I had this great idea about tax money

[Serkat]

What if instead of the government stealing your money and doing ineffective stupid shit with it, you would actually get a say in what happens with your money? I mean, if they absolutely have to force you to contribute part of your money to the public domain, at least you should be able to tell them in which areas to spend it. I think it's called democracy.

[ChaybaChayba]

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. It has been usual for men to think and to say, "Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor." Now, however, there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment, and to say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves." It's your own fault they waste your money. There's no 'evil' government. We are the government.

[Serkat]

So you are suggesting I evade the taxes? That's just perfect.

[dragonoverlord]

So you are suggesting I evade the taxes? That's just perfect. You can hide from the IRS at my place.

[juroara]

It's your own fault they waste your money. There's no 'evil' government. We are the government. we do not have a direct say as to what our taxes money does, we never did. the most we can really do is vote for people who say what they are going to do with our tax money. and then hope they are honest and will do as they say. however, this will not stop the government from pouring thousands and millions of dollars into top secret projects. and not all Americans would agree what these projects are about.

[Dreamworld]

It's your own fault they waste your money. There's no 'evil' government. We are the government. We are not the government.. We elect the government. It has been usual for men to think and to say, "Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor." Now, however, there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment, and to say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves." Even though a democracy the government can control what we hate.. and what we don't, without breaking democratic standards.

[ChaybaChayba]

If you think you can do better, how about you go into the govermnent isntead of all that complaining. It's easier to whine all the time and sit on your lazy ass instead of doing something for the people! Thats what I meant... the people who are in the goverment aren't aliens or something.. they're just plain simple people like you and me. Thats the whole point of democracy.. power to the people. If we are not the govermnent who is? You think aliens rule your country? Please.

[Serkat]

Shut your fucking pie-hole you dumbass.

[ChaybaChayba]

Wow, someone has some serious issues. =O

[Alric]

Getting elected to a local office isn't as hard as some people think. If you have the time, you could always give it a shot. Depending on where you live, its even possible that no one will even run against you. Its when you get higher up, and in federal elections and stuff that you run into the professional politicians.

[Kushna Mufeed]

If you think you can do better, how about you go into the govermnent isntead of all that complaining. It's easier to whine all the time and sit on your lazy ass instead of doing something for the people! Thats what I meant... the people who are in the goverment aren't aliens or something.. they're just plain simple people like you and me. Thats the whole point of democracy.. power to the people. If we are not the govermnent who is? You think aliens rule your country? Please. Somebody has their head in the sand...

[Half/Dreaming]

Bad idea. People would just vote to keep it all. Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's. Some dude named Jesus said that once. Plus, you guys pay my salary!

[ChaybaChayba]

Somebody has their head in the sand... Yes you do, cut the illuminati crap and the evil conspiracy theories. Face the truth, and face the fact that it is the people who make the country. And if they didn't, they can always start a revolution. Look at history, this has happened many many times in many many countries.

[Kushna Mufeed]

Except no other country has dumbed down its people to this extent.

[Xaqaria]

I've been thinking about starting a website called "theycantauditusall.org"; the sole purpose of which would be to get everyone to stop paying income tax. I think if I could get the flow of money to drop to a trickle, they might actually make the necessary cuts of frivolous spending.

[Universal Mind]

We don't live in a pure democracy. We live in a democratic republic, which means we elect people who make laws, such as tax laws. We have the ultimate control because we can vote people in and out of office, but we are not the lawmakers except when we vote on ballot initiatives.

[Alric]

Thats a good point Universal and probably one of the big reasons for a lot of our problems. Most people would never vote for the laws our government passes, so why do they let them get away with it? Well one of the biggest is probably because most people never look to see how their representatives vote. A lot of people say most americans are stupid but a better word would probably be ignorant. Most americans are ignorant about the government.

[juroara]

Yes you do, cut the illuminati crap and the evil conspiracy theories. Face the truth, and face the fact that it is the people who make the country. And if they didn't, they can always start a revolution. Look at history, this has happened many many times in many many countries. the point is, we do not have direct control over anything in the government. we do not have direct control over what our taxes do. and there is no reason to think we will know everything out taxes do, because since the cold war the government has always had top secret projects. for example, I do not support WMDs. but im pretty damn sure my money does.

[Serkat]

That's why I say: Give us goddamn control over it. Obviously not 100%, but there should be like a range that you can enter. So if the country is at war, you couldn't necessarily say "0% for army, yay", but still get to pick like a number or something.