The results of Part 2 are as follows:
What is the 'fairest' kind of tax?
Poll taxes (poor people pay a higher rate) - 10%
Flat taxes (everybody pays the same rate) - 80%
Jealousy surcharges (rich people pay a higher rate) - 10%
The votes for 'poll taxes' and 'jealousy surcharges' cancel each other out and the clear winner is 'flat taxes'. "Flat taxes on what?" is the next question - vote here or use the widget in the sidebar.
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I'll skip the obvious question, how much the government should be taxing and spending, because we've done that.
Two more rounds to go after this, thanks to everybody who takes part.
Two Birds, One Stone!
1 hour ago
6 comments:
Straight out of the Yes, Prime Minister! opnion poll draughting school.
(See the one about conscription where Bernard is both for and against)
Should the government think about fair?
1/ What's the most moral way for the government to raise revenue?
2/ What method damages the economy the least?
Luckily the answer to 1 & 2 is the same, and I think we both know which one it is!
ACO,
At the risk of building a strw man, many on the left argue that "fair" is the raison d'etre of Governement.
Which is why we keep getting in to such an economic mess.
TGS, agreed, 'fair' is a much over-used word.
But on a philosphical point, even if you're with AC1 and me on this, is there any overriding moral argument to say that the government should butt out of people's lives and raise "just enough" tax in the economically least damaging way?
Mark,
The tax system should be simple (ie hardto avoid), transparent and do as little economic damage as possible. I am open to all the arguments about the best way of achivieng this. So yes, I do see a role for LVT in the system.
I'm not sure even socialist would describe punishing people for working and employing people as "fair".
However they often try to claim that tax is somehow voluntary and not raised by extortion. Rather amusing.
Socialist thinking Defined:
Violence is Fair.
Poverty is Wealth.
Freedom is pollution.
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