this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2023
1883 points (98.9% liked)

Mildly Interesting

17582 readers
5 users here now

This is for strictly mildly interesting material. If it's too interesting, it doesn't belong. If it's not interesting, it doesn't belong.

This is obviously an objective criteria, so the mods are always right. Or maybe mildly right? Ahh.. what do we know?

Just post some stuff and don't spam.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I assume "Other purposes" is govt kickbacks to mining and gas companies 😬

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I strongly believe that this should be the standard everywhere. Unfortunately most governments won't tell you this, because a few of them are busy building golden temples for their authoritarian leaders, and blowing half of it on cocaine while pretending it's the immigrants' faults

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree with you 100% that this should be standard everywhere, but here's the thing... this information is readily available already.

At least in the US. But just like with most thing, it takes citizens a willingness to show the tiniest bit of effort to find that information.

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58888

This is but one of many sites which show a breakdown of where our money in the US goes. Having one that breaks down each person's personal contribution would be especially interesting, but a percent is a percent so if 20% of our money collectively goes to X, then 20% of what your paid as an individual will also go to X.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

sometimes accessibility and user experience is more important than "its available if you look for it.: 99% of people don't really have time, they have families, jobs, some leisure, cooking, paying bills, visiting family. etc. etc. So it should be easy and the FACT that it isn't easy is purposeful whereas the Australian system is purposefully easy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't disagree with your sentiment, but again, it IS easy. It took me less than 10 seconds to find the link I provided. Sure, make it even easier still by including it with every tax return, but let's not kid ourselves - this shit is incredibly easy but average taxpayers just don't want to bother.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I would argue average taxpayers don't know it exists and a ton of them, particularly older ones have a very hard time with technology. I've had to show my mother in law how to get a url from her phone to her desk top, I've explained what the read mode means in Firefox, and numerous other things. Easy for you doesn't mean easy for everyone.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

Not only this, I think this should be selectable by taxpayers before they pay taxes so they can customize the amount that goes to each category. This would be the true democratic way of doing it. So, for example, based on your salary you need to pay 20k in taxes. You'd then select how much you want to go into Transportation, Healthcare, defense, education, etc.

This would quickly force the government agencies to work for their money.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

This wouldn't be truely democratic. It would rather be just like donations. Government spending works, because it's all out into the same basket. If it weren't, then rich taxpayers would move the movey to projects they want - and as would have very little old-age welfare, because they don't pay much taxes anymk6and every group in society would put the money into their projects.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

If you can't see the obvious ways this would fail and/or be abused you should steer clear of any and all leadership positions.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then everyone would just fund things 100% and 0% for everything else they deem not important, like education or roads.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's the point. If people don't find it important, then it's not. Who else should decide if not the people?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Tax-deductible donations get you part way there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

There’s no point in having a government if you don’t let them decide how they spend and raise money

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago

And if you get caught using a public service you didn't pay for, you get fined.