[From the class of 09]

09' Im not going to ask how much you paid in taxes this past year, but think about how many of us on this board alone you are arguing should not get to vote....

I'm not arguing that you shouldn't get to vote. I am arguing that you should have to contribute (we use $$$ in the US) to the system if you want to tell the system how to operate. If one equals the other than so be it. Up until last year it would have been for me.

[LUconn]

So why does a person contributing a token $1 get as much say as a top 1% filer? There's a logic disconnect with trying to be fair. I mean, if your goal is to cut tax rebates and simplify the tax code, how about legislation working on... the tax code? You're also setting a huge a precedent for having to pay to vote. Sure, it's only $1. But hey, the original income tax rate was only 3%. They were real good about not playing politics with that amount

[jenkins]

I would love to have a plan implemtened taht would allow me to opt out of taxes that apply to the individual only like Social Security. I don't want to pay into that stupid fund that is broke. i would much rather invest my own money and receive no social security (if it exists) when i retire.

Also, what the FED did today was absolutely ludicrous. They might as well just go start printing out money like monopoly and hand it to everyone because the dollar is going to be completely worthless.

[Green Monkey]

Class of '09, I don't really know you, but let me ask you something based on assumptions I've made from your username.

I take it that you have recently graduated. Have you actually found a job in that time that allows you to completely support yourself without any tax refunds or assistance from the government or anyone else? Do you yourself contribute a significant amount to the economy?

I also assume that you used scholarship money from the federal government when you went to school. Your parents also probably in some way received some tax benefit for you as well. Under your plan, you and your parents either would have been disenfranchised during your education or had to pay for school entirely out of pocket which is impossible for most people. Would you really have been okay with that?

[jmdickens]

I guess 09 decided he would look at his plan again....

[From the class of 09]

So why does a person contributing a token $1 get as much say as a top 1% filer? There's a logic disconnect with trying to be fair. I mean, if your goal is to cut tax rebates and simplify the tax code, how about legislation working on... the tax code? You're also setting a huge a precedent for having to pay to vote. Sure, it's only $1. But hey, the original income tax rate was only 3%. They were real good about not playing politics with that amount

The logic is that our country was founded on being equal if you're Bill Gates or Joe the Plumber you deserve a right to vote (if you're contributing). We are dealing with a new problem so old solutions can't solve it (Never has the country had so few people paying income taxes Thomas Jefferson didn't have to deal with this). If we could change tax code that would be great. But when you have 47% of voters benefiting personally from a system that is killing the country, and those voters send reps to keep the system in place you won''t change the tax code.

[From the class of 09]

Class of '09, I don't really know you, but let me ask you something based on assumptions I've made from your username.

I take it that you have recently graduated. Have you actually found a job in that time that allows you to completely support yourself without any tax refunds or assistance from the government or anyone else? Do you yourself contribute a significant amount to the economy?

I also assume that you used scholarship money from the federal government when you went to school. Your parents also probably in some way received some tax benefit for you as well. Under your plan, you and your parents either would have been disenfranchised during your education or had to pay for school entirely out of pocket which is impossible for most people. Would you really have been okay with that?

This is the attitude that is killing the country...oh well this would hurt me personally so it must be bad. We all have to be thinking about the bigger picture.

As to your questions federal aid for school could still be there (unless voters (the ones actually paying for it) decided against it) it would just mean I couldn't vote during that time. I would really be ok with people paying for themselves. If people can't afford to pay for school don't go (or take out loans and get a job). If you can't afford to have kids don't have them yet. It sounds harsh but no the government should not be responsible for using other peoples money to pay for to have kids or go to school.

I guess at the end of the day I feel you should carry your own weight and if you're not able to contribute $1 to the federal government then you don't deserve a vote. No one has been able to explain why someone who only takes from the country should be able to tell those that do contribute what to do. The reason I'm trying to drop it is because it's kinda become a typical message board argument where neither side will win.

[LUconn]

No one has been able to explain why someone who only takes from the country should be able to tell those that do contribute what to do.

I guess it all comes down to what you personally believe goes into "deserving" a vote since the constitutions doesn't explicitly state that every person is born with that right. I personally don't equate voting rights with your fiscal worth or drain on the government. If your plan went into effect, money would simply be redistributed through prebate cards, food stamps, vouchers etc. instead of tax credits and refunds. Everybody would still be able to vote (I'm sure we'd get a box to check on our tax return if we'd like to donate $1 so somebody else can vote) and they'd vote for whoever is giving them money, just like they do now.

[RubberMallet]

yeah dont' even get started on the huge amount of redistributing of funds there would be. i'm assuming 09's answer for this will be "well then they shouldn't do that" or "it would be illegal"

but yes, my coworkers father who is retired and is a volunteer fireman who pays 0 income tax yet contributes more daily to society than most should not be able to vote.

if your response is "all he has to do is pay a dollar" then your system once again....is stupid.

[ALUmnus]

The logic is that our country was founded on being equal if you're Bill Gates or Joe the Plumber you deserve a right to vote (if you're contributing).

Our country was also founded with no income tax. Also, people are not "contributing" to the government, their income is being taken by force. But that's an entirely different discussion and a whole other set of problems to deal with.

[RubberMallet]

luconn your favorite comedy program is being suspended....olbermann made campaign contributions which is against nbc regulations.

[ALUmnus]

The only thing surprising about this is how dumb it was to do.