Directed taxes (15)
Tulefel: As known, death and taxes are unavoidable in this life, the rest is optional. Let’s talk taxes. Imagine for a second that now there is an option… No, you would have to pay your usual tax rate, but it would be possible to direct the half of it to some certain (any) purposes, organizations, groups of people and the like.
Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
Wow! I vote YOU for World Leader! What a wonderful idea......
I would vote my tax share to Organic Vegetable Gardening by Prisoners of the State. Instead of sitting twiddling their thumbs in cells, or studying to attain free university degrees, they could be out in the open air doing some manual labour, growing food, for the prison kitchens - with half, the other half to provide Soup Kitchens to feed the poor and homeless.
Or is that not what you had in mind? ... Does it have to be an already existing institution programme?
Okay, if my first option is not good, then I`d want my tax share to go to Animal Welfare food and shelter provision.
smoky: Wow!
I would vote my tax share to Organic Vegetable Gardening by Prisoners of the State. Instead of sitting twiddling their thumbs in cells, or studying to attain free university degrees, they could be out in the open air doing some manual labour, growing food, for the prison kitchens - with half, the other half to provide Soup Kitchens to feed the poor and homeless.
Or is that not what you had in mind? ... Does it have to be an already existing institution programme?
Okay, if my first option is not good, then I`d want my tax share to go to Animal Welfare food and shelter provision.
I would vote my tax share to Organic Vegetable Gardening by Prisoners of the State. Instead of sitting twiddling their thumbs in cells, or studying to attain free university degrees, they could be out in the open air doing some manual labour, growing food, for the prison kitchens - with half, the other half to provide Soup Kitchens to feed the poor and homeless.
Or is that not what you had in mind? ... Does it have to be an already existing institution programme?
Okay, if my first option is not good, then I`d want my tax share to go to Animal Welfare food and shelter provision.
Your answer is absolutely in the line of the discussion I had in my mind when starting this thread. I just didn’t want to list my preferences as first in order not to… well, not to direct it in a certain way. Any opinion is welcome.
My preferences are:
Homeless pets
Women and children who are in need of protection from domestic violence
Handicap adjustment
And no, I don’t want any institution to be there. I’d rather if there was a possibility to give some part of my tax to these purposes directly, without creating a fat bureaucratic apparatus for it.
Tulefel: Your answer is absolutely in the line of the discussion I had in my mind when starting this thread. I just didn’t want to list my preferences as first in order not to… well, not to direct it in a certain way. Any opinion is welcome.
My preferences are:
Homeless pets
Women and children who are in need of protection from domestic violence
Handicap adjustment
And no, I don’t want any institution to be there. I’d rather if there was a possibility to give some part of my tax to these purposes directly, without creating a fat bureaucratic apparatus for it.
My preferences are:
Homeless pets
Women and children who are in need of protection from domestic violence
Handicap adjustment
And no, I don’t want any institution to be there. I’d rather if there was a possibility to give some part of my tax to these purposes directly, without creating a fat bureaucratic apparatus for it.
I agree, this one has too be tops.
Tulefel: As known, death and taxes are unavoidable in this life, the rest is optional. Let’s talk taxes. Imagine for a second that now there is an option… No, you would have to pay your usual tax rate, but it would be possible to direct the half of it to some certain (any) purposes, organizations, groups of people and the like.
Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
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!
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!
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........
Not doing too bad here in CH!So far!
Nina3: ...
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!
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!
Yes, my suggestion has lots of severe flaws, monitoring cost, to mention one. There’s an obvious “free-rider” issue, there you can easily skip to pay the “optional” part. But I don’t claim that this idea is ready for practical application as it is from 8.00 next morning.
It happens that money is power, and I’d like to use my tiny power to something I find appropriate. As things are now, my money, or this power that my money presents, can be used against me or my will, and I cannot do anything about that. As example: daddy-King is about to marry off his daughter, and he wants daddy-tax-payer to pay millions of SEK for
Royal wedding, ballet and violins. For me would be completely enough with a very simple ceremony when daddy-King shakes hands with his son-in-law, and off they go. But I can’t do anything…
Oh, yes. I can vote at the next election. And what’ll I vote for? For promises. Reminds me a pre-menstrual syndrome, though a political one, when electorate doesn’t know whether it should laugh or cry listening to all passionate speeches, promising sweet flagrance and thriving immediately after... And after it always turns out that there’s no money, not for the one nor for the other, and I again can’t do anything.
