Posted on 08/29/2003 6:58:25 AM PDT by Rockitz
I am an engineer so I love a good problem and illegal immigration certainly fits that bill. First, let me say that I believe that those who do venture to this country are among the brightest and hardest working individuals that the world has to offer. Certainly it takes a special person to consciously decide to make such a radical change in their life. Having said that, the idea of being in opposition to the law tends to make such an individual operate in a manner that seeks to avoid detection. Accordingly, such a person would be hesitant to register their presence in any manner, whether it be through "official" employment, a bank account, a credit card, a regular doctor, the Department of Motor Vehicles, a post office, or any other activity that might make that person's presence known to law enforcement. As such, norms of society such as paying income tax, DMV registration, health insurance, and the like are naturally avoided through cash compensation for work, operating vehicles without a license or registration, using public clinics and hospital emergency rooms for health maintenance, etc. While that means of operation may be appealing to the illegal immigrant on a number of counts, it leaves the remaining citizenry to pay the cost of government services like education, law enforcement, fire protection, infrastructure, and the like as well as higher costs for health care, auto insurance and other private services. While the illegal immigrant does pay certain state sales taxes, such payments are certainly a very small fraction of those paid by the average citizen who also pays federal and state income tax, social security, various insurances, etc.
National registration of alien workers, increased border security, and laws forbidding the hiring of illegal immigrants have significant costs in themselves and do little to attack the costs that the illegal immigrant imposes on society. A possible solution that does address these costs imposed by illegal immigration is collection of a Value Added Tax (VAT) or national or state-based sales tax. This tax would apply to all goods and services and ultimately make it difficult for an illegal immigrant to shirk responsibility for any of the myriad of costs that he routinely passes on to the remaining citizenry. Although all would pay it, those legal residents who are responsible in paying and filing their tax returns could recoup such taxes through reduced income tax rates. For those at the lower end of the economic scale, such taxes could be offset by credits. For those at the upper end of the economic scale, such taxes could be used to justify substantial decreases in income tax rates. While I personally believe that passing those collected taxes through the government is detestable on numerous counts including considerable inefficiencies and potential diversion to pet programs, the status quo is unacceptable and will ultimately bankrupt our states and nation. The idea of a VAT or national sales tax is far from original, however it is typically ignored by conservatives simply because it is a tax. I choose to look at it as a viable alternative tax policy that will close the "cash compensation" loophole and ultimately discourage illegal immigration.
Bikers4Bush: You lost me after that.
Me: Ditto. I am sick and tired of people claiming that only the "brightest and hardest working" are swarming into the U.S.
And whenever I hear that sorry old claptrap of "they only want a better life", I ask myself: As opposed to what? The rest of us who "only want a crappier life"?
Just deport illegal aliens now!
I'm actually quite encouraged. I think it clearly demonstrates that there are real solutions and utopian solutions. While many of the ideals of the utopian solutions are admirable and certainly desireable in the long term, those who propose them have forgotten the weapon used so adeptly by the Left- INCREMENTALISM. My proposition is incrementalism in its most appetizing package for the Left- A TAX. It can be passed legislatively and it will solve the most pressing problems: 1) covering the costs of illegal immigration and 2) discouraging illegal immigration.
Why yes, I am a rocket scientist.
I'm a pragmatist, so as I have previously inferred, our enforcement of immigration laws SUCKS! This approach does not address enforcement, it simply 1) covers costs of illegal immigration and 2) discourages illegal immigration through an imposed higher cost of living.
REALITY is: Taxes NEVER decrease! Again ... NEVER! When a tax is created it ALWAYS grows bigger. I missed nothing.
We could start by electing Tancredo President. Yeah, I know--in an alternate universe.
--Boris
I have known rocket scientists before ... they know SO much, but the ones I have known have very little common sense. The ones I knew worked at Lawrence Livermore Lab, does that count?
Have a good weekend ... and keep on thinking. This can be a good thing.
I would ask that you read it again and comprehend it this time. As proposed, the VAT would be revenue neutral for responsible individuals who pay payroll taxes through reduced tax rates. VAT attacks illegal immigrants in their pockets through a higer cost of living. This serves two purposes: 1) covering costs of illegal immigration and 2) discouragement of illegal immigration.
You missed my comments in the second paragraph. The implementation is ideally revenue neutral for those legal residents who are responsible in paying and filing their tax returns.
Although all would pay it [VAT], those legal residents who are responsible in paying and filing their tax returns could recoup such taxes through reduced income tax rates. For those at the lower end of the economic scale, such taxes could be offset by credits.
Immigrants make up some of the most productive groups in America and account for our huge lead in science and tech. It was immigrants that built the a-bomb and rockets. Don't try to wiggle out of your post against immigrants by now saying you meant "illegals," because that wasn't what the original poster said. He WENT ON to talk about illegals.
Although all would pay it [VAT], those legal residents who are responsible in paying and filing their tax returns could recoup such taxes through reduced income tax rates. For those at the lower end of the economic scale, such taxes could be offset by credits.
VAT attacks illegal immigrants in their pockets through a higer cost of living. This serves two purposes: 1) covering costs of illegal immigration and 2) discouragement of illegal immigration.
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