XXXVIII: Tax Poll Analysis Part 1
Day 1,108, 09:30
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Published in USA 
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by
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by Little Old Halfling
For some reason this kept running through my head when I was compiling this. I guess it's appropriate or something.
109 responses to the Tax Poll. That's pretty good in my opinion. I want to post a disclaimer before I post the results: Many may argue that this was not scientific. It's not. It's an opinion poll on taxes. The questions could have been improved, sure. Plenty of things could have been done. It is what it is.
I've compiled this in the most unbiased way possible. I'm presenting the data in the best way I know. That being said, I've included some women pics to keep you interested. Maybe more people will read the actual article. Who knows. I've heard it's a good thing to do.
It's worth a try.
I'll be posting a second part to this later today about the demographics involved with this and the like. Thank you s0beit for the suggestion with that. If you have anything else you'd like from it, just let me know.
Enjoy, and please comment if you wish to see another one after part two.
Results for the question: "What do you think about the tax rate in the eUSA?"
Pretty stereotypical, but you'll notice that there is a large minority (roughly 25% of those polled) who believe the tax rate is fine.
Results for the question: "What should be done to change this?"
Again, pretty stereotypical, but there's that still strong minority.
The next three graphs I made are breakdowns of responses based on their answers to the first question. I noticed some interesting things about the combinations of answers people gave between the two, so I wanted to highlight that.
Raise Taxes Response Breakdown
Nothing Response Breakdown
Taxes Lowered Response Breakdown
I've also compiled what I believe are the best responses for why each responder believed what they believed, and I'll put them in this section.
Why Taxes Should Be Raised Responses
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: All the programs like the military and Arm America and Meals on Wheels need a lot of money.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: It's the only logical solution.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Government programs offer way more than the average citizens will be able to afford. More players just need to get involved to take advantage of these problems, rather than collectively whining for a few extra cents per day.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: To benefit new, active players and to create the necessary funds for government programs that helps player retention. This is also the way inactive two-clickers can contribute to our country.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: We need to build our defenses so we can protect ourselves and get the areas we need for raw materials
Why Taxes Should Be Lowered Responses
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: Admin has made changes that are causing people to stop hoarding wealth. The implementing of missions is resulting in more people purchasing stuff when before they would just two-click and accumulate USD. This mean the money is going back into the economy. Retention programs are largely ineffective, imo. Retention is and should be based on social networking within the game. Attention should be paid to how many friends a user has or if they post on forums or IRC, which would be a lot of work, but would provide a lot of information on whether they are interested in the game for the long haul.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Although, I'm voting Just Right and Nothing to avoid skewing the poll (further) in favor of what's likely to be the popular vote, I favor lowering the tax rate to 20% at this time for further research. I have a number of reasons for this stance:
1. Easier Math - Although saying it sounds silly, using 20% as opposed to 23% will make for easier math for economists, business owners, and the average citizen. In doing so, the tax rate will seem less set, less technical, and less esoteric to non-economically-inclined Americans. That alone may decrease the psychological barrier between the government and the governed, making ""government elitists"" more normal and accessible to average players.
2. The winds of change could empower the citizenry without meaning certain doom to the eUS. - Although a decrease from 23 to 20% would only equate to a 13.04% decrease in tax revenue and only a very small increase in net income for workers, a well-publicized change following a nationwide media debate could give new citizens just starting to become active the impression that this formerly elitist government might be turning a corner and actually listening to them for once in a long long time. (Although that would be a vast oversimplification of the situation, given the ideological carryover from real life that all newbs start with, this might be a good way to represent it to new citizens, for the sake of building interest and increasing retention.)
3. It will serve as an experiment and will produce a dataset for further analysis. Quite honestly, all the debate on this topic has been based on sensationalist rhetoric or pure theory thus far. Neither of these is the best way to go. What we need is concrete data, and frankly,, we have very little concrete data that really still applies here. Income taxes have not been messed with in months. If I'm not mistaken, One Eye won this game seven months ago. From all I've seen and read regarding him, the man was (and hopefully still is somewhere) an economic genius, but few among us would say that we're not playing a vastly different game here and now. Does anyone really believe that there is one true, best way to do taxes? And if so, do you honestly believe that it was discovered months ago in a starkly different economy?
Basically, my point here is, ""Why not?""
I highly doubt that the risks of a 3% (to perhaps 5
Worst case scenario, it'll only take 24 hours to change back in the event of an emergency.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: We tax, what, roughly 23% of a worker's daily income. This means, for myself, I lose about $5 on my daily income. That's not so much, it reduces what should be a $22 paycheck to about $17. However, that does mean I fight one less time per day. On my paycheck, I can fight about 4 times daily. I don't. I use half of my income for fighting, and save the rest
Now, suppose I'm a level 2 worker, and I make $13 daily. I'm reduced to about $10 after taxes. That means I can fight at max, twice daily. I'll have next to nothing to spend. Basically, under this tax, the rich and more experienced players just get richer and more experienced, while the poor are always struggling to keep up.
