RE: Where would you like your tax dollars to go?
March 20, 2017 at 7:32 pm
(This post was last modified: March 20, 2017 at 7:40 pm by Aroura.)
(March 20, 2017 at 7:06 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:(March 20, 2017 at 2:59 pm)Aroura Wrote: Ive noticed a really interesting pattern, something i find truly curious. The majority of non religious or semi religious folks i know, talk to, or see discussing this topic are. more concerned for the welfare of the poor and disenfranchised than the majority of those claiming to be deeply religious, particularly Christians. Ive seen some Christians express this same confusion. They follow Christ in word and deed, and cannot understand why so many others who call themselves Christians disdain the very people Christ said to help.
I guess your own wallet is more important than the teachings of man-god you claim to follow.
Not wanting higher taxes doesn't necessarily mean they don't care about the poor. Many of these people simply would rather give their money to the poor/needy more directly... like through charities, etc, than through the government.
Personally, I agree with them that the above would be much more ideal. The problem is it would only work if everyone chipped in. Unfortunately many people don't.
It's a lovely sentiment, but I'm talking about those that are fine cutting funding for things like meals on wheels and Medicaid, things that do help people.
It's a nice idea to manage social safety nets through charitable giving alone, but we tried that for over a thousand years in various societies, and it fails most of the people most of the time. People must be forced to pay to care for others, or many people simply won't do it.
Look up the problem of the commons.
At any rate, charitable giving at best gives food, clothing and shelter to some small portion of very poor. It does nothing for those verging on poverty, or for most public services like roads, buses, schools, research, etc.
There are only 2 things sure in life. Death and taxes. Since taxes are a fact of life, it's no use crying about paying them. Instead, people would be better served to vote for representatives who reflect their ideal tax spending as best as they can. Anyone who voted Republican in the recent election has indicated they are happy to support the party that has, since RR, taken money from the poor and funneled it to the rich. Reverse Robin Hoods.
And they will defend it, too, as AM does. I don't like my taxes going to some things, but I won't cut off my nose to spite my face. Nor will I willingly throw the neediest on the street while giving CEOs bigger tax breaks, not happily anyway. People don't want their tax dollars going to fund abortion, and even though they already don't do so in America anyway, the foreign aid in not confident enough to comment on, they are apparently willing to let children and the elderly starve to supposedly save children. It's hypocritical at best.
I know you didn't vote that way, not accusing you, but anyone who did and does not feel remorse after seeing the healthcare bill and budget plans is a selfish twit, imho. A lot do feel remorse, they didn't realize what they were voting for. It still pisses me off, how easily they are fooled, but at least they aren't happy to ride a gravy train on the backs of the less fortunate, all the while proclaiming their moral superiority, which enough people are doing to really keep my faith in humanity at a low point right now.
Just, really. It's so upsetting that common people would support cutting very useful things like PBS, meals on wheels, and school lunch programs, all of which are of great benefit to a great many people. I just don't get it, I'm not sure I ever will. It seems....sociopathic to me.
(March 20, 2017 at 6:37 pm)pocaracas Wrote:Beautifully stated, poca. I think all of what you said applies to pretty much any country or society as well.(March 17, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Aroura Wrote: No matter the country in which you live, or your location on the political spectrum, taxes affect you in some way.
I've been seeing this thread up here, but... I thought it was only for Americans... now that I clicked on it, I see it's open for us foreigners, too!
Well, I think taxes should be used to fund the whole public infrastructure of a country.
- What have the Romans ever done for us?
[...]
-All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
These guys knew something....
Sanitation - is a must. And we need to do it in a sustainable way so as not to compromise the future.
Medicine and public health - I'm from a country with a functioning national Health System, so I take this for granted... though I do know that many people here complain about how things are run in public hospitals and clinics... there's certainly room for improvement!
Education - Again, I take for granted public schools and even Universities. There are private ones, but we have ways to determine if they prepare their students any better than the public system does... and, on average, there's no difference. The main difference is between the schools in urban centers and rural schools.
Wine - okay, Government shouldn't invest in alcoholic beverages, nor in any kind of addictive drugs, unless where medically advisable.
Public order - the police. We need them. Humans misbehave.
Irrigation - let's skip this one
Roads - I'll add rail and subway.... also public transport, like busses... again, that's what I was raised with. There have been some attempts at privatizing public transport in Lisbon, but it hasn't worked out and is now in the City's hands. Transport infrastructure is important for people and goods to move.
Fresh water system - access to drinking water is considered a human right. Some people are now adding access to electricity and, even, internet (broadband).
I'd add public libraries and record keeping.
Also, a public information system (tv, radio, newspaper) is useful - in the hands of a decent government, it's a way to get unbiased..kinda... news. But it can also be a propaganda tool.
Military, yes they are a sad requirement. I don't know what's a reasonable expenditure on these guys... I know they require very reliable equipment which is often custom made. Very reliable and sturdy, not to mention dealing with ammunition, it's proper storage and safety and transport.... and usage.... and maintenance... and training of personnel...
Government itself needs funding. People won't work without some encouragement.
All the bureaucracy needs money money money! Nothing is more frustrating than having to pay for a form, or to change some entry on a database, like a registered car owner...
“Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?”
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead