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Is it time for an Economic Poll Tax?

Posted on 01/07/2021 3:22:45 PM PST by rustyboots

Tuesday’s Georgia election brought into focus one thing caught my eye just as it did during the general election; the blue areas of a map tend to be the areas where government spending is the highest, i.e., state, local and federal salaries, government payments to individuals (welfare by any name) and states with strong government unions. One can say that none of these individuals make any significant contribution to society. They all leach of the American taxpayers.

In American history a Poll Tax has generally been a way to disenfranchise African American voters. As such we should all be able to agree is it wrong. But if we were to enact a poll tax that basically said that you must be a productive member of society to vote, would that be wrong? If you are not producing, why should you have a say? Defining such people may be a problem. Blue collar workers fit into such a category automatically. Military personnel would fit. But what hedge fund managers, stockbrokers? Do they? While no product is produced, they may be making money for those blue-collar workers so they can retire in some comfort. What about people who invest in buildings and lease to businesses or individuals. The definition of who should have a right to vote may be hard to define, but those who should not be allowed to vote will be much easier. You collect welfare, you work for the local/state/federal government or are an elected official. None of these people produce, they consume. They will always vote what is best for their pocketbook, not what is best for this country. Look at winners of the Georgia Senate election, throw out Atlanta and its surrounding counties, same with Savannah, Macon, Albany and Americus and their counties, the Democrats win nothing. Too much government spending, one kind or another in all of them. Look at the general election map from November, one can say the same thing about that map. High government spending (deficit spending), high government employee salaries and pensions (particularly California) and welfare spending. Now they are begging for more Federal money (tax money) to bail them out. The question must be asked,” If you have no skin in the game, what should you be allowed vote?” They will always vote for those that will promise to increase payouts in one form or another. Government employment should not be paid more than the median income of U.S. citizens. When you make more that the median income, are you going to be a responsible custodian of their tax money. As I believe to be evident in todays world, NO. People who are happy living off the work of others should be happy with anything they get that allows subsistence. It is beyond the pale to see these people using government programs to pay bills, yet they have a $1200-$1400 iPhone. I have one, I paid cash for it, but I made the decision to use my sweat for such an extravagance. In the end, we need to remove recipients of any type of government payouts (expect military retirement, or medically retired military personnel, and others to be determined somehow) from the voting rolls. They do not have the best interests of the country in mind when they vote, and never will.

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.” Benjamin Franklin


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
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To: DIRTYSECRET

“Work 40 hours a week verified. Those over 60: 20-30 hours. Keeps them out of trouble. EBT cards programmed for rice and beans only-a complete protein.”

Einstein was famous for his thought experiments, such as the above. Thought experiments do have some value, however, when they could be put into use...but, after losing Georgia, that is no longer an option for our side.


21 posted on 01/07/2021 3:48:03 PM PST by BobL (I shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's, I just don't tell anyone.)
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To: rustyboots

A literacy test would also be a good idea. It would add another layer of suspicion to the numbers that come from Wayne County, MI.


22 posted on 01/07/2021 3:54:43 PM PST by cdcdawg (Maybe people are legitimately pissed off, they’re sick of all of this, and they don’t care anymore.)
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To: rustyboots

I’ve had this thought for many, many years now. And we have reached a point where the only way we may ever be able to preserve our God-given RIGHTS is to make voting a PRIVILEGE based on whether one is a productive member of society.


23 posted on 01/07/2021 4:00:34 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Posting from deep within enemy territory - San Jose, CA)
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To: rustyboots
poll tax, literacy test, and property owner.

24 posted on 01/07/2021 4:04:49 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (Guide me, O thou great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land.)
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To: Robert A Cook PE
Heinlein required that only citizens could vote; but only citizens who has served in the military.

Actually, if you read Starship Troopers carefully, the right to vote was given to anyone who had worked for the government, whether in the military or a civilian capacity.

25 posted on 01/07/2021 4:10:48 PM PST by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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Simple reason to skip this :

Pensioners who were on social security etc.. with medical problems cant afford even a minor ‘tax’.

And if you start making ‘special’ exceptions then its just more crap the lefties can get their hands on to control and exploit (Them deciding who gets ‘helped’ - like all those illegal aliens biden wants to GIVE the vote to.)


26 posted on 01/07/2021 4:11:53 PM PST by elbook
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To: BobL

That’s what just happened. Trump tried to reform things. Not the fake hope and change bs. The real thing. The whole monster political apparatus fought against reform every day of his entire term.


27 posted on 01/07/2021 4:12:02 PM PST by virgil (The evil that men do lives after them )
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To: rustyboots
Yes! It at least gives some purpose to the IRS (theft is not a purpose).

