tax agent who then distributes the monies into the appropriate account according to law. The suitable civic agencies can then draw funds according to law.
Does a single woman raising five kids and paying a small mortgage making $14,200 per year pay taxes? No, unfortunately for her, she doesn't. I guess that puts her smack into GROUP B! Well, that's simple enough!
Not at all, simply because she is unfortunate enough not to have the income necessary to participate without causing harm to herself and her family (perhaps) is no reason to deny her those rights. I'd give her a receipt that would look just like anybody elses. Now if she didn't want to apply for it by sending in the paperwork that's her decision. From a government perspective she is participating fully in the process, it isn't the amount of money (as foreign as that may be to eco-anarchists and free-market mavens) that is the issue but the willingness to participate. Nobody is forcing her to do anything, it's all of her own volition.
We'll deny her the creature comforts of the list above until she chips in her proportionate cost, right? When that libertarian bitch tries to send mail, we'll charge her more! WHen she gets on the freeway, we'll toll her! When she buys a medicine for her snot-nosed urchin, we'll give her the stuff that ain't been FDA approved, right? RIGHT! And, if ever we should need to attack another country (or defend ours, as you pointed out) SHE'LL happily volunteer to serve (as I remember your post) in order to protect her TAX-FREE STATUS.
No, that isn't right. As to participating in the military, no I didn't give anyone a choice. I said *draft*, you didn't give up your citizenship when you gave up your tax participation. Now if you want to give that up to then we won't draft you but you'll be one broke puppy trying to pay all the bills as a non-tax-participant and a non-citizen.
As you said to me, she's probably just looking for someone to shoulder her part of the load, right?
I said to you?
You said it would be easy to implement, right? I don't see that it would be easy at all.
As hard as this may be to take, your ability to see it doesn't effect it's viability.
Once again, I apologize for the OFF TOPIC nature of this, but MR. COHATE (freudian slip, or merely coincidence? you be the judge!) insisted on duking this out in public.
Um, actualy YOU responded to my post. I didn't start this with you. ____________________________________________________________________ Lawyers ask the wrong questions when they don't want the right answers. Scully (X-Files) The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------
participants (2)
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Jim Choate
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Soren