That’s a difficult one.
If people are deliverately avoiding paying taxes, then I’d generally agree that they don’t get a say in its spending.
However, if you’re poor and can’t afford to pay taxes (homeless or whatever), then I do think you get a say. Even beggers if buying a hotdog, pay an x-amount of tax.
Then there’s the sub-group of institutionalized persons (psychiatric patients, prisoners, etc. ).
Besides a debate about whether someone’s actually compos mentis enough to vote, I do think they should have a say in how taxes are spent.
Crimes are a crime because society judges them to be so. And to keep society safe, we take away rights and privileges. A prisoner may not agree with this course of action and should have the right to vote on a change of course (think legalizing cocaine use, for example). And this means also having a say in how taxes are spent.
Now, when I extend this view point to the miscreants who keep billions of dollars in off-shore accounts (to me that’s criminal behaviour), then I can only come down on the same side as with prisoners: they still have a right to vote and thus decide how taxes are spent.
And illegalising off-shore tax havens is then a more prefereble choice than taking away voting rights.
Indeed. Having went through the thought proces, my conclusion is that nearly nothing should take away voting rights. And everything must be done to not exclude anyone from being able to cast their vote: rich, poor, criminal alike.
@averagejoe1 saidThis has always been one of my theories. Your vote should be weighted according to how much tax you pay, this would be a naturally balancing system, people that paid a lot in tax would use their stronger vote to reduce their tax burden at the same time reducing the weight of their vote.
On “Next Freedom to go” thread, Suzianne, On page 3, next to bottom, says, and I quote: If you pay no tax, then you have no voice in how taxes are spent.
Any comments on this? This statement is not taken out of context.
The way it is now rich folk are carved off from everyone else and then as a minority, portrayed as demons, in order to ease the conscience and satisfy the envy of those voting their thieving hands into the pockets of this minority.
Bad luck for suzi and shag doody who I believe are, on net, parasites sucking on the state teet, their vote would count for nothing.
@wajoma saidAs per usual, you know nothing.
This has always been one of my theories. Your vote should be weighted according to how much tax you pay, this would be a naturally balancing system, people that paid a lot in tax would use their stronger vote to reduce their tax burden at the same time reducing the weight of their vote.
The way it is now rich folk are carved off from everyone else and then as a minority, ...[text shortened]... who I believe are, on net, parasites sucking on the state teet, their vote would count for nothing.
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@averagejoe1 saidIn Australia you are required, BY LAW, to vote
On “Next Freedom to go” thread, Suzianne, On page 3, next to bottom, says, and I quote: If you pay no tax, then you have no voice in how taxes are spent.
Any comments on this? This statement is not taken out of context.
@wajoma said“ This has always been one of my theories. ”
This has always been one of my theories. Your vote should be weighted according to how much tax you pay, this would be a naturally balancing system, people that paid a lot in tax would use their stronger vote to reduce their tax burden at the same time reducing the weight of their vote.
The way it is now rich folk are carved off from everyone else and then as a minority, ...[text shortened]... who I believe are, on net, parasites sucking on the state teet, their vote would count for nothing.
I would never have guessed 🙄
So if your one of capitalisms victims and your unemployment status is part of the wage suppression system you do not get a vote, you libertarians are definitely the voice of the people.
Rich people should be the ones to lose their franchise they already have more say than they should in government.
@wajoma saidI have cut the original quote to the first paragraph.
This has always been one of my theories. Your vote should be weighted according to how much tax you pay, this would be a naturally balancing system, people that paid a lot in tax would use their stronger vote to reduce their tax burden at the same time reducing the weight of their vote.
In fact such systems have been in place (census suffrage). Of course your nice perspective that a fair balance would be struck at some point is not the experience.
Should a housewife not be allowed to vote because she doesn't pay taxes? Should men who don't work but can still be drafted into war get to vote? Should pastors be allowed to use their pulpit to promote political candidates since churches don't pay taxes?
Income taxes aren't the only kind of taxes: everyone pays sales tax at some point when purchasing groceries or other goods, in addition to gas taxes and others. If you're someone who has an inheritance, that is subject to taxes. If you don't work but own a home (either due to your spouse dying, divorce settlement or inheriting it) that home is subject to property taxes.
No one is exempt from taxes just because they don't work.
More importantly, if you're a citizen you should vote since a government's actions affect you.
@ponderable saidYou just knew it had to be a faux Libertarian that would try and make a case against universal suffrage in the name fairness.
I have cut the original quote to the first paragraph.
In fact such systems have been in place (census suffrage). Of course your nice perspective that a fair balance would be struck at some point is not the experience.
Government decisions effect everybody so everyone gets to vote regardless of taxes.
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@averagejoe1 saidSounds good to me.
On “Next Freedom to go” thread, Suzianne, On page 3, next to bottom, says, and I quote: If you pay no tax, then you have no voice in how taxes are spent.
Any comments on this? This statement is not taken out of context.
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@averagejoe1 saidIS TRUMP ALLOWED TO VOTE?
On “Next Freedom to go” thread, Suzianne, On page 3, next to bottom, says, and I quote: If you pay no tax, then you have no voice in how taxes are spent.
Any comments on this? This statement is not taken out of context.
He pays no taxes. 😛
@vivify saidAlso public assistance like unemployment is taxed; same for someone who is retired receiving social security benefits. So just because someone doesn't work that doesn't mean they're not taxpayers.
Income taxes aren't the only kind of taxes: everyone pays sales tax at some point when purchasing groceries or other goods, in addition to gas taxes and others. If you're someone who has an inheritance, that is subject to taxes. If you don't work but own a home (either due to your spouse dying, divorce settlement or inheriting it) that home is subject to property taxes.
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@jj-adams saidOh yeah, I forgot, his 'TRUMP FOUNDATION,' found to be a fraud
He donated his pay as president to charity all four years..what's Biden done with it?
for which he paid a $25 MILLION FINE.
Or was it The 'Trump University," another fraud where he was forced to pay another hefty fine....Fine, upstanding philanthropist/ 😛