3 ms·
> Once you accept that, the discussion boils down to your belief in what constitutes a fair taxation scheme: should the users of a service pay per use, or shoul
by mcny 9y ago
> Once you accept that, the discussion boils down to your belief in what constitutes a fair taxation scheme: should the users of a service pay per use, or should essential city services be subsidized by the wealthiest citizens? Good arguments for and against.
Very tangentially related but wanted to hear your opinion on this: I know it is not in my best interest as a poor person but I think there should not be any handouts or subsidies for poor people. We should transform any entitlement program that requires you to show you make $X or under a year and replace them with programs that everyone (regardless of income or wealth) can participate in. I am still a firm believer in a progressive tax regime to fund these programs but we should not divide beneficiaries based on income or wealth.
Another thought experiment I sometimes think about is what would change if public transit were fully paid for by taxes? How would things change? Would we see more traffic? How much more traffic would we see? Would we see more people camping out inside the subway stations?
- ordinaryperson 9y agoDepends on your definition of "handouts". Free cash transfers don't seem to be a successful antipoverty program but what about free college tuition? High education levels strongly correlate with above average lifetime incomes but you can't expect poor mothers to feed their children on college degrees. I guarantee you even the most ardent proponent of regressive taxation schemes has some pet govt benefit they consider not a handout but a right. As to the second, it's an interesting idea. Everyone complains about the NYC MTA but for $2.75 you can traverse the entire city -- even with delays it's a steal. People are definitely disconnected from the price vs reward of public transit.
- mcny 9y ago> what about free college tuition I love it! However, if we can afford to make college tuition to people making under $x, I think we can make college tuition free for everyone without checking for their income. (This is my main objection to the New York state scheme. They can make it so only NYS residents are eligible but we should drop the income requirement.)
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- millstone 9y agoThere are two strong practical arguments for no means-testing. The first is that these programs are much cheaper and easier to administer. The forms are simpler, there is less opportunity for fraud, the programs are easier to understand so less outreach is required, etc. The second is that such programs are much more politically durable. In the US, compare the ever-teetering Medicaid or TANF with Medicare or Social Security, which enjoy broad support.