Now, there are supposed alleviations to this problem. First, we have Arm America. This is fine, but you have to be able to access the forums to get it. The eRep API is unreliable, making it difficult for any player to apply to.
Second, we have military-run companies that you join to get military supplies. However, from a economic incentive, these companies pay out little in way of supplies, you have to rely on the irregular quartermasters, and the companies don't even supply a paycheck large enough to accumulate any wealth on the part of its soldiers. This means that if you're in the military (and for new players, the Training Corps), you're bound to be even less well off than if you were fighting on your own.
So, our welfare is ineffective, and really, inefficient. It doesn't even redistribute resources from the rich to the poor, to foster a faster increase in younger players gaining experience and being effective soldiers. Instead it prizes the rich and powerful, and takes resources from the poor to finance the rich and powerful. It can all be effectively replaced by a tax cut. It's the simplest mechanical way to do it, especially for a government that has trouble filling administrative positions.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: I don't know where the money goes so why should I give it away.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: When i began to play this game right around its first year of operation, i had a low paying job and i remember that i was getting along just fine. The tax rate back then was extremely low, i dont remember exactly how much now, but i also remember that our country populationw as growing steadily, and that we were progressing a lot as far as military achievements go. The low tax rate and steady income it allowed us citizens to attain helped to forge an incredibly strong nation that beckoned other countries to become allies with us. Not Pheonix of course
All in all, i just wanted to say that if we lower these tax rates and bring back all of our citizens from these countries they have fled to, we can break these barriers that have placed us in this mediocre position in terms of military conquest, and restore us to our rightful place as the most dominant country in the eWorld. As a note, almost all of my friends from when i started playing, are now in a different country somewhere, giving taxes to them instead of the United States.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: Ex:Romania
In war time as we are right now due to admin module updates we should lower taxes thus increasing spending of private citizens which leads to more damage/influence.
Fact: Citizens can do more damage with a normal job then they can being supplied by the goverment/military.
I also believe during peace time they should be put to what they are now.
Im not saying the military is worthless im saying they arent as effective as they use to be due to the major increase in pay for free lance workers. Plus the amount of money that can be meat with companies leads to them being farly ineffective to what they once were.
Why Taxes Should Remain the Same
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Income taxes should remain as is. Maybe drop a point or two to appease the masses (by that I mean the people that Joe DaSmoe has whipped into a frenzy).
Drop all the other taxes to zero.
The military needs the money. Our nation has one of the greatest militaries in the world, and that is based largely on the our tax revenue.
The average citizen should fight with Q1s or bare handed, so the military can afford higher Qs. The damage is better maximized that way. I think this latest version of the military module favors funding tanks rather than the populace.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: The programs are great. Anyone who wants food can get some, and it funds the military. Who needs money when the government gives stuff away?
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Unlike 'real life' there are a limited number of products to purchase. While the US's taxes are quite high, it is still possible to earn a decent wage (and even stockpile money if you count the HW medal) and still fulfill your financial needs. Also; there is to much $$ wasted on NON-MILITARY SH*T in the budget. Taxes could be lowered if this was removed.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Currently we pull a lot of money from the 2-clickers and those who are holding onto their own money. While it would be nice to put money in peoples pockets, this is assuming that people would use it properly. In an online game where things are cut and dry with clear definitions on how things work, its makes sense for the money to be 'pooled' and distributed to the best of our abilities. Joe's populism movement is nothing more than a way to gather the 2-clickers who do not understand how to display their activity and move him into power. He is bored and is trying a new angle. That's just my opinion though.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Why change a good thing.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: It ain't broken. Don't f-ck with it.
Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be posting a second part to this detailing the demographics that participated. So stay tuned and lemme know if you want another one after that in the comments!
Stay frosty.
109 responses to the Tax Poll. That's pretty good in my opinion. I want to post a disclaimer before I post the results: Many may argue that this was not scientific. It's not. It's an opinion poll on taxes. The questions could have been improved, sure. Plenty of things could have been done. It is what it is.
I've compiled this in the most unbiased way possible. I'm presenting the data in the best way I know. That being said, I've included some women pics to keep you interested. Maybe more people will read the actual article. Who knows. I've heard it's a good thing to do.
It's worth a try.
I'll be posting a second part to this later today about the demographics involved with this and the like. Thank you s0beit for the suggestion with that. If you have anything else you'd like from it, just let me know.
