January 23, 2007

The Option May Be There – But They Won’t Take It

I’ve always supported legislation like this – it proves that those who claim that they are not taxed enough either really don’t believe it or are just plain hypocritical.

Mainers could contribute to their favorite state government programs through the state Web site under legislation a Sabattus lawmaker proposed.

Republican Rep. Scott Lansley said his is a serious proposal — even as he smiled at its name, the Tax Me More Fund.

"I got a lot of people who laughed about it at first and then said thatÂ’s a good idea and signed on as co-sponsors," Lansley said last week. He said the name makes a broader political point.

"People are either going to be hypocrites about it and not do it, or they are going to be out there saying, ‘I should pay more taxes for this or that program,’" he said. "Well, if you think that a program needs more money, here you go, pay more in taxes through this fund."

Lansley said the measure would make it easy for Mainers to pay additional "taxes" by making contributions through the state government Web site.

So I hope all you folks in Maine will get behind this proposal – and that every person who argues that taxes are too low will simply cut a check to the Tax Me More fund in their own state (if they have one). After all, if you REALLY believe that you are keeping money that should not be yours, this is the perfect way to divest yourself of it without imposing your personal morality on the rest of us!

Posted by: Greg at 10:43 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Is it possible that you are dumb enough not to see the difference between collective action and individual action?

If not, why don't you attach Iran on your own?

Posted by: Dan at Tue Jan 23 14:45:56 2007 (IU21y)

2 What would you like him to attach it to, Dan?

Besides, the obvious response is that we conservatives are all for voluntary collective action.  It is coerced collective action that we oppose.  Now all you under-taxed liberals can act collectively and direct your ill-gotten gains to the programs you like, increasing their budgets to meet the level of spending you believe in.  That, my friend, is true collective action and is laudable.

Posted by: Jacob at Wed Jan 24 01:45:05 2007 (/XJux)

3 Dan, we've disagreed here before. However, if you feel you are not paying enough taxes, this mechanism leaves you the option to be the autonomous, morally superior individual you seem to believe you are by foregoing the ill-gotten tax savings AND directing it to the areas you feel are most short-changed by us hard-hearted Republicans. It is a win-win -- you aren't forced to keep the cash you feel you morally owe the government, and those with common sense don't have to surrender our hard-earned wages to with the jackboots of government on our necks just to satisfy YOUR sense of morality.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Wed Jan 24 10:41:59 2007 (o3XZi)

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