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Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

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Re: Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

#4
My bad idea: Taxes and number of votes both increase on how "gifted" you are - smarter people would therefore have more say in the government, and have more incentive to make it more efficient and do it's job better.

I have no clue how to measure or implement this.

Re: Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

#6

I like the "rich" driving lane idea - put up X licenses for auction in each city, let people bid up the price, let the market decide how much time is worth.

These were kind of proposed in DC (I think they may actually exist in San Diego or somewhere), where you pay a variable rate to use the carpool lanes based on demand. So during rush hour it would cost $6 and 11am on a saturday it would cost $.50.

People didn't like the idea because they would be "Lexus lanes" giving special privileges to the rich. Scott Adams is right that if we really want to solve the budge problems we may need to accept that the people who can help the most may need some sort of special privileges.

Re: Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

#7
post #3

I like the "rich" driving lane idea - put up X licenses for auction in each city, let people bid up the price, let the market decide how much time is worth.

Yeah, thats the thing - I didn't get why his solution was "bad" in that case.

Possibly so he doesn't have to waste time defending it; the argument will center on whether this kind of thing is a good idea, not whether this specific idea is good.

Re: Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

#8

I like the "rich" driving lane idea - put up X licenses for auction in each city, let people bid up the price, let the market decide how much time is worth.

Why not charge a toll depending on traffic ? As the traffic increases, the toll increases (and vice versa), which will keep the lane fast moving. Not my idea, someone has already implemented this.

Re: Scott Adams: How to Tax the Rich

#9
post #6

I like the "rich" driving lane idea - put up X licenses for auction in each city, let people bid up the price, let the market decide how much time is worth.

These were kind of proposed in DC (I think they may actually exist in San Diego or somewhere), where you pay a variable rate to use the carpool lanes based on demand. So during rush hour it would cost $6 and 11am on a saturday it would cost $.50. People didn't like the idea because they would be "Lexus lanes" giving special privileges to the rich. Scott Adams is right that if we really want to solve the budge problem…

"we may need to accept that the people who can help the most may need some sort of special privileges."

Because no-bid contracts, not going to jail when they commit crimes, real education for their kids, not living in crime zones, food that isn't poison, actual health care, living an extra three years, etc. aren't enough already.

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