> But in fact the libertarian in me loves it - if implemented, it removes the need for vast swaths of government. True as far as it goes. Collecting taxes and

> But in fact the libertarian in me loves it - if implemented, it removes the need for vast swaths of government. True as far as it goes. Collecting taxes and then turning around and giving the money back might be a good first step, but it should be obvious that it would be more efficient not to collect the taxes in the first place. Some may object and say that giving money to the poor changes the social makeup of society by redistributing wealth from haves to have-nots. But that doesn't change anything, because the money given to the poor quickly finds its way to the same places it does now.