Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
1–10 of 194 posts
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#2Not a bad idea. But why does it say "selected items"?
I haven't added the numbers up myself, but one of the comments says that the listed things add up to only sixty-something percent of the total. Where's the other money gone? One might almost think they're trying to make a political point with their careful selection of items (eg. "Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan" somehow got to fifth place on the list while "bailouts" and "stimulus" are entirely missing despite this being 2009).
Anyway, I certainly wouldn't trust the government to give me a receipt which said "selected items" -- deceptive information is worse than no information.
Also, since the US federal expenditure is currently about 25% larger than tax receipts, how is this taken into account?
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#3Take it one step further and let people specify what their money goes to. Automate the politicians!
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#4Not a bad idea. But why does it say "selected items"? I haven't added the numbers up myself, but one of the comments says that the listed things add up to only sixty-something percent of the total. Where's the other money gone? One might almost think they're trying to make a political point with their careful selection of items (eg. "Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan" somehow got to fifth place on the list wh…
re: "selected items", if you click through to the PDF there is a footnote attached:
>4 Budget calculations are based on budget allocations obtained from the Office of Management and Budget using historical tables from the FY2011 budget submission as well as the Congressional Budget Office website for such items as interest on the debt, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
My guess is that the real cause of "selected items" is that the number of things paid for by your taxes are obviously much larger than could fit on a short list, and has a long tail.
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#5Take it one step further and let people specify what their money goes to. Automate the politicians!
It seems like a nice idea on the face of it, but apart from the inevitable chaos which comes from having budgets of government departments fluctuate wildly from year to year, I think it would lead to a world where government departments spend about half their time and money begging taxpayers for money.
Every television ad for the first four months of the year would probably be some variation on:
"Remember, the FBI does good work! Be sure to remember to contribute to the FBI on your next tax return!"
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#6I've been suggesting this idea for a few years.
A few issues: It should also indicate how much money was actually spent on said item (in the event of deficit spending).
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#7Love this idea -
Would also like to see:
Return policy - don't like how much the government spent on Amtrak, get a refund (no questions asked).
Customer loyalty program - earn points towards postage stamps or a national park pass.
Discounts from partner programs - i.e., paying, loyal customers of the US government get discounts with China, GM, Goldman Sachs and other US 'partners'.
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#8Take it one step further and let people specify what their money goes to. Automate the politicians!
It seems like a nice idea on the face of it, but apart from the inevitable chaos which comes from having budgets of government departments fluctuate wildly from year to year, I think it would lead to a world where government departments spend about half their time and money begging taxpayers for money. Every television ad for the first four months of the year would probably be some variation on: "Remember, the FBI do…
That may still be better than the status quo.
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#9Take it one step further and let people specify what their money goes to. Automate the politicians!
It seems like a nice idea on the face of it, but apart from the inevitable chaos which comes from having budgets of government departments fluctuate wildly from year to year, I think it would lead to a world where government departments spend about half their time and money begging taxpayers for money. Every television ad for the first four months of the year would probably be some variation on: "Remember, the FBI do…
Seems like a happy medium would be that I get to choose where 10 or 5 percent of my taxes go. The politicians can expect a certain cut, with the rest we're empowered to fund what we believe in.
I also don't realistically believe this will ever happen.
Re: Thanks For Paying Taxes. Here's A Receipt.
#10Not a bad idea. But why does it say "selected items"? I haven't added the numbers up myself, but one of the comments says that the listed things add up to only sixty-something percent of the total. Where's the other money gone? One might almost think they're trying to make a political point with their careful selection of items (eg. "Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan" somehow got to fifth place on the list wh…
re: "selected items", if you click through to the PDF there is a footnote attached: >4 Budget calculations are based on budget allocations obtained from the Office of Management and Budget using historical tables from the FY2011 budget submission as well as the Congressional Budget Office website for such items as interest on the debt, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. My guess is that the real cause of "selec…
My guess is that the real cause of "selected items" is that the number of things paid for by your taxes are obviously much larger than could fit on a short list, and has a long tail.
Well, of course that depends how you slice it. Break it down by department and it looks more like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fy2010_spending_by_categor...
The twenty-something listed departments account for 97% of the budget (of course there's other government spending which isn't listed explicitly in the budget, I suppose).
This doesn't, of course, include stuff like "Smithsonian Museum", which are included on this list to make people feel warm and fuzzy about paying their taxes.