h a l f b a k e r yNeural Knotwork
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This law would allow citizens to voluntarily forfeit their right
to certain services provided by local and Federal governments
and thus be allowed to pay less taxes. For example, a citizen who does not own a car could give up his right to use the
American highway system in return for a yearly tax-reduction
of
a certain size. However, the question remains as to whether
governments could continue to provide public services if they
were financed only by those who actually use them (or wish
to be able to - i.e. the services of firefighters.)
[link]
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I don't think anyone should have a choice about getting a response from emergency services. An out-of-control fire can spread to other buildings, uninvestigated crimes can lead to sprees and escalated losses, etc. |
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My question about taxes is this: is it possible to find a worthy charity and donate such a gob of money to that that you actually get a refund on your taxes? That seems like a good way to make sure your money is going to a good cause. |
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The way donations work in this part of the world is that you just don't pay taxes on the money you give to charity; there's no way to wholly redirect your taxes. Anyway, it's not always easy to be sure that charities will spend money wisely, and governments really do need taxes for good reasons -- they don't rush out every April and drop it all on hookers and blow. |
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This idea sounds like especially badly-thought-out libertarianism. If you just want toll highways and lower taxes, that's not unreasonable; but I get the impression that you've got a lot more services in mind (firefighters?). |
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Here's a better idea (I think) but along the same lines. Say
you were in a line to get new tags for your car and when
it gets to be your turn the clerk is hardly civil (they are
supposed to be civil servants after all) then you would be
able to claim your tags for free. Likewise if the IRS
inspector were nasty to you then you'd be forgiven your
taxes for the year. While I don't mind paying taxes, I
expect service and the person serving to be civil, after all
I am paying their salary. |
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It's people like you who made the service industry what it is today. For shame. |
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No, no, no! This is a good idea. Just remember that if you turn down certain emergency services, related insurance rates to cover collateral damages caused by your lack of participation will increase exponentially. |
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This is bleeding edge rugged individualism! Although I'd rather use my credit to not participate in support of the public school system. |
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All in all, this idea does not work. Only a complete recluse is not dependant on society in some way. If you don't have a car, you still need roads. That is, if you want to have your trash collected, to be able to take the bus, to be able to get further than you can walk.
Another good example is education. Without paying some for younger people's education, we would be left with fewer competent professionals in any field, a detrement to the entire society.
There is *no* area of government that does not concern everybody somehow. |
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