Representation without Taxation?

[werepossum]

Vote Cain, enact 9-9-9 and NO ONE will be without Taxation. Problem solved.

That sounds suspiciously like cutting off our collective nose to spite our collective face. While I like Cain on some things, I think he suffers from a classic Republican shortcoming, thinking that whatever is good for business is necessarily good for the country. While removing capital gains tax and cutting tax rates on business would undeniably help business, merely earning more money isn't necessarily a reason to hire more people. Outsourcing for example would be even more profitable than before if you pay less tax on the profits. Frankly I liked him much better when he was advocating the FairTax, replacing all corporate income, personal income, and payroll taxes with a flat sales tax and subsidizing everyone up to the poverty level. Of course, the FairTax has no chance of becoming law - but then, neither does 9-9-9. Congress will give up its ability to reward and punish via the tax code the day we pry it from their cold, politically dead hands.

On the OP's topic, I instinctively like the idea of voting being restricted to those who pay taxes, but I don't think it's viable. That would be a powerful incentive to even more outsourcing, to reduce the pool of people who could vote against your wishes. Wealth tends to concentrate and develop political power anyway; no need to stimulate THAT. Besides, it's probably comparatively fewer people who pay no federal taxes whatsoever. You could restrict voting rights to those who work, but how do you handle those who used to work but became disabled, or worked for decades but are now retired, or are unable to work but otherwise mentally sound, or who are housewives? I don't think it could be implemented in such a way as to make the country better rather than worse.

 

[piasabird]

A pile of bones only proves extinction.

With our anonymous voting, It is hard to prove anything. I still think everyone pays some kind of tax. I could see how if you are receiving food stamps or public aid, or SS, maybe you should not be voting. Only people actually paying taxes should get to decide how they are spent. So make sure they are making at least $10,000 in wages or no vote.