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Why should the average American pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes? They shouldn't. All should pay $0 taxes. We expect adults be financially ind

Why should the average American pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes? They shouldn't. All should pay $0 taxes. We expect adults be financially independent after a few decades. The gov't, with its ability to literally make money along with other unique powers, should be financially independent after 225 years.

hnhg 7y ago
A gift to enemies of the USA :)
bonoboTP 7y ago
The gov't isn't supposed to be some entity on its own but an orchestrator of society, balancing things, running ahead of feedback loop effects etc. The whole concept of "financially independent govt" sounds like they are spending the tax earnings just on themselves. Of course they have overhead costs, but the main function of the govt is to redistribute. They are supposed to be like the heart that pumps the blood around, and doesn't just use it up all for itself.
- ctdonath 7y ago
  the main function of the govt is to redistribute. Absolutely not. That's communism, which never does - and never can - turn out well. The USA was founded on the main function of gov't is to protect individual rights - that each knows & serves his own interests better than strangers.
  - bonoboTP 7y ago
    But then what? Roads and police, that's it? It seems like many Americans view the government as some external entity that imposed itself on the people and now the people have to keep them in quarantine. A bit like how we felt in Hungary when the Soviets were sitting on us. They came in and now are taking our stuff away. But a country's own govt isn't supposed to be "those guys who came in and took our stuff for themselves", but rather a network of institutions that help organize society for things where market forces are not appropriate for several game theoretical reasons.
    - foogazi 7y ago
      what makes you think society can’t organize itself? The state only exists for protection of its members: military protection from other states and the monopoly on violence with a system of law internally Overtime a lot of stuff just gets tacked on

hnhg 7y ago

A gift to enemies of the USA :)

bonoboTP 7y ago

The gov't isn't supposed to be some entity on its own but an orchestrator of society, balancing things, running ahead of feedback loop effects etc. The whole concept of "financially independent govt" sounds like they are spending the tax earnings just on themselves. Of course they have overhead costs, but the main function of the govt is to redistribute. They are supposed to be like the heart that pumps the blood around, and doesn't just use it up all for itself.

ctdonath 7y ago
the main function of the govt is to redistribute. Absolutely not. That's communism, which never does - and never can - turn out well. The USA was founded on the main function of gov't is to protect individual rights - that each knows & serves his own interests better than strangers.
- bonoboTP 7y ago
  But then what? Roads and police, that's it? It seems like many Americans view the government as some external entity that imposed itself on the people and now the people have to keep them in quarantine. A bit like how we felt in Hungary when the Soviets were sitting on us. They came in and now are taking our stuff away. But a country's own govt isn't supposed to be "those guys who came in and took our stuff for themselves", but rather a network of institutions that help organize society for things where market forces are not appropriate for several game theoretical reasons.
  - foogazi 7y ago
    what makes you think society can’t organize itself? The state only exists for protection of its members: military protection from other states and the monopoly on violence with a system of law internally Overtime a lot of stuff just gets tacked on