new game

[Fanatical Meat]

I'm enjoying reading people's thoughts on these. Name what issue a Politician can take to make you vote for them.
Basic rules:
It needs to be someone you hate or wouldn't vote for
Suspend disbelief and assume they are sincere and have a good plan
Keep it to one or two issues
Keep the issues realistic and fairly narrow. No I'd vote for X because they raise Jesus from the dead.

Here's mine. I'd vote for Ted Cruz if he had a plan to get all big money out of elections. I'd be concerned about the middle east since he seems to support the idea of the apocalypse war with ISIS but at least he'd be contained to one term.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

No, I can't, the people I would never vote for do not have just a single issue that would change my mind.
If trumplestiltskin were to guarantee he'd end citizens united and kill all superpac's, while that would be a tremendous thing, his overt racism and misogyny along with numerous other flaws would not supersede that single issue.
Same can be said for nearly every other GOP candidate.

 

[fskimospy]

I'd vote for Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio if they put out a real tax plan that lowered rates and eliminated most or all deductions. Two caveats though: it has to be actually deficit neutral without relying on magical thinking and it has to retain the current level of progressivity of the federal tax code, so no huge giveaways to rich people.

A lower rate, no-deduction tax code is something they both claim to want, but I sadly can't imagine them doing it without violating one of my two caveats.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I'd vote for Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio if they put out a real tax plan that lowered rates and eliminated most or all deductions. Two caveats though: it has to be actually deficit neutral without relying on magical thinking and it has to retain the current level of progressivity of the federal tax code, so no huge giveaways to rich people.

A lower rate, no-deduction tax code is something they both claim to want, but I sadly can't imagine them doing it without violating one of my two caveats.

This is why I like these questions, I would never have guessed you would want this.

 

[sm625]

It would probably be impossible for me to see a politician as a single issue candidate. Because so many issues tie together due to the common ideology surrounding each issue. For example, take a candidate who pledges to abolish the IRS. Somebody who would make such a pledge is highly likely to hold other appealing ideals which would make them no longer a single issue candidate. Same goes for a candidate who pledges to end the war on drugs ala Portugal style decriminalization.

 

[fskimospy]

This is why I like these questions, I would never have guessed you would want this.

A simpler tax code would be hugely beneficial from an economic efficiency standpoint. We waste a whole ton of money on trying to comply with all the tax incentives that have piled up over the years, many of which are of dubious utility. (I'm looking at you, mortgage interest deduction)

Even though Rubio and/or Bush would probably do a whole bunch of things that I really didn't like, I personally doubt they would actually repeal the ACA and I think the benefits of a more efficient tax code would last for decades before we screwed it up again, haha.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

It would probably be impossible for me to see a politician as a single issue candidate. Because so many issues tie together due to the common ideology surrounding each issue. For example, take a candidate who pledges to abolish the IRS. Somebody who would make such a pledge is highly likely to hold other appealing ideals which would make them no longer a single issue candidate. Same goes for a candidate who pledges to end the war on drugs ala Portugal style decriminalization.

Let me clarify the question is what one or two issues could make you vote for someone you currently would never vote for and assume they will either solve or help that issue we don't need to know what their plan is. Assume they keep all their other baggage.

 

[shira]

I'd vote for Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio if they put out a real tax plan that lowered rates and eliminated most or all deductions. Two caveats though: it has to be actually deficit neutral without relying on magical thinking and it has to retain the current level of progressivity of the federal tax code, so no huge giveaways to rich people.

A lower rate, no-deduction tax code is something they both claim to want, but I sadly can't imagine them doing it without violating one of my two caveats.

But Eski, if their plan did what you want, the net effect would be 0. Everyone would still pay the same taxes.

Look at it this way (oversimplified, with made-up tax-rate thresholds, but you'll get the point):

Current tax systems: $100,000 of income. $22,000 of deductions. $8000 in exemptions. Taxable income, $70,000. 10% tax on first $20,0000 ($2000 tax). 15% tax on next $30,000 ($4500 tax). 25% tax on next $20,000 ($5000 tax). Total tax: $11,500.

New tax system: $100,000 income. No deductions. No exemptions. $100,000 taxable income. Flat 11.5% tax rate. Total tax: $11,500.

Wow. "We've lowered tax rates to 11.5%!!!! (Small print: Pay the same tax you always did.)​

Deck chairs. Titanic.

 

[fskimospy]

But Eski, if their plan did what you want, the net effect would be 0. Everyone would still pay the same taxes.

