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This couldn't work for a variety of reasons, we need to be taxed as there is things that simply need to be done on a national level. The military is perfect example as would be large public projects involving transportation, waterways etc. Having said that take way too much and are involved in entirely too many things that should be done on a private level.
This is a little beyond my exact views but not too far off:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by denison
That's one thing I forget to add. Philanthropist could create trust funds for military, hospital, scientific purposes. People could donate to those. I think you'd get more money that way than actually taxing people.
Schools. I don't have kids. Why should I pay for schooling someone else's kids? Let them cough up $20-30K per year per kid.
Wait, that's more than many parents make per year.
Well, does it harm me, as a member of society, if their kids don't learn to read? Yes or no?
This comment above could be a whole new thread.
When I was young and single, I was miffed when I got my property tax bill and saw like 80% seemed to go to public education. I thought WTF? I have no kids, why should I pay?
Think about it. While it may not be the best way to fund education, since children are our future, I would hope that at the very least they get a decent education.
When I'm 80 and the kids that are in school now are running the country, industry, etc..., I sure hope they had a good education under their belt.
Like you said, the average "parent" can't pay. I doubt if Obama's parents had the money to pay for school. But public education gave him a good foundation at least.
When children are properly educated, it benefits us all.
This nation existed quite well for a long period of time without the 'need' for all these gov. services.
I think part of the problem is people nowadays are incredibly self absorbed and apathetic,the very idea of being responsible is terrifying to them.
As to the OP,it is spelled out quite clearly how the fedgov. is to operate and how it is to receive funds to pay for it's very limited responsibilities.
Gov. should be VERY limited and the best way to limit gov. is to underfund it.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,329 posts, read 54,381,135 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oz in SC
This nation existed quite well for a long period of time without the 'need' for all these gov. services.
Right, it existed with no Interstate Highway system, no airports, no prescription drug testing, no reliable/fast communication system, etc., etc., etc.
Yeah! It was great!
Let's go back even further and we can even have raw sewage running in the gutter, wouldn't THAT be special?
The utopia of no taxes will not work. As you can see by looking at history, every "democracy" begins to fail when people shun individual responsibility coupled with a unique (often fleeting) sense of service and loyalty over self. Once those things begin a downward trend, the democracy fails or just shrinks, becoming insignificant.
The balance of a fair tax system to provide the most basic public services for the common good should be able to exist, but it does not. For me, a flax tax on everyone at around 10% might work. I just wonder if that could ever come to pass.
Ok, I've been mulling this over in my mind. First of all everyone is welcome to contribute to this thread. Second of all I'm not an economist, so a lot of people here will know more about this subject than me.
When I talk about tax free society, I mean completely:
-No income tax
-No sales tax
-No capital gains tax
-No property tax
-No inheritance tax etc....
The thinks that would drive this society:
-Philanthropy
-Charity/Charitable organization(instead of welfare/free social services)
-Capitalism/ Free trade/ Maximize competition
A society like this would have to have a small limited government. The government would not be an employer or collect taxes(no IRS) from people. If the people wanted new roads, better schools, better parks etc... they would get together raise the money, get the job done themselves. Firstly I think a society like this would have to be fully privatized. Private police(see article below), private healthcare, private schools, private prisons etc....
Benefits of Privatization:
- Private police - higher salary, no immunity like government police
- Private healthcare - less rationing, better services
- Private schools - higher test scores than public school
- Private prisons - could use criminals as labor force to pay off their debt
In fact I think the only tax should be a "criminal tax". So really, any law abiding citizen would be living in a completely tax free society. People who commit misdemeanors could be taxed at 1-10% for 1 - 5 yrs for punishment, or whatever rate you want to use. Harsher criminals(but not murders, rapist, pedos) could work on a prison labor force to work off their debt directly as punishment.
Free free to add how you think a society like this would work or wouldn't. It's just a thought experiment.
It worked just fine before 1913, it should also work just fine now.
except you would have politicians and people not fond of liberty and freedom screaming about not having enough money for their entitlement programs.
Reduce federal taxes to a minimum to where they should be only to cover things that the states are not responsible for..most taxes go to the states where they belong..you want a road..you pay for it..you want schools..you pay for it...not re-distribution of wealth from the feds to the states..
I'm sure you can look to the indigenous tribes in the undeveloped countries to see what the results would be......I think I prefer having a job and our country defending itself with something more than poison darts to no taxes.
Well if that is all our taxes went to some believe this country would be much further advanced. Instead we have debacles such as welfare and social security.
Parks, Roads and Defense. Those are the only things I need/want from the Government.
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