4 ms·

I never went deep into this idea: why would sales/import export taxes be any better? Sales are regressive taxes, and import/export are distortive af.

tracker1 8y ago
Mainly that it is a simpler system that is easier to control with less bureaucracy. Today it would probably also hold to money transfers out of the country. I'm mostly a proponent of a minimalist government, pragmatically speaking. I'm a proponent of laws and systems that increase personal liberty and minimize bureaucracy. I accept that there may be some distortion and it isn't exactly fair. But the deductions in the current system aren't exactly fair either.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  Land taxes are the best for that. They are impossible to avoid, very easy and predictable to levvy, and are way more representational, fair and non-distortive taxes.
  - tracker1 8y ago
    I'm also not a fan of property taxes for individuals... It may be impractical, but if someone is able to live on their own, purchased land with no interaction with the outside world, they shouldn't be at risk of losing property for simply continuing to live.
    - conanbatt 8y ago
      There is no land without interaction with the outside world. Land with no interaction is land to be claimed by any military in the world.
- moate 8y ago
  >>I'm a proponent of laws and systems that increase personal liberty and minimize bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a cornerstone of American democracy. When you have 2 strong parties and a push for greater and greater political distance, the bureaucracy is what keeps one party from shackling the other with some policy that leads to the end of the Union. Personally I feel it's never been more important.
  - tracker1 8y ago
    A minimal government can still have rules. It just doesn't have to be how it is today. There were very differing political ideologies from the founding of the US... the government didn't even resemble today's size until we were in the 1900's.
    - moate 8y ago
      Oh sure. Small nimble government is a choice, and there are people like yourself who feel agile is best. I personally prefer a big ponderous government at the national level. It's a preference. When you have 300 million people, I appreciate the government working more like an Ent-moot.
defertoreptar 8y ago
They're not any better. For an example of an alternative, Milton Friedman once remarked that he believed Georgism (land value tax) to be the least bad tax. The idea is to only tax land, which is a very progressive tax. The tax can't be evaded, since you can't hide land. It also creates a consequence for land speculators who sit on unused real estate. As a result, it stimulates the economy with the upsurge in business opportunities.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  I am a full blown georgist :), want to hear more about why sales/ i-e taxes are appealing to some.

tracker1 8y ago

Mainly that it is a simpler system that is easier to control with less bureaucracy. Today it would probably also hold to money transfers out of the country. I'm mostly a proponent of a minimalist government, pragmatically speaking. I'm a proponent of laws and systems that increase personal liberty and minimize bureaucracy. I accept that there may be some distortion and it isn't exactly fair. But the deductions in the current system aren't exactly fair either.

conanbatt 8y ago
Land taxes are the best for that. They are impossible to avoid, very easy and predictable to levvy, and are way more representational, fair and non-distortive taxes.
- tracker1 8y ago
  I'm also not a fan of property taxes for individuals... It may be impractical, but if someone is able to live on their own, purchased land with no interaction with the outside world, they shouldn't be at risk of losing property for simply continuing to live.
  - conanbatt 8y ago
    There is no land without interaction with the outside world. Land with no interaction is land to be claimed by any military in the world.
moate 8y ago
>>I'm a proponent of laws and systems that increase personal liberty and minimize bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a cornerstone of American democracy. When you have 2 strong parties and a push for greater and greater political distance, the bureaucracy is what keeps one party from shackling the other with some policy that leads to the end of the Union. Personally I feel it's never been more important.
- tracker1 8y ago
  A minimal government can still have rules. It just doesn't have to be how it is today. There were very differing political ideologies from the founding of the US... the government didn't even resemble today's size until we were in the 1900's.
  - moate 8y ago
    Oh sure. Small nimble government is a choice, and there are people like yourself who feel agile is best. I personally prefer a big ponderous government at the national level. It's a preference. When you have 300 million people, I appreciate the government working more like an Ent-moot.

defertoreptar 8y ago

They're not any better. For an example of an alternative, Milton Friedman once remarked that he believed Georgism (land value tax) to be the least bad tax. The idea is to only tax land, which is a very progressive tax. The tax can't be evaded, since you can't hide land. It also creates a consequence for land speculators who sit on unused real estate. As a result, it stimulates the economy with the upsurge in business opportunities.

conanbatt 8y ago
I am a full blown georgist :), want to hear more about why sales/ i-e taxes are appealing to some.