2112
in Australia, when we pay taxes, we get a receipt. The receipt shows what our taxes were spent on
(lemmy.world)
I assume "Other purposes" is govt kickbacks to mining and gas companies 😬
I strongly believe that this should be the standard everywhere. Unfortunately most governments won't tell you this, because a few of them are busy building golden temples for their authoritarian leaders, and blowing half of it on cocaine while pretending it's the immigrants' faults
I agree with you 100% that this should be standard everywhere, but here's the thing... this information is readily available already.
At least in the US. But just like with most thing, it takes citizens a willingness to show the tiniest bit of effort to find that information.
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58888
This is but one of many sites which show a breakdown of where our money in the US goes. Having one that breaks down each person's personal contribution would be especially interesting, but a percent is a percent so if 20% of our money collectively goes to X, then 20% of what your paid as an individual will also go to X.
Not only this, I think this should be selectable by taxpayers before they pay taxes so they can customize the amount that goes to each category. This would be the true democratic way of doing it. So, for example, based on your salary you need to pay 20k in taxes. You'd then select how much you want to go into Transportation, Healthcare, defense, education, etc.
This would quickly force the government agencies to work for their money.
This wouldn't be truely democratic. It would rather be just like donations. Government spending works, because it's all out into the same basket. If it weren't, then rich taxpayers would move the movey to projects they want - and as would have very little old-age welfare, because they don't pay much taxes anymk6and every group in society would put the money into their projects.
If you can't see the obvious ways this would fail and/or be abused you should steer clear of any and all leadership positions.
And if you get caught using a public service you didn't pay for, you get fined.
Then everyone would just fund things 100% and 0% for everything else they deem not important, like education or roads.
There’s no point in having a government if you don’t let them decide how they spend and raise money
Tax-deductible donations get you part way there.
I also think people should not be allowed to vote unless they pay a flat poll tax. Otherwise it's a conflict of interest.
No, we should not have more barriers for the poor to vote actually
That would just reduce representation for low income people. That's an absolutely abhorrent idea.
Then have them pool their money together to get a vote.
What? Are you a teenager or something?
Either weak sarcasm or three Republicans stacked in a trenchcoat.
see this for a bit of education on the topic: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/oligarchs-against-democracy
Tell me you hate poor people without telling me you hate poor people.
This is a poor take, a few to vote is not the easy to go about this. Even owing taxes shouldn't bar someone from voting as voting is about being represented and everyone deserves representation. Even hardened criminals.
What happened to taxation without representation.
wanna elaborate on that?