Who are you trying to kid? Whether the gov't fails to collect, or they spent the money directly, how is the financial loss to the gov't not the same?
Tax breaks leave the money in the system where it can grow, while taxes suck the money out of the system.
You're talking about the gov't picking winners and losers. After the gov't picking so many losers, I say end all forms of subsidy except some forms of basic scientific research that only the feds have the pockets to fund, e.g. fusion reactors, storage batteries, NIH, etc., not agribusiness, etc.
Subsidized corn ethanol production took food cropland out of production. Food shortages have been cited as a precipitating cause of Egypt's Arab Spring.
Well, if that’s what you think, why don’t you just forego all your income tax deductions. After all, a tax break is exactly the same as a tax deduction/reduction/government spending, by your reasoning above.
The way I read what you wrote, all money is government money, and we should be grateful we’re allowed to keep any...
Winners, losers? That will sort itself out if the gov’t stops stealing everyone’s children’s money by spending more than it takes in.
Does Wal-Mart subsidize its customers by charging lower prices?
It’s late, and perhaps I misunderstood your point.
Good night.