31–40 of 188 posts
> Taler ensures that governments can easily track their citizen's income So exactly why would I want to use this?
It goes both ways: it prevents a corrupt government from trying to overtax you by just saying you made more than you did, and it could prevent corporations from evading taxes.
Unlike BitCoin or cash payments, Taler ensures that governments can easily track their citizen's income and thus collect sales, value-added or income taxes. Taler is thus a currency for the mainstream economy, and not the black market. Sounds pretty useless to me then. I would think, as technologists, we would adhere to a mindset of "we can do better". That is, we can do better than basing our society on a State appa…
I will take nonsense like this seriously when its proponents no longer avail themselves of the benefits of assets created through taxation. Which would be never.
I am not saying taxes are theft, but if one does believe so, I don't think it's hypocrisy to try to at least get some of it back.
> Taler ensures that governments can easily track their citizen's income So exactly why would I want to use this?
That said, I agree, we're surveilled enough thanks.
> Taler ensures that governments can easily track their citizen's income So exactly why would I want to use this?
I suppose it depends on whether or not you like having a fire service, national health system, comprehensive education, social security, national defense, etc.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because unless the government can track citizen's income it cannot tax it, and without taxes modern society cannot function at all. Technologies like this would be a boon to many developing countries like mine where tax evasion and corruption is rampant. It would enable the government to collect funds for infrastructure, education, environmental protection and healthcare (and yes, I am a progressive liberal who would…
The question remains, why would anyone choose to use a system like this? Wealthy individuals and companies (aka those with most of the money) have a vested interest in having their transactions not easily tracked by the government.
If a currency system was available that made taxation appear entirely optional to the public the trust in the tax system would erode in a hurry (Why should I pay when my neighbor or Acme inc. isn't paying?). Tax morale is alreay too low in many countries. Making more loopholes available would just not be good.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this not automatic in most of the countries of the world?
Not even in developed countries! If you go to the US for example you will find people doing everyday transactions such as wage payments, taxis or grocery shopping still using pieces of paper with numbers on them. You have to see it to believe it.
Unlike BitCoin or cash payments, Taler ensures that governments can easily track their citizen's income and thus collect sales, value-added or income taxes. Taler is thus a currency for the mainstream economy, and not the black market. Sounds pretty useless to me then. I would think, as technologists, we would adhere to a mindset of "we can do better". That is, we can do better than basing our society on a State appa…
I will take nonsense like this seriously when its proponents no longer avail themselves of the benefits of assets created through taxation. Which would be never.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I love the false dichotomy, either we have to accept ALL of the State as it is today, or we don't get roads to drive on.
We never had roads before the 19th century when personal income tax was introduced.