Dear Always Right,
As you point out, according to at least some of the NRSTers, taxing one's income is inherently immoral. Yet, taxing one's spending is not.
I don't really get the logic of that, myself.
They say it's "voluntary" what one spends, but, heck, to a large degree, it's also "voluntary" as to what one earns, no? You want more income? Work more. Improve yourself, get a better job. You want less income? Work less.
I mean, how "voluntary" is spending? I need food, I go buy it. How is that all that voluntary? I need a new sofa, I go buy it. How is that voluntary?
Well, I guess I could raise my own chickens, grow my own vegetables, and build my own furniture. That's true. Then I wouldn't need to buy all that stuff, and in that sense, my spending IS voluntary.
But heck, you don't like paying so much in income taxes? Well, then, don't earn so much! Instead of going out to work, raise your own chickens! Grow your own vegetables! Build your own furniture! Then you won't need the money to buy those things! LOL!!
Actually, at the root of it all, Always Right, I think some of these folks are puritans. In the worst sense of the word. They're afraid that someone, somewhere, is HAVING FUN!! Folks are CONSUMING!! The little devils!! * chuckle *
I guess my view as a small businessman is I LIKE it when folks consume stuff. That's what justifies keeping businesses open. That's what makes it worthwhile for the grocery and the realtor and the homebuilder and the electric supply place to stay open. And as I have clients who are all these things, that's what keeps my business going.
So, I don't see why a big hairy tax on consumption is any more moral than a big hairy tax on income.
What I'd like is for folks to stop with the distractions and work on the real problem - the fact that the government imposes these big hairy taxes at all.
sitetest
You guys really don't get it do you? Ever heard of the American dream? Nah, too corny. As for me and my retro adherance to capitalism and freedom, allow me to first accumulate wealth. Then I'll decide what to do with it.
Working is voluntary? How so? That would mean eating drinking and staying warm is voluntary also. Guess I'll never figure you guys out.