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What if I told you that as an ordinary engineer I am perfectly OK with paying state income taxes and capital gains taxes here in Seattle? Why? For the benefit

by verst 5y ago

What if I told you that as an ordinary engineer I am perfectly OK with paying state income taxes and capital gains taxes here in Seattle? Why? For the benefit of all. I am not wealthy by any means given local expenses but I live comfortably. As someone who is better off than the majority of people (as are most of us on HN when compared to the people around us wherever it is we live) I feel it is important to invest in shared infrastructure and services for all. This is one of the important roles of government and I trust government a lot more to attempt to do the right thing (after all in the US we have a representative republic) with all people in mind versus a bunch of individual directly giving their funds to their favorite causes and projects. The patchwork of nonprofits for example doesn't have the ability to address systemic problems. Altruism and empathy are not incompatible with capitalism (and rewards for your hard work or ingenuity). Some people here really should consider investing in their local community more.

philwelch 5y ago
> What if I told you that as an ordinary engineer I am perfectly OK with paying state income taxes and capital gains taxes here in Seattle? Then you’d be making a much more realistic and honest argument that the one I was replying to.
dmitrygr 5y ago
Then gift the government money directly, and leave others to make their own decisions instead of imposing what you feel is right on them? Here is the official process "Gifts to the U.S. Government": https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/public/gifts-to-government.html https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/public/gifts-to-government.h...
- jacob2484 5y ago
  Why is this being downvoted? I don't want to give more to the government to grow its bureaucracy even more. When they say it's meant for "education", it also means more administrators with useless roles on a tax-funded salaries + pensions which you'll be paying for.

by verst 5y ago

philwelch 5y ago

> What if I told you that as an ordinary engineer I am perfectly OK with paying state income taxes and capital gains taxes here in Seattle? Then you’d be making a much more realistic and honest argument that the one I was replying to.

dmitrygr 5y ago

Then gift the government money directly, and leave others to make their own decisions instead of imposing what you feel is right on them? Here is the official process "Gifts to the U.S. Government": https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/public/gifts-to-government.html https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/public/gifts-to-government.h...

jacob2484 5y ago
Why is this being downvoted? I don't want to give more to the government to grow its bureaucracy even more. When they say it's meant for "education", it also means more administrators with useless roles on a tax-funded salaries + pensions which you'll be paying for.