Enjoy, and please comment if you wish to see another one after part two.
Results for the question: "What do you think about the tax rate in the eUSA?"
Pretty stereotypical, but you'll notice that there is a large minority (roughly 25% of those polled) who believe the tax rate is fine.
Results for the question: "What should be done to change this?"
Again, pretty stereotypical, but there's that still strong minority.
The next three graphs I made are breakdowns of responses based on their answers to the first question. I noticed some interesting things about the combinations of answers people gave between the two, so I wanted to highlight that.
Raise Taxes Response Breakdown
Nothing Response Breakdown
Taxes Lowered Response Breakdown
I've also compiled what I believe are the best responses for why each responder believed what they believed, and I'll put them in this section.
Why Taxes Should Be Raised Responses
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: All the programs like the military and Arm America and Meals on Wheels need a lot of money.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: It's the only logical solution.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Government programs offer way more than the average citizens will be able to afford. More players just need to get involved to take advantage of these problems, rather than collectively whining for a few extra cents per day.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: To benefit new, active players and to create the necessary funds for government programs that helps player retention. This is also the way inactive two-clickers can contribute to our country.
Q1: It's too damn low
Q2: Raise Taxes
RESPONSE: We need to build our defenses so we can protect ourselves and get the areas we need for raw materials
Why Taxes Should Be Lowered Responses
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: Admin has made changes that are causing people to stop hoarding wealth. The implementing of missions is resulting in more people purchasing stuff when before they would just two-click and accumulate USD. This mean the money is going back into the economy. Retention programs are largely ineffective, imo. Retention is and should be based on social networking within the game. Attention should be paid to how many friends a user has or if they post on forums or IRC, which would be a lot of work, but would provide a lot of information on whether they are interested in the game for the long haul.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Although, I'm voting Just Right and Nothing to avoid skewing the poll (further) in favor of what's likely to be the popular vote, I favor lowering the tax rate to 20% at this time for further research. I have a number of reasons for this stance:
1. Easier Math - Although saying it sounds silly, using 20% as opposed to 23% will make for easier math for economists, business owners, and the average citizen. In doing so, the tax rate will seem less set, less technical, and less esoteric to non-economically-inclined Americans. That alone may decrease the psychological barrier between the government and the governed, making ""government elitists"" more normal and accessible to average players.
2. The winds of change could empower the citizenry without meaning certain doom to the eUS. - Although a decrease from 23 to 20% would only equate to a 13.04% decrease in tax revenue and only a very small increase in net income for workers, a well-publicized change following a nationwide media debate could give new citizens just starting to become active the impression that this formerly elitist government might be turning a corner and actually listening to them for once in a long long time. (Although that would be a vast oversimplification of the situation, given the ideological carryover from real life that all newbs start with, this might be a good way to represent it to new citizens, for the sake of building interest and increasing retention.)
3. It will serve as an experiment and will produce a dataset for further analysis. Quite honestly, all the debate on this topic has been based on sensationalist rhetoric or pure theory thus far. Neither of these is the best way to go. What we need is concrete data, and frankly,, we have very little concrete data that really still applies here. Income taxes have not been messed with in months. If I'm not mistaken, One Eye won this game seven months ago. From all I've seen and read regarding him, the man was (and hopefully still is somewhere) an economic genius, but few among us would say that we're not playing a vastly different game here and now. Does anyone really believe that there is one true, best way to do taxes? And if so, do you honestly believe that it was discovered months ago in a starkly different economy?
Basically, my point here is, ""Why not?""
I highly doubt that the risks of a 3% (to perhaps 5
😵income tax rate decrease outweigh the possible benefits. We can sic every economic mind in the country on it and collect hard data. Plus, we could seriously aid retention if we frame it properly.
Worst case scenario, it'll only take 24 hours to change back in the event of an emergency.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: We tax, what, roughly 23% of a worker's daily income. This means, for myself, I lose about $5 on my daily income. That's not so much, it reduces what should be a $22 paycheck to about $17. However, that does mean I fight one less time per day. On my paycheck, I can fight about 4 times daily. I don't. I use half of my income for fighting, and save the rest
Now, suppose I'm a level 2 worker, and I make $13 daily. I'm reduced to about $10 after taxes. That means I can fight at max, twice daily. I'll have next to nothing to spend. Basically, under this tax, the rich and more experienced players just get richer and more experienced, while the poor are always struggling to keep up.
Now, there are supposed alleviations to this problem. First, we have Arm America. This is fine, but you have to be able to access the forums to get it. The eRep API is unreliable, making it difficult for any player to apply to.
