Tax and Donations in a CP Campaign
SaraDroz
I advise all to read the enlightening debate in 'comments section' the CPs recent article "Charity Begins at Home, Justice Begins Next Door". The three main protagonists being CP candidate Acacia Mason, CP DMV3 and Foxfire. It seems that issues that haunted the past may be returning so let us address the issues raised honestly.
The Tax Problem - MU and MPP Funding
I am sure most if not all eCanadians welcome the 'tax holiday'. I have always supported the lowest possible tax limit and welcome any initiative to lower tax in general. However this raises problems; how do we pay for MPPs (which we now require due to CoT membership) and invest in MU infrastructure?
We are told by Acacia in his article "[AM4CP] On Taxation And MU's" that "At our current income rate, which we project to be just over $1600 cc/day, this government would have enough money to fund 5 MPP’s per month without a need for tax increases". There would obviously be some monthly shortfall on MPP renewal alone then without considering MU investment as set out in TheSmokes proposal for "The Canadian Civil Defense Act".
The obvious question then is how this potential shortfall should be funded - should the shortfall be funded by tax in the traditional manner or as DMV3 seems to imply by highlighting recent donations by voluntary means? In principle a question of minarchism (small State) versus anarcho capitalism (no State).
Voluntarism in an Election Campaign
First I would note that taxation can be considered 'voluntary' should Congress members be elected on the basis that they would support taxation to cover such shortfalls and the proposed 'Canadian Civil Defense Act'. Should a Congress election return a majority of representative known to support a tax then the community can be said to have agreed to pay the tax. This is the theoretical legitimacy of democracy as we understand it today. It is regrettable therefore that these issues were not raised prior to the Congressional elections.
I have nothing against voluntary donations - all donations to MU or to eCanada should be welcomed if they are made without hope of reward. There have been many such donations in the past that have not raised any suspicion. What does raise questions, and rightly so in my view, is when the issue is raised and a large 'donation' made and publicised by a CP candidate. Can we honestly be sure that this 'donation' is made without hope of reward? To reply to those might question the motives and timing of such a 'donation' and the publicity attached to the issue as 'trolling' and 'xenophobia' as DMV3 responds to Acacia ("He's a xenophobe and a troll, nothing more. I actually expected better from you though, Acacia") is NOT a reply to the issue. Were Chucky Norris or JFSPierre to return stand for CP while making such a 'donation' I would still question the integrity of such an action. It isn't that the CP is new to eCanada but the donation and the publicising of it during an election campaign that is questioned. We in eCanada are well used to electoral bribery with our own stolen tax money and have every reason to question the motives of this action. While admittedly 'donating' to the State is different to 'donating' to individuals prior to an election (the State doesn't vote) questioning the motives of such 'donations' is equally legitimate.
Summary
There will almost certainly be a tax shortfall next month if nothing radical changes. It is for the elected CP and Congress to decide whether this shortfall should be addressed with some minimal taxation method or by a system of voluntary donations. Both systems have pro's and cons. Should it be decided that the voluntary system is to be used (as DMV3 seems to prefer) Congress must also address the issue of 'political donations'. We ALL know that the motives for such 'donations' will be questioned - it would be naieve to think they won't or insist that they shouldn't be. To dismiss them as 'xenophobic' is not a reply to the question about the candidates motives. I and others have fought political corruption in eCanada for a long time. We have no wish to see it return. Therefore let Congress set guidelines about how donations may be judged. I have always and still do reject 'donations' from those standing for Office. That it is done while maintaining a 'tax holiday' policy doesn't make a rotten apple any fresher. When it comes to election day every eCanadian must judge whether DMV3 would have 'donated' 50,000 cc had he not been standing for CP. The CP is wrong: Both Charity and Justice Begin at Home.
Comments
I've always been an advocate for higher taxes that atleast cover MPPs. In the old days MU's as well but times have changed. Thx for writing my thoughts on the subject
Now I must take this moment to sexual harrass you by asking for a picture of your rack.
Blow me Smoke
You're logic is all wrong, people either blow or inhale smoke...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnNH7I07RY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnNH7I07RY
Yep can't link sexual harrassment panda
o7
Everyone should have known the tax holiday wouldn't last forever
Tell that to the CP.
o7
Good article. Lots of common sense.
Strength and honour. o7
Well said.
The 'Tax Holiday' is not feasible in the long term. It is a political ploy to not only garner votes but to attract foreign (mostly eAmerican) business people. eCan has to decide if it wants to be a laissez faire/pseudo-libertarian state (something that has never even been tried in the real world) or a social democracy. Do we want to cater exclusively to the businessman, or are we going to try and prop up every aspect of eCan society? It would be economic suicide to raise taxes substantially, but surely there is a moderate rate that would meet at least some of eCan's basic social needs.
Why is it not feasible?
It's only feasible if there is a steady stream of donations to the treasury from willing citizens. I feel the biggest flaw to this system would be the difficulty in being able to budget for future income. At least with a tax, you have a rough idea of what the next month's income is going to be.
@Leo;
You missed the point. The revenue generated under the tax holiday is enough to pay for the MPPs with our allies who are at war. The tax holiday itself is feasible.
~hyuu~
Permanent tax holiday in glorious UK motherland
How un-socialist 🙂
If you weren't living in 2009 still Sara you'd realise the game has changed. State control of industry was an ideal policy in mid-to-late V1. Nowadays that is impossible, and in fact harmful. The game has changed, and I play to win, not to fulfil some RL ideological wet dream.