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Democratic Taxation

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 17:04
in

 

With the economy in a mess, and a war going on over bailouts left and right, it got me to thinking: What's the best way to determine what the general public thinks our tax money should be spent on?

Every day, we hear arguments from all corners of the world on what taxpayers want to see money spent towards: defense, health care, education, etc etc. But no one has put forth a democratic idea yet to solve the problem.

I propose that each tax form contain one survey question, at the end. It would consist of a small box with various labels, such as Defense, Education, Energy, etc etc. You would prioritize how you would like your taxes to be spent by placing a 1 in the box you felt was most important, 2 in the 2nd most important box, and so on and so forth. Additionally, there would be space for one or two 'write-in' options.

What would be the benefits of such a system? First, everyone in America who pays taxes would be able to have a direct say on their priorities. It could also be used to track public opinion of issues, and a useful gauge to our representatives to see where funding should be directed. Then we could hold these politicians accountable if they go against the grain without explaining their positions.

What are the negatives? Besides the cost of people to collect and collate the data, the downsides are slim. (Apart from H&R Block convincing customers to write them in, of course.)

I think a proposal of this nature would not only make our country more democratic, but be a quick, efficient, and easy way for people to share their voice on where their money should be going. What do you think of the idea?

(Cross posted at DailyKos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/12/163418/02/863/672409)

 

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Here's a better idea

Submitted by NextRightNando on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 17:36.

As part of their campaigns for public office, candidates talk about the plans for taxing and spending, and then the citizens vote for the candidate whose ideas they like the best.

Why that doesn't work

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 17:42.

How many people are single issue voters? How many people vote for a candidate because they trust in him?

Additionally, a yearly survey would be able to show a more dynamic progression of voter concerns than an election every four years.

Revenue bills start in the House, therefore you

Submitted by NextRightNando on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 18:50.

get another update every two years. And single issues voters? If they vote agains their own interests, they are digging their own graves. Do you really think this poll of yours would be somehow more binding than Congressional elections?

Perhaps not

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 16:25.

But I think a poll/survey would give more power to representatives who wanted to back politics popular with the population in general. As it stands now, most politicians seem to take care of their powerful constituents and lobbyists first. This poll would be a step towards the opposite direction.

Additionally, I do not think many voters have the time, as listed elsewhere in the thread, to see what bills their representative has voted for. However, most people have a general overall understanding of different categories in spending, and so I think they would have an easier time completing a broad-category based survey.

I couldn't disagree with this more....

Submitted by americanmale on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 12:04.

With all due respect, I believe this to be an incredibly bad idea.

Reason 1.  The american citizen does not have the time to become aware of all facets surrounding any one issue.  Our government is the convergence point of the citizenry.  It is where all ideas come together.  An individual simply represents their particular geographic location.  You won't get any better information than the representative can give.

Reason 2.  Discreet choices are very expensive.  You state that the cost for this idea would be minimal.  I disagree.  I believe it would become the greatest government expense.  For example.  A federal facility is proposed that will produce containers for Nuclear material.  Is that a) defense, b) environment, c) economic stimulus for the target region, d) Energy.    The costs and time in determining what "budget area" something fits would be extraordinary.

Reason 3.  Your idea changes the constitution.  As a citizen, you would have a say in how government runs...you do not have that right now.

Best Regards.

Married, filing jointly

Submitted by NextRightNando on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 16:20.

Who gets to decide?

I do not see

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 16:21.

Why there couldn't be a survey for both people to fill out.

Responses

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 16:20.

To reason 1: Agreed, but don't you think that the average American has opinions on where their dollar should go? Again, this would not be a hard and fast rule, stating that the results of such a poll were mandated to happen! No, this would be a survey that would be collated for use by our representatives, but in no way force the budget to conform to the results.

Reason 2:  I'm sure groups could fall into multiple categories, as you listed, but ultimate authority for a project  usually resides in one field or another. Otherwise, the buck continues to pass. Additionally, we are talking broad categories here. The person filling out the poll would choose these broad categories, and it would not force anyone to vote on specific proposals/projects.

Reason 3: again, this would just be a poll, and not a mandatory way of changing government funding. And surely, as a citizen, we all have a say in how government runs by the way we vote, and who we vote for.

With the economy we have

Submitted by Mariano on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 04:01.

With the economy we have today some people may find tax a burden. Almost all people today are struggling hard just to meet their ends. Everyone is in need of extra cash that’s why there are some people that are willing to compromise their moral values just to have money. Everyone had to know that there was going to be a stimulus scam of some kind coming.  It turns out there are a lot of scam websites out there, claiming they will get you extra stimulus money, and it is all bunk.  They say they'll get you extra cash from the Make Work Pay Credit, or a first time homebuyer's credit, or a tax break on a new car purchase.    Well, if it wasn't a phone call from your accountant, don't do it, and for the love of all things holy, do not give them any information whatsoever.  The FTC, the BBB, and various state Attorneys General have issued warnings, to not participate in any offers of any sort, as they are scams, in regard to the federal stimulus.

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