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Rant: Whenever I read the words “pay their fair share” when it comes to tax I stop reading, it’s clear the author doesn’t think for themselves. The goal posts

by cascom 5y ago

Rant: Whenever I read the words “pay their fair share” when it comes to tax I stop reading, it’s clear the author doesn’t think for themselves. The goal posts of what is fair are so arbitrary/subjective as to have no meaning when it come to taxes. Just say what is happening, one group (rightly or wrongly) wants another group to bear more of the burden for paying for something.

tappaseater 5y ago
In my town, when a few of us got rooftop solar, some homes reduced their electric bills significantly, in some cases, to less than zero, so the Light Dept said (publically in meetings) we weren't paying our fair share. The real issue was a threat of loss of revenue. It is fair to ask homes that pay nothing, always pay something, but the term "fair share" is inaccurate and emotive.
- belltaco 5y ago
  Why don't you fully cite what they said? The issue is that maintenance of the grid also has costs. So if everyone hovers on net zero(or even pumping electricity back to the grid), who pays the cost for maintaining the electric lines and the salaries of people who work on managing the grid? The grid will go down with no repairs. Money doesn't grow on trees. That's what they mean by fair share, the homes are still connected to the grid, and can use it with their rooftop solar doesn't generate enough power, but they pay nothing or close to nothing when an electric line needs repair, their nonsolar neighbors pay it for them. I don't know if 'not paying the fair share' or 'freeloading' are the right terms, what would you call that situation? If the distribution fee is bothering people, why don't they disconnect the grid and pay nothing?
  - cascom 5y ago
    I don’t think the implication was they shouldn’t pay a fee, but that the term itself is loaded. An honest accounting would indicate the very few of us pay our fair share of anything

by cascom 5y ago

tappaseater 5y ago

In my town, when a few of us got rooftop solar, some homes reduced their electric bills significantly, in some cases, to less than zero, so the Light Dept said (publically in meetings) we weren't paying our fair share. The real issue was a threat of loss of revenue. It is fair to ask homes that pay nothing, always pay something, but the term "fair share" is inaccurate and emotive.

belltaco 5y ago
Why don't you fully cite what they said? The issue is that maintenance of the grid also has costs. So if everyone hovers on net zero(or even pumping electricity back to the grid), who pays the cost for maintaining the electric lines and the salaries of people who work on managing the grid? The grid will go down with no repairs. Money doesn't grow on trees. That's what they mean by fair share, the homes are still connected to the grid, and can use it with their rooftop solar doesn't generate enough power, but they pay nothing or close to nothing when an electric line needs repair, their nonsolar neighbors pay it for them. I don't know if 'not paying the fair share' or 'freeloading' are the right terms, what would you call that situation? If the distribution fee is bothering people, why don't they disconnect the grid and pay nothing?
- cascom 5y ago
  I don’t think the implication was they shouldn’t pay a fee, but that the term itself is loaded. An honest accounting would indicate the very few of us pay our fair share of anything