Well… if anything else, then I can play with some thoughts…
Skål!
Tulefel: As known, death and taxes are unavoidable in this life, the rest is optional. Let’s talk taxes. Imagine for a second that now there is an option… No, you would have to pay your usual tax rate, but it would be possible to direct the half of it to some certain (any) purposes, organizations, groups of people and the like.
Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
great thread. Here the counties come up with a budget. Many of the budgeted items are voted on by the genral public. Items like school improvements additional funding for pliace and firedepartments etc. etc. then the tax revenues are raised. Balanced budget every time. People have a say on what some of the money is spent for. No debts. It works.Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?
brucedavis57: great thread. Here the counties come up with a budget. Many of the budgeted items are voted on by the genral public. Items like school improvements additional funding for pliace and firedepartments etc. etc. then the tax revenues are raised. Balanced budget every time. People have a say on what some of the money is spent for. No debts. It works.
In some countries the public has a direct say in how their money is already spent. I believe that when I was studying in Denmark back in 1993 that for local government expenditure the local poulation had a direct say in expenditure; I may be wrong but I think I'm right............ real democracy in action (but boy do the Danes pay very high taxes!).
RobertC2: In some countries the public has a direct say in how their money is already spent. I believe that when I was studying in Denmark back in 1993 that for local government expenditure the local poulation had a direct say in expenditure; I may be wrong but I think I'm right............ real democracy in action (but boy do the Danes pay very high taxes!).
Here in CH we regularly vote on Government Expenditure,the moment they have to exceed a certain maximum.Matter of fact,on 29th Nov. we have to vote on several.
That holds good on Local,State and Federal level!
smoky: ...
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........
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........
Sounds sad, and the most of it you can say about Russia as well… Sumptuous feast (for some) during the plague (for others)
Well… It may be one thing to approve a prepared budget, but there always are details. If you are satisfied, say, how much money would go to health care, do you know (do you care) how the money would be distributed within the brunch? How much of it would go to administration, and how much to patients?
The question is: do we have any insight into the matter. There is a possibility that some strong lobby groups have affected budget that we happily vote for. While there are groups that haven’t got a lobby power. A homeless cat certainly hasn’t. Likewise a mental patient. Or an abused child. And when you’ve approved the budget, it’s done. You can’t do anything until next occasion. But no doubt, it’s convenient.
When you have a possibility to channel your money directly to the recipient, you would have to do some leg-job and to look closely around to find the silent need. Less convenient…
The question is: do we have any insight into the matter. There is a possibility that some strong lobby groups have affected budget that we happily vote for. While there are groups that haven’t got a lobby power. A homeless cat certainly hasn’t. Likewise a mental patient. Or an abused child. And when you’ve approved the budget, it’s done. You can’t do anything until next occasion. But no doubt, it’s convenient.
When you have a possibility to channel your money directly to the recipient, you would have to do some leg-job and to look closely around to find the silent need. Less convenient…
Ja Tulefel ... Governments are too big.... and too anonymous.
I would go for village sized organisations...... Broken down further into neighborhood organisations ... right down to each neighborhood having its own Justice magistrate! Who better to judge people than the people who know each other?
In that way ..... the elderly of ones neighborhood get personal treatment ... same with the animal welfare... same with orphans, and whatever whatever.... without mega salaries being spent on mindless beurocratic bungles and overheads.
Being SO big as governments are now ...... there is no control over where these huge amounts of money are being spent....... ?
Government monies should be handled just the same as household budgets ...... with a lot of personal responsibility. imo. (its just a matter of adding more "0"`s!
I would go for village sized organisations...... Broken down further into neighborhood organisations ... right down to each neighborhood having its own Justice magistrate! Who better to judge people than the people who know each other?
In that way ..... the elderly of ones neighborhood get personal treatment ... same with the animal welfare... same with orphans, and whatever whatever.... without mega salaries being spent on mindless beurocratic bungles and overheads.
Being SO big as governments are now ...... there is no control over where these huge amounts of money are being spent....... ?
Government monies should be handled just the same as household budgets ...... with a lot of personal responsibility. imo. (its just a matter of adding more "0"`s!
I agree that some money has to be distributed directly and locally. It isn’t rocket science…
Or is it?
Or is it?
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Where would you choose to channel your “optional” or “conscious” part of taxes? What would you prefer? And, if possible, why?