Is it time for an Economic Poll Tax?

[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

[AbolishCSEU]

Reforming SS would be great but again, as unlikely as “child” aka wymyn support reform or abolishing the female sentencing discount.