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Some taxes are necessary, but taxes which people avoid by altering their behavior in ways that are bad for society are terrible.
by Symmetry 5y ago
Some taxes are necessary, but taxes which people avoid by altering their behavior in ways that are bad for society are terrible.
- SketchySeaBeast 5y agoWouldn't any tax then be terrible, as people will always try to change their behaviour to avoid it and in general paying taxes is a public good?
- tekknik 5y agoYou can’t avoid most taxes, it’s taken out before you see the money. Some history was destroyed here because of an inability to pay taxes. You can argue whether taxes are good or not but that’s what happened.
- SketchySeaBeast 5y agoIt's not realistic, but if the definition of a terrible tax is one "which people avoid by altering their behavior in ways that are bad for society" seems like it's catching pretty much every tax in that.
- drewgross 5y agoMost people don't start shopping at grey/black markets in order to avoid paying sales tax. Most people don't pay their employees under the table to avoid paying income tax. Most people don't move or de-value their own homes in order to avoid paying income tax. Those taxes make up most tax revenue, and wouldn't get caught in that definition.
- SketchySeaBeast 5y agoSo it's only those with the means to avoid the taxes are those who suffer under terrible taxes?
- WalterBright 5y agoThat's why pollution taxes are a great idea. You want people to alter their behavior to avoid the tax.