Completion of your taxes grants you a certificate you can use along with valid ID and proof of residency - Problem solved (mostly).

NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION

28 posted on 01/07/2021 4:17:04 PM PST by Aevery_Freeman (Join me in the new MAGA Party!)
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To: Fai Mao

[ What about people that failed a military physical due to poor eyes?

So Reality Winner yes, but !e no? ]

In starship troopers they find a way for you to serve even if you have a disability.

So if you had poor eyes you would still go through basic and end up in the logistical support corps.


29 posted on 01/07/2021 4:28:31 PM PST by GraceG ("If I post an AWESOME MEME, STEAL IT! JUST RE-POST IT IN TWO PLACES PLEASE")
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To: rustyboots

Pass a civics test. 1/3 adults can’t name any of the 3 branches of government. Those ignoramuses in GA don’t even know what they voted for.


30 posted on 01/07/2021 4:49:53 PM PST by MikeyB806
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To: rustyboots

It used to be a requirement that you owned property to vote. I am all for returning to it.


31 posted on 01/07/2021 5:07:36 PM PST by eyeamok
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To: MikeyB806

But they know enough to vote for Hank Johnson, the man who thinks Guam might tip over is we put more military on one end of the island.
But to pass a civics test requires that it be taught in school by people who understand civics. A dying art I am afraid.


32 posted on 01/07/2021 5:12:09 PM PST by rustyboots
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To: rustyboots

The poll tax must include accounting for the negative drain that government income recipients cause to our economy. In other words, no government employees (especially public school teachers), contractors, businesses favored by government (regulations, bribery, etc.), politicians (except for those who contribute more than they receive),...


33 posted on 01/07/2021 5:28:29 PM PST by familyop
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To: rustyboots

One exception: people who serve or served in our military forces.


34 posted on 01/07/2021 5:29:08 PM PST by familyop
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To: AbolishCSEU
I’ve been saying this for YEARS. If you don’t pay taxes and are on the system, no vote for you. Seniors on SS are exempted of course.

Why? Social Security is a trillion dollar redistribution of wealth from the labor force to an unproductive segment of society, or as Marx put it, "according to his [their] needs". Indeed, the disproportionate political power wielded by Social Security and Medicare recipients as a voting bloc ensures that these two socialist programs will never be meaningfully reformed or reduced.

In fact, to the original poster's point, you would most definitely want to take the franchise away from people who depend on Social Security and Medicare. They have quite literally discovered that they can vote themselves more money, just as Benjamin Franklin predicted. 37% of the entire federal budget is spent on socialism as a result of this!

Please consider donating to the Q1 2021 Freepathon today!

35 posted on 01/07/2021 5:30:09 PM PST by A Conservative Future (Save Section 230, save Free Republic.)
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To: eyeamok
"It used to be a requirement that you owned property to vote. I am all for returning to it."

I would be, if it weren't for the majority who receive their big, fat incomes from government, government contractors, global corporations (drain on the U.S. economy),... Too many of them now own properties. The anti-Trump suburbs and even some rural areas are full of them.

36 posted on 01/07/2021 5:31:58 PM PST by familyop
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To: familyop

Look-anyone who pays taxes should be allowed to vote. That includes sales taxes so there’s no disqualifying factor.


37 posted on 01/07/2021 5:39:40 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Aevery_Freeman

I couldn’t agree more. One has to have skin in the game in order to vote. I’ve thought about this for at least four decades. Unfortunately, those who have the power to make such a change will never do so.

As an example:

Congressman Philip Crane (R-IL) appeared on a daytime television talk show in 1980 to promote his flat tax proposal. It made sense to me and I have been advocating for that (even would settle for a consumption tax) ever since. Has our tax system been simplified so we can file our taxes on a piece of paper the size of a postcard? Nope! The people on Capitol Hill will never make this change and give up their social engineering power.


38 posted on 01/07/2021 6:07:21 PM PST by Conservative independent (When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you’ll always get Paul’s vote.)
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To: GraceG

They would just infiltrate the military just like education, media, and big tech.


39 posted on 01/07/2021 6:15:33 PM PST by Keyhopper (Indians had bad immigration laws)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Sales tax is very different from income tax. We’re talking about having skin in the game here. And producers vs takers. If one pays federal tax, they get to vote for people to represent them at the federal level. Paying sales tax might qualify one for voting at the state and local level only.


40 posted on 01/07/2021 6:18:31 PM PST by Conservative independent (When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you’ll always get Paul’s vote.)
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