Nina3: What an interesting idea - deserves some thinking about... How nice it would be to know that part of your hard earned income would go directly to a cause of your choosing!
But - even if this was only done with half of the taxes, how would it ensure that every aspect of society funded by taxes would be covered? I am sure that most people would like to contribute to causes such as healthcare, education, etc - but how many would be as interested in giving to things like for example care of criminals, defence, the running of local and federal government? Or would these things be evened out in the end?
The ideal situation would always be if funds could be channeled straight to the recipient, but this is unfortunately rarely doable - some kind of administration ('bureaucracy') is needed to process it all, and to ensure continuity and neutrality. In big bureaucracies (eg governments) you will find that it is in fact the bureaucrats who are doing a major part of the work - and not just 'carrying out orders'.
Skål!
When Tulefel is World Leader .... I would make a suggestion that Political salaries are fixed at the average income for the area they serve. There should not be any "government mansions" for individuals, no extra perks to the job. Then only people with true desires to lead their country would apply for those jobs.
As it is now ...... Politicians are the BIG wage earners, with no empathy for the people they supposed to be representing.
As for Defence Budgets ....... money LEFT OVER after caring for the countries citizens can then be used for defence.
Criminals will care for themselves .... in their Kibbutz style new prisons ... working 8 hours a day to feed themselves, and selling the excess to pay for their facilities.
Something realy sickening is happening in SA at the moment ...... The already over-the-top-over-burdened-gravytrain of government figures is now spending 10 BILLION to build MORE government buildings and houses for EXTRA government staff they hiring ...... because the present government employees are not managing to do the actual work! ha hahahahaha
They got collapsed bridges that are not repaired -`cause no money. Ditto the pot-holed roads.
They got no old age care ..... no money.
They got millions of AIDS orphans .... no money.
They increasing the cost of electricity by 45% .. need money to build more generators......and unemployment stands at about 30% (in real figures).
Their government employees live in the best areas, drive the biggest cars, dress beautifully, have all the latest technology in mobile phones/laptops, and none of them are skinny - in fact most are obese......... Just like the nurses who steal the beds/linen/drugs/patients food out of the hospitals.
Oh I forgot ... I`m busy applying for a government position right now ...... PRO ... I realy miss my country........