Comments on: Good -vs- Taxes http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/ trying to nail down the shifting signifiers Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:30:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Simon http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Simon Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:08:25 +0000 http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/#comment-437 I was about to suggest a 'tax-vote' program. Maybe a little check box list when you return federal or state taxes. Maybe a list. "Thanks for investing in the future. Tell us where you would like to see your money go." might be the spin. That way there is no promise, but a publicly available poll of where people would like to see their money go. Such information might give the powers that be an idea on how people feel on a national and local level. I'm in favor of 'premium lifestyle choice taxation.' For example for people who want to buy SUV's and the such, big ol taxes to enable the rich to continue being ass holes while encouraging them to maybe think about how they don't want to become poor by doing so. I'm also pleased to see the UK government finally do something I have been suggesting for years (though I am quite sure they didn't get it from me). Next year we'll be paying something like a 500% duty on 'old' conventional light bulbs. Whereas eco-friendly low energy bulbs will have tax removed (for a while). I think people need to change the way they feel about taxation and this can only be helped if governments and politicians stop referring to it as if it were legalized bureaucratic robbery. I was about to suggest a ‘tax-vote’ program. Maybe a little check box list when you return federal or state taxes. Maybe a list. “Thanks for investing in the future. Tell us where you would like to see your money go.” might be the spin. That way there is no promise, but a publicly available poll of where people would like to see their money go. Such information might give the powers that be an idea on how people feel on a national and local level.

I’m in favor of ‘premium lifestyle choice taxation.’ For example for people who want to buy SUV’s and the such, big ol taxes to enable the rich to continue being ass holes while encouraging them to maybe think about how they don’t want to become poor by doing so.

I’m also pleased to see the UK government finally do something I have been suggesting for years (though I am quite sure they didn’t get it from me). Next year we’ll be paying something like a 500% duty on ‘old’ conventional light bulbs. Whereas eco-friendly low energy bulbs will have tax removed (for a while).

I think people need to change the way they feel about taxation and this can only be helped if governments and politicians stop referring to it as if it were legalized bureaucratic robbery.

]]> By: Anthony Velez http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/comment-page-1/#comment-428 Anthony Velez Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:02:01 +0000 http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/#comment-428 Picking up on what you said about not wanting your money to go to the military industrial complex, here is an idea. How about we revise the tax process so that when we pay, we designate where we would like the money to go. The scenario would be something like this, "Let me double check your order Mr. Brown. You have a cheesburger, a large fry and a large soda. How would you like your taxes on that spent?" "Yes that is correct, but please make sure that the soad is Dr. Pepper, and please designate my taxes for repairs on Fresno County roads." Picking up on what you said about not wanting your money to go to the military industrial complex, here is an idea. How about we revise the tax process so that when we pay, we designate where we would like the money to go. The scenario would be something like this, “Let me double check your order Mr. Brown. You have a cheesburger, a large fry and a large soda. How would you like your taxes on that spent?” “Yes that is correct, but please make sure that the soad is Dr. Pepper, and please designate my taxes for repairs on Fresno County roads.”

]]> By: Chris "Lefty" Brown http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/comment-page-1/#comment-425 Chris "Lefty" Brown Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:19:54 +0000 http://www.thedarkglass.net/2006/11/10/57/#comment-425 I think part of it is that people think it's equivalent to stealing from them. I know if I had the ability, I'd rather choose to have my tax dollars spent on things unrealted to the military industrial complex but rather on social programs and items to improve our community (roads, safe water, blah, blah, blah). If only there was a way to make sure that all the potholes and lack of teachers, police, and the like only happen to the ones who complain th emost about having to pay taxes. (Oh, what's your email? I've been meaning to email you to ask if you wanted to go to Yosemite or Kings Canyon on Saturday. Guess I could call you too) I think part of it is that people think it’s equivalent to stealing from them. I know if I had the ability, I’d rather choose to have my tax dollars spent on things unrealted to the military industrial complex but rather on social programs and items to improve our community (roads, safe water, blah, blah, blah).

If only there was a way to make sure that all the potholes and lack of teachers, police, and the like only happen to the ones who complain th emost about having to pay taxes.

(Oh, what’s your email? I’ve been meaning to email you to ask if you wanted to go to Yosemite or Kings Canyon on Saturday. Guess I could call you too)

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