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> all taxes are simply put in a large pool > I never support using taxation for social control Yes, money is fungible, and so gas tax, alcohol tax, and cigare

> all taxes are simply put in a large pool > I never support using taxation for social control Yes, money is fungible, and so gas tax, alcohol tax, and cigarette taxes collected may not be applied to covering the costs of that activity. Even putting it in a specific fund doesn't completely fix the problem, it only establishes a minimum support for that fund's target. Make gas tax specifically fund road surface repairs, and then the DOT can use part of the general fund that is freed up for other purposes. However, it seems very reasonable to use taxation as a sort of softer hammer to create an incentive or disincentive for various activities. In a way, the government's only power is in its monopoly on legal violence. It can do nothing but kill or imprison you by force. Sure, it can issue fines, or garnish your wages (effectively the same thing), or remove your drivers license, - but the fine has teeth only because they'll imprison you if you fail to pay. And if you try to fight your way out of captivity you'll either be pathetically overpowered or shot. Furthermore, criminal punishments require prosecution in a court, which is expensive and slow. It would be unreasonable to try to reduce alcoholism by arresting people, charging them with drinking, and sentencing them with a $0.25 fine. It would also be unreasonable to pass a law requiring everyone to buy a house, get married and have 2.54 children, or be arrested and jailed. Instead, taxation offers a much gentler stick, and sometimes even a carrot. Increase taxation on behavior that society finds to be objectionable or harmful - smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. Offer tax rebates for behaviors that society finds to be valuable: donating to charity, helping the environment, raising a family, owning a home. Taxation is definitely an effective tool for social control. Do you have an alternative? Or do you suggest that government should not be involved in social control?

CarpetBench 10y ago
> Taxation is definitely an effective tool for social control. Do you have an alternative? Or do you suggest that government should not be involved in social control? I hope you can appreciate why some people would say the answer to that second question is "as little as possible." When the government is offering carrots and sticks, there will inevitably be some group of people systemically discriminated against (either by not receiving the carrots proportionally or disproportionately receiving the stick). Tyranny of the majority and what not. The gears of government grind very slowly, and changing government policies often results in multiple generations of people experiencing discrimination before things are changed. For a recent example, one argument (among others, of course) for same-sex marriage equality is that it's discriminatory for same-sex partners not to receive the carrots of legal and tax benefits that come with being married. Is there an alternative? Maybe. Maybe not. I could spitball one, but it would likely be an inadequate solution. Still, I think it's prudent to be careful. Social control is a double-edged sword.
syshum 10y ago
>> Or do you suggest that government should not be involved in social control? Bingo... I do not believe the government has any ethical role in tell me how I should live my life, or punishing me if I choose to have a life style the government disapproves of.

CarpetBench 10y ago

> Taxation is definitely an effective tool for social control. Do you have an alternative? Or do you suggest that government should not be involved in social control? I hope you can appreciate why some people would say the answer to that second question is "as little as possible." When the government is offering carrots and sticks, there will inevitably be some group of people systemically discriminated against (either by not receiving the carrots proportionally or disproportionately receiving the stick). Tyranny of the majority and what not. The gears of government grind very slowly, and changing government policies often results in multiple generations of people experiencing discrimination before things are changed. For a recent example, one argument (among others, of course) for same-sex marriage equality is that it's discriminatory for same-sex partners not to receive the carrots of legal and tax benefits that come with being married. Is there an alternative? Maybe. Maybe not. I could spitball one, but it would likely be an inadequate solution. Still, I think it's prudent to be careful. Social control is a double-edged sword.

syshum 10y ago

>> Or do you suggest that government should not be involved in social control? Bingo... I do not believe the government has any ethical role in tell me how I should live my life, or punishing me if I choose to have a life style the government disapproves of.