mirth Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 (edited) If you could ... would you give up your obligation to pay any and all taxes (US,state,local, Soc Sec, sales, excise, etc.) forever in exchange for giving up your right to vote forever? Edited August 14, 2009 by mirth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Pardon my ignorance, but I didn't even know that was an option. I remember the phrase: The only two things you have to do is die and pay taxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. Yes, we have an imperfect system. Yes, there is room for improvement. However, I am comfortable paying my share to the public benefit; it's factored into our lives. I would be fine with paying more in taxes for more public benefit - we'd adjust. I know that's an unpopular point of view around here, but there it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 No. Somebody must be in power and I'd prefer to vote for whoever that is. That's why I vote for those who have my views on taxes :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 As seemingly useless as my vote is and how jaded I've become, it would be tempting, but no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_claire Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I'm also jaded. I voted yes, because I figure the "no tax forever" would last at least a few years lol. Voting doesn't really affect government, not to the extent that is nessisary anyway. And "no taxes forever" is not a promise anyone can make. So I figure since neither is really of much value, like I said, I would expect the "no taxes" to last for a few years so the discount from that would be the best of the choices I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in Austin Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. Yes, we have an imperfect system. Yes, there is room for improvement. However, I am comfortable paying my share to the public benefit; it's factored into our lives. I would be fine with paying more in taxes for more public benefit - we'd adjust. I know that's an unpopular point of view around here, but there it is. :iagree: And I'd add: it isn't just about the public benefit but my own selfish interests. I don't want some person's untreated TB, or some criminal on the street, or some poorly-educated person, or dangerously mentally ill person, impacting my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole M Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. Yes, we have an imperfect system. Yes, there is room for improvement. However, I am comfortable paying my share to the public benefit; it's factored into our lives. I would be fine with paying more in taxes for more public benefit - we'd adjust. I know that's an unpopular point of view around here, but there it is. I agree wholeheartedly. Absolutely not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyrooch Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. Yes, we have an imperfect system. Yes, there is room for improvement. However, I am comfortable paying my share to the public benefit; it's factored into our lives. I would be fine with paying more in taxes for more public benefit - we'd adjust. I know that's an unpopular point of view around here, but there it is. :iagree::iagree::iagree: :hurray: I'm feeling pretty unpopular around here too because I also share this point of view. I am also perfectly comfortable paying my share to the public benefit. I believe it to be my moral responsibility to help my fellow man and I have no problem with my taxes going up for the cause. We too would adjust. So, to answer the question. I would not trade my right to vote for the option of no longer paying taxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I would never give up my right to vote. As meaningless as I feel my little vote has become, it is still my vote. I've voted in every election local and federal since I became eligible. I used to be naive and think some of our elected officials really cared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. Yes, we have an imperfect system. Yes, there is room for improvement. However, I am comfortable paying my share to the public benefit; it's factored into our lives. I would be fine with paying more in taxes for more public benefit - we'd adjust. I know that's an unpopular point of view around here, but there it is. Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirth Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 I believe it to be my moral responsibility to help my fellow man and I have no problem with my taxes going up for the cause. I agree. No one said you can't donate the equivalent amount you would've paid in taxes to whatever agency or charities you wish. This is key. Someone has to be in power, that's true. But power also needs money behind it to have weight. If you disagreed with how schools were acting, and stopped paying the school district, I am guessing the administrators see the budget projection and would soon start asking their superintendent to take a different approach to school matters. Would this be good? I guess it depends on what you call "good" and what strategies seemed good to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Nope. I have absolutely no problem paying federal taxes to allow the government to function constitutionally (which includes my right to vote). The same goes for state and local taxes and their governing documents/ principles. I also will (and do) give money to help my fellow human beings via charities and just plain-old neighborliness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I'm also jaded. I voted yes, because I figure the "no tax forever" would last at least a few years lol. Voting doesn't really affect government, not to the extent that is nessisary anyway. And "no taxes forever" is not a promise anyone can make. So I figure since neither is really of much value, like I said, I would expect the "no taxes" to last for a few years so the discount from that would be the best of the choices I think. I'm so sad that :iagree: It seems like our vote doesn't matter anymore...I keep dreaming of the British Civil War! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 If you disagreed with how schools were acting, and stopped paying the school district, I am guessing the administrators see the budget projection and would soon start asking their superintendent to take a different approach to school matters. Would this be good? I guess it depends on what you call "good" and what strategies seemed good to you. The point here is that an individual could choose where to put their money.:001_smile: That's the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. I take my voting rights very seriously. I'm also not opposed to paying reasonable taxes because I feel responsible in supporting our country. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 :iagree: And I'd add: it isn't just about the public benefit but my own selfish interests. I don't want some person's untreated TB, or some criminal on the street, or some poorly-educated person, or dangerously mentally ill person, impacting my family. I assume I'm part of the public so, with the exception of personal gain at the expense of others, my interest IS the public interest in matters of security (health, food, physical, etc). (I also like roads.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtroad Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Give up your right to vote... and you will be paying taxes again very soon. Atleast with the vote, you have some influence. You have no influence without the vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 No - I imagine along with the right to vote I'd lose the right to use the local library, have my trash picked up weekly, sewers and water lines maintained, street plowed in winter, and firefighters/police /EMTs in case I needed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey Mom Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. I take my voting rights very seriously. I'm also not opposed to paying reasonable taxes because I feel responsible in supporting our country. Janet :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaSheep Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely not. I am more than happy to pay our fair share of reasonable public expenses too. However, I think the last several administrations have gone above and beyond reasonable, and this current administration is taking it into the realm of ludicrous. It would not bother me as much if the services and benefits that were being given in exchange were properly managed and WORKED. I do have a problem with extreme amounts of money being forceably taken from our family in order to pay for vast amounts of waste, frivilous projects that are mismanaged anyway, and programs that are clearly seriously broken. I think what I would prefer would be to pay a reasonable tax to cover infrastructure, defense, and other very basic services, and then have the option to voluntarily contribute additional money to specific governmental funds that covered services I would like to support. For example, this Cash For Clunkers nonsense is not something I would voluntarily fund, but I would absolutely contribute to a program to provide basic food, shelter, medical care, etc. to the elderly and disabled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 What would prevent you from contributing to the public good and helping your fellow man even if you weren't required to pay taxes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 I believe in paying for public schools (even though we choose not to participate), roads, emergency services, the military and so forth. Therefore, why would I not want to help fund those things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 As seemingly useless as my vote is and how jaded I've become, it would be tempting, but no. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyBre Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Lord, no! Why don't you go ahead an just move to a third world nation? Our vote is what this nation was founded on. It's the voice of the People (as in "We the People"). We just need to stand up and insist that it be heard and respected again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncmomo3 Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 NO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 What would prevent you from contributing to the public good and helping your fellow man even if you weren't required to pay taxes? :iagree: And I, in the minority, voted that I would give up my right to vote. Over the last 32 years, I have been on the losing end of the vote 95% of the time. I'm guessing on that, because I cannot remember one I was on the winning side of. I'd have more effect waving a sign, shirtless, on an I-5 overpass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 No, but I do like the proposal Heinlein made in a couple books that you could not be a voting citizen unless you had completed military service. It was optional, but you couldn't vote without it. He also would not have allowed anyone to vote if they were receiving payments from the government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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