Where would you like your tax dollars to go?

[Catholic_Lady]

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.

[Amarok]

Charities can't run civilization

[Aroura]

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.

---

No matter the country in which you live, or your location on the political spectrum, taxes affect you in some way.

---

The US is now looking at a proposed budget that cuts many social programs, including Federal Medicaid, after-school aid for low income families with children, Meals-on-Wheels for low income elderly, foreign aid, public broadcasting, the Coast Guard and more, while increasing funding for the military and the southern border wall.  They are also claiming that this budget is "compassionate", saying they won't ask a single mother or coal miner to pay for meals on wheels, but will ask them to pay for the military (all while not actually changing their tax burden one whit, mind you).  Also, many tax cuts for the top 1%.

So, what are your priorities?

I'd like to hear from our local Trump voters, but also other Americans, and foreigners, how would you prioritize your own tax dollars if you could?

Personally, I understand the need for some military and security spending of course, but it would be much lower on my priority list.  We already have the largest military in existence by quite a bit.  We could cut it in half and still have an enormous and over-bloated military.  cutting three quarters of it seems more reasonable to me.  Withdraw from exterior conflicts and invest more of that money in foreign aid.

Basically, my order would reverse that of the current administration.  I would like to see my tax dollars go to:
1. Improve public education.  This would include brick and mortor schools, but also programs such as PBS, and encowments for arts and humanities.
2. Medical aid for those living in poverty.
3. Useful infrastructure (bridges, schools, roads, Wind mills, solar plants, etc)
4. Food and clothing aid for those living in poverty.  Including welfare, meals-on-wheels, WIC, school lunch funding, nutrition education, etc.
5. Research and applications for protecting the environment.
6. Security spending, including military and Coast guard.
7. Increase the tax burden on the wealthy, decrease it on the middle class and poor.

The wall shouldn't even exist, imho, not one penny more should go towards what is already there.

I'm sure I'm missing a few things from my lists.  Please let me know what is important to you?  What would you reduce spending on?  What would you eliminate entirely?

And for Trump voters, do you agree with the proposed budget?  Do you feel it is in the best interest of most/all US citizens to greatly reduce and/or eliminate social programs and increase our military?

---

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...

Beautifully stated, poca. I think all of what you said applies to pretty much any country or society as well.

[Edwardo Piet]

No matter the country in which you live, or your location on the political spectrum, taxes affect you in some way.

I don't pay tax actually as I'm unemployed.

Well... except council tax. I pay the council and they pay my rent. I think it's 20 percent of my rent or something like that. But then I don't have to pay rent. And that's the only tax I have to pay.

I have no idea how normal tax works, lol.

Oh and politically I'm socially left and economic centre, I reckon.

[Angrboda]

I don't pay taxes, so perhaps I shouldn't have a voice, but I would like to see a moratorium on cuts to social welfare programs and the taxes raised to start paying down the debt.

[Amarok]

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.

---

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...

Beautifully stated, poca. I think all of what you said applies to pretty much any country or society as well.

And generally the only thing anti taxers can offer as an alternative is nonsense like voluntary taxes which never work.  Or specific taxes like gas taxes to pay for roads  which fail because it's still forced like the taxes they object too and it never works because it doesn't take the complexity of roads  into account.

[Whateverist]

I'd like to designate my tax dollars go to new boots for the shock troopers who will be sent in to take guns from the cold dead hands of gun nutters once I personally kill Trump and assume power.

[Aroura]

No matter the country in which you live, or your location on the political spectrum, taxes affect you in some way.

I don't pay tax actually as I'm unemployed.

Well... except council tax. I pay the council and they pay my rent. I think it's 20 percent of my rent or something like that. But then I don't have to pay rent. And that's the only tax I have to pay.

I have no idea how normal tax works, lol.

Oh and politically I'm socially left and economic centre, I reckon.

Taxes till affect you, though, even if you don't pay them.

Many people, low income, disabled, retired, etc. people don't, and that's totally fine.

[The Valkyrie]

I'd like to designate my tax dollars go to new boots for the shock troopers who will be sent in to take guns from the cold dead hands of gun nutters once I personally kill Trump and assume power.

I can afford my own boots.

[Whateverist]

I'd like to designate my tax dollars go to new boots for the shock troopers who will be sent in to take guns from the cold dead hands of gun nutters once I personally kill Trump and assume power.

I can afford my own boots.

Cool.  You can have the cash instead.  You'll have earned it.