Second, we have military-run companies that you join to get military supplies. However, from a economic incentive, these companies pay out little in way of supplies, you have to rely on the irregular quartermasters, and the companies don't even supply a paycheck large enough to accumulate any wealth on the part of its soldiers. This means that if you're in the military (and for new players, the Training Corps), you're bound to be even less well off than if you were fighting on your own.
So, our welfare is ineffective, and really, inefficient. It doesn't even redistribute resources from the rich to the poor, to foster a faster increase in younger players gaining experience and being effective soldiers. Instead it prizes the rich and powerful, and takes resources from the poor to finance the rich and powerful. It can all be effectively replaced by a tax cut. It's the simplest mechanical way to do it, especially for a government that has trouble filling administrative positions.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: I don't know where the money goes so why should I give it away.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: When i began to play this game right around its first year of operation, i had a low paying job and i remember that i was getting along just fine. The tax rate back then was extremely low, i dont remember exactly how much now, but i also remember that our country populationw as growing steadily, and that we were progressing a lot as far as military achievements go. The low tax rate and steady income it allowed us citizens to attain helped to forge an incredibly strong nation that beckoned other countries to become allies with us. Not Pheonix of course
😛. But, it just goes to show that citizens are finding other countries to call home just because our tax rate has reached a ridiculously high rate. What the government doesn't understand is that by increasing these tax rates and therefore forcing our citizens to flle this country in search of lwer tax rates-which is ridiculous, it is losing a lot in terms of power. If we lower the taxes, bring more of our citizens back, and get them working here, our government will make the same, if not more money than it is now. Not to mention that the citiznes will prosper and be able to afford more items on the market, which will drive our economy and allow us to be more equipped soldiers and fight for our country.
All in all, i just wanted to say that if we lower these tax rates and bring back all of our citizens from these countries they have fled to, we can break these barriers that have placed us in this mediocre position in terms of military conquest, and restore us to our rightful place as the most dominant country in the eWorld. As a note, almost all of my friends from when i started playing, are now in a different country somewhere, giving taxes to them instead of the United States.
Q1: It's too damn high
Q2: Lower Taxes
RESPONSE: Ex:Romania
In war time as we are right now due to admin module updates we should lower taxes thus increasing spending of private citizens which leads to more damage/influence.
Fact: Citizens can do more damage with a normal job then they can being supplied by the goverment/military.
I also believe during peace time they should be put to what they are now.
Im not saying the military is worthless im saying they arent as effective as they use to be due to the major increase in pay for free lance workers. Plus the amount of money that can be meat with companies leads to them being farly ineffective to what they once were.
Why Taxes Should Remain the Same
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Income taxes should remain as is. Maybe drop a point or two to appease the masses (by that I mean the people that Joe DaSmoe has whipped into a frenzy).
Drop all the other taxes to zero.
The military needs the money. Our nation has one of the greatest militaries in the world, and that is based largely on the our tax revenue.
The average citizen should fight with Q1s or bare handed, so the military can afford higher Qs. The damage is better maximized that way. I think this latest version of the military module favors funding tanks rather than the populace.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: The programs are great. Anyone who wants food can get some, and it funds the military. Who needs money when the government gives stuff away?
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Unlike 'real life' there are a limited number of products to purchase. While the US's taxes are quite high, it is still possible to earn a decent wage (and even stockpile money if you count the HW medal) and still fulfill your financial needs. Also; there is to much $$ wasted on NON-MILITARY SH*T in the budget. Taxes could be lowered if this was removed.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Currently we pull a lot of money from the 2-clickers and those who are holding onto their own money. While it would be nice to put money in peoples pockets, this is assuming that people would use it properly. In an online game where things are cut and dry with clear definitions on how things work, its makes sense for the money to be 'pooled' and distributed to the best of our abilities. Joe's populism movement is nothing more than a way to gather the 2-clickers who do not understand how to display their activity and move him into power. He is bored and is trying a new angle. That's just my opinion though.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: Why change a good thing.
Q1: It's just right
Q2: Nothing
RESPONSE: It ain't broken. Don't f-ck with it.
Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be posting a second part to this detailing the demographics that participated. So stay tuned and lemme know if you want another one after that in the comments!
Stay frosty.
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Comments
Taxes are sexy.
So where'd you get the pics from?
Do you mean the girls or the graphs?
The girls. Article
I never knew views on tax's could be so beautiful.
Lol, Onishi I didn't even realize. I just googled them.
Lol spamming in your article comments and you can't do anything about it.
imo, pics were worth republishing.
Excellent Article displaying both sides of the arguement. This debate over tax policy affects and involves everyone; whether you've been in eRepublik 1 day, 10, 100, or even 1,000 days.
Interesting results and responses. Thanks.
Awesome work thanks man.
OMG i feel special, my profile was linked in an article 😛
Good stuff