[Rhodes22-list] Politics: Taxes

[Bill Effros]

Every discussion about taxation boils down to an attempt to convince others to pay more for projects we favor than we will have to pay for projects they favor. Many of the arguments are specious, and the facts wrong. But, hey, all's fair when fighting over money. Most people oppose any "welfare" that isn't going to them.

So, the pilot rails against sports stadiums built at public expense, but has no problem with airports built at public expense.

And the truck driver opposes subsidies to railroads and subways, but favors vast highway building programs paid for with tax dollars.

And the man who opposes "welfare" for others wants to believe that the money he received as "unemployment insurance" is in some other category, because he personally contributed, at an earlier time, all of the money he subsequently collected.  (As they used to say "t'aint so, McGhee".)

And many people seem to favor war as a solution to a multitude of problems. But no one seems willing to discuss where the money will come from to fight these wars. (Invariably we shift these costs to our children, first by forcing them to fight the wars, and subsequently by forcing them to repay the monetary costs--with interest--which we have borrowed because we are unwilling to pay these costs ourselves.)

People speak of wanting a "flat tax", but at the same time they say they want to exempt dividend income.  These policies are mutually exclusive.  

Tax policy is complicated, and really quite interesting.  That's why this thread has endured for so long.  By our positions we reveal our fundamental values, and how carefully we have considered them.

Bill Effros