Look at it this way (oversimplified, with made-up tax-rate thresholds, but you'll get the point):

Current tax systems: $100,000 of income. $22,000 of deductions. $8000 in exemptions. Taxable income, $70,000. 10% tax on first $20,0000 ($2000 tax). 15% tax on next $30,000 ($4500 tax). 25% tax on next $20,000 ($5000 tax). Total tax: $11,500.

New tax system: $100,000 income. No deductions. No exemptions. $100,000 taxable income. Flat 11.5% tax rate. Total tax: $11,500.

Wow. "We've lowered tax rates to 11.5%!!!! (Small print: Pay the same tax you always did.)​

Deck chairs. Titanic.

Yes, everyone paying the same taxes as before is the whole point. The thing is that the way we do things now encourages a huge amount of nonsensical behavior.

For example, rent a house or buy a house? Buying a house gives you access to the mortgage interest deduction, which for many people means thousands of dollars a year in 'free' tax money they don't have to pay. The thing is, buying a house drastically impedes free movement of labor, so if you find a better job two states over you often can't leave to take it if you own a place because the transaction costs are too high. That's very inefficient, and the government pays billions each year to do it. Even if people paid the exact same amount of money their movement (and therefore economic efficiency) wouldn't be impeded by incentivized turtling.

EDIT: To be clear, I'm personally in favor of dramatically increased taxation on wealthy individuals, but I was trying to envision something that Rubio or Bush would plausibly support.

 

[EOM]

But Eski, if their plan did what you want, the net effect would be 0. Everyone would still pay the same taxes.

Look at it this way (oversimplified, with made-up tax-rate thresholds, but you'll get the point):

Current tax systems: $100,000 of income. $22,000 of deductions. $8000 in exemptions. Taxable income, $70,000. 10% tax on first $20,0000 ($2000 tax). 15% tax on next $30,000 ($4500 tax). 25% tax on next $20,000 ($5000 tax). Total tax: $11,500.

New tax system: $100,000 income. No deductions. No exemptions. $100,000 taxable income. Flat 11.5% tax rate. Total tax: $11,500.

Wow. "We've lowered tax rates to 11.5%!!!! (Small print: Pay the same tax you always did.)​

Deck chairs. Titanic.

But it's VASTLY easier to look at your year end, calculate 11.5% and mail it in than doing form after form after form to find out that net rate. it also means MUCH easier (read: lest costly) processing on the IRS side of things.

 

[Guurn]

This would never work because they rarely follow up on promises. Remember Obama on the NSA, or rendition etc. If there was a guarantee they would make it happen I'd say Hillary it she promised to change copywrite to 30 years.

 

[shira]

But it's VASTLY easier to look at your year end, calculate 11.5% and mail it in than doing form after form after form to find out that net rate. it also means MUCH easier (read: lest costly) processing on the IRS side of things.

I agree. And greatly simplifying the tax system would also reduces distortions in financial behavior induced by tax rules. But most people who advocate sweeping changes in the tax system claim big benefits to the American economy would result.

Just imagine a candidate for U.S. President whose major economic boast was "Under my plan, you'll spend much less time doing your taxes (but you'll still pay the same tax, and the economy will be the same, too)." I don't think that would change the minds of many voters.

 

[shira]

This would never work because they rarely follow up on promises. Remember Obama on the NSA, or rendition etc. If there was a guarantee they would make it happen I'd say Hillary it she promised to change copywrite to 30 years.

True. But if you could somehow prevent candidates and their proxies from spewing BS, there'd be no reason for super pacs and focus groups and high-priced campaign consultants and pretty much 99% of everything else that goes on during an election. Fox News would crater, talking heads would need to find day jobs, campaign finance reform would be irrelevant, ATPN would have 70% fewer threads, and we'd all be bored shitless.

We NEED lying liars running for office.

 

[Oyeve]

Someone would definitely have to lower taxes, provide truly good affordable medical care, completely eliminate any financial and military aid to isreal.

Bernie Sanders.

 

[NaughtyGeek]

If HRC was to guarantee that The Patriot Act would be repealed, she'd get my vote. Of course I would expect that to include a presidential pardon for Mr. Snowden as well as criminal charges being brought against all the companies that illegally cooperated with the government before it was passed.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Someone would definitely have to lower taxes, provide truly good affordable medical care, completely eliminate any financial and military aid to isreal.

Good one now attach that to someone you currently would never vote for.

 

[Oyeve]

Good one now attach that to someone you currently would never vote for.

Bernie.

 

[TeeJay1952]

I like to think I am open minded and liberal but upon reflection I guess I am a Democrat. (other than that one time Gov Snyder)