Yahoo! Finance often has articles about high tax states and low tax states: either in general or for retirees. But this treats taxes as something extracted from the public for the benefit of a king rather than something people invest in for their quality of life.
I hope sometime I come across an article or two comparing taxes on value received.
For example, does a high-tax state spend more on education and turn out more skilled workers and more involved citizens than a low-tax state. Does a high-tax state have more responsive public employees than a low-tax state, a state that might have rampant corruption. Does a high-tax state have better roads than a low-tax state; the poorer roads causing more need for car repairs?
There is so much that we take for granted that governments provide that we rarely think about how it is payed for. We grouse about taxes, but would we really want to live in a society with no taxes?
I like the quote attributed to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes: “I like taxes; they buy me civilization.”
Showing posts with label cost of government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cost of government. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Thursday, October 09, 2014
Cost of government vs value of government
Too many people complain about the cost of government and the level of taxation, but they never look at any actions of government being investments.
Where would they get enough educated workers without government-provided schools? Would enough parents or individuals have the time or money needed for the level of education required by many businesses?
How would they get the roads to move goods from manufacturer to warehouse to user? Would they want to pay tolls for each segment of road, including local roads.
What would our health be without food inspection? Maybe the food producer thinks regulations are burdensome, but what about the burden on employers who have many employees absent with food-borne illnesses.
Maybe factories think safety regulations are burdensome, but what would their costs be in reduced workforces and lawsuits?
The basic question is shall we have a society of maximum gain for a few or a society that provides for the “general Welfare” as stated in the Constitution.
Or, too many people know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
For a much better consideration of this, see “Our mismeasured economy”, Lew Daly, New York Times, 2014-07-06.
Where would they get enough educated workers without government-provided schools? Would enough parents or individuals have the time or money needed for the level of education required by many businesses?
How would they get the roads to move goods from manufacturer to warehouse to user? Would they want to pay tolls for each segment of road, including local roads.
What would our health be without food inspection? Maybe the food producer thinks regulations are burdensome, but what about the burden on employers who have many employees absent with food-borne illnesses.
Maybe factories think safety regulations are burdensome, but what would their costs be in reduced workforces and lawsuits?
The basic question is shall we have a society of maximum gain for a few or a society that provides for the “general Welfare” as stated in the Constitution.
Or, too many people know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
For a much better consideration of this, see “Our mismeasured economy”, Lew Daly, New York Times, 2014-07-06.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I wish I had written that about taxes
Myles Spicer had a good op-ed piece about taxes in today's Star Tribune, see http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/81999627.html
He dispels many of the myths about high taxes including businesses moving because of taxes, the relative rate of U.S. taxes to other countries and of Minnesota taxes to other states, the efficiency of government, and the effect on economic growth.
Although he too doesn't like taxes, he appreciates the things that taxes provide.
He dispels many of the myths about high taxes including businesses moving because of taxes, the relative rate of U.S. taxes to other countries and of Minnesota taxes to other states, the efficiency of government, and the effect on economic growth.
Although he too doesn't like taxes, he appreciates the things that taxes provide.
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