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Where did my taxes go?

wherethefuckdidmytaxesgo.com

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Re: Where did my taxes go?

#111

Post by TimorousBestie »

phillipcarter wrote: post #62
ch4s3 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The private insurance expenditure is part of that per capita number. US healthcare isn't "A system", its a number of interrelated systems that have lots of expensive hand-offs. We also spend a ton on lifestyles diseases because no one walks and culturally we eat like shit on average.

> We also spend a ton on lifestyles diseases because no one walks and culturally we eat like shit on average. And there's a pretty straight line between that and government subsidies for sugar and processed foods in general, not to mention car-based infrastructure, although the latter doesn't stop other countries from not having crippling obesity rates.

And acknowledging the very obvious instances of regulatory capture that directly harm quality of life is political suicide for anyone with even the smallest amount of access to power.

It’s hard getting normies to admit that if soft drinks weren’t so heavily subsidized by the government at every step of manufacture and distribution, there would be less overall obesity.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#112

Post by jmyeet »

Now consider that the Defense budget is ~$1 trillion and the Department of Defense has never passed an audit [1] and the administration is seeking $1.5 trillion next year [2].

[1]: https://www.taxpayer.net/budget-appropriations-tax/why-cant-...

[2]: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/03/nx-s1-5772701/trump-budget-de...

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#113

Post by SoftTalker »

lastofthemojito wrote: post #14

As a thought experiment, it'd be interesting to imagine how things would play out if each taxpayer could adjust little sliders on each category to allocate where they personally would like their taxes to go. Agencies could recommend funding levels, Congress could recommend an allocation and if a taxpayer didn't change it, that default would take effect. But if a taxpayer preferred, they could say, "no, I won't be fun…

Sure. I'd set all mine to zero, and keep the money.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#114

Post by shipman05 »

tgrowazay wrote: post #102
ch4s3 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot just gets sucked up by 3rd parties of all stripes. Only ~20% of hospitals are for profit institutions for example.

My daughter’s classmate’s father is a head of a non-profit hospital. They have a 6k sqft house with a basketball court, pool and a pool house in the prime location in West Los Angeles. They had to join two lots to build to their liking.

We call that "pulling an Altman" these days.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#115

Post by robocat »

lastofthemojito wrote: post #14

As a thought experiment, it'd be interesting to imagine how things would play out if each taxpayer could adjust little sliders on each category to allocate where they personally would like their taxes to go. Agencies could recommend funding levels, Congress could recommend an allocation and if a taxpayer didn't change it, that default would take effect. But if a taxpayer preferred, they could say, "no, I won't be fun…

I think a ranking system might be easier. People are good at ranking priorities.

The idea breaks down for the rich who are being taxed the most, because nobody wants them to have any say.

You could maybe do it for some percentage of taxes. Perhaps only for things that are desirable but not necessities (maybe Symphonies, science, high arts funding, sports funding, humanities education, BBC, other things people think they shouldn't pay for).

Although that would make people ask for a slider to reduce their taxes (to zero, thank you).

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#116

Post by hirako2000 »

janalsncm wrote: post #88
lastofthemojito wrote: post #14

As a thought experiment, it'd be interesting to imagine how things would play out if each taxpayer could adjust little sliders on each category to allocate where they personally would like their taxes to go. Agencies could recommend funding levels, Congress could recommend an allocation and if a taxpayer didn't change it, that default would take effect. But if a taxpayer preferred, they could say, "no, I won't be fun…

It is interesting because in a roundabout way this is essentially asking what taxes are for in the first place. You will probably get some kind of “tyranny of the majority/rich”. For example, if you have a country on the older side, most people will vote to heavily fund social security at the expense of education. As the demographics change, would be no mechanism to correct the issue. Demographics become destiny. Sim…

On principle collective issues can be solved, effectively many pay over 50% taxes (accounting for all taxes) yet not all issues are solved.

One could deduct taxes aren't solving collective issues, otherwise there wouldn't be any given The U.S is the biggest economy in the world yet millions can't even effort decent Healthcare.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#117

Post by 9x39 »

doctorpangloss wrote: post #67
lastofthemojito wrote: post #14

As a thought experiment, it'd be interesting to imagine how things would play out if each taxpayer could adjust little sliders on each category to allocate where they personally would like their taxes to go. Agencies could recommend funding levels, Congress could recommend an allocation and if a taxpayer didn't change it, that default would take effect. But if a taxpayer preferred, they could say, "no, I won't be fun…

Look, we spend a lot on things people want, right? We are living in your sliders world. I hate these sorts of websites because they have a very intellectual starch to them but are very superficial. I also hate this frame of mind that's like, "nobody would choose to do boring stuff." People aren't stupid. I hate this "voters are stupid" frame of mind. It's unelectable, and it's always said by people who complain about…

>Look, we spend a lot on things people want, right?

I'd say we spend a lot on things a few people who can maintain/expand power see ROI for power on. Sometimes that's things, sometimes that's just cash for voters and future voters.

The sliders world is more about consent via revenues of the governed, rather than the tax crop they really are.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#118

Post by renewiltord »

RhysU wrote: post #83
munk-a wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, Medicaid and SNAP are extremely efficient. Social Security is almost completely disbursement charges but those disbursements aren't means tested so even quite wealthy individuals receive them. Additionally you mentioned that Medicare gets money to medical providers but I suspect that was meant to mean medical insurance providers - rather than health care providers (like doctors) since the system is partially dir…

> Social Security is almost completely disbursement charges but those disbursements aren't means tested so even quite wealthy individuals receive them. Only to those who paid into the system and far less than they personally could have earned on investing the same dollars.

Yeah, one of the problems I have with taxes is that if I pay $100 into taxes I don’t get $100 of value back. Everyone should get at least as much as they put in back. Also, some other people should get more back. But we shouldn’t spend more than we make as a government.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#119

Post by 9x39 »

pclowes wrote: post #79

More and more I find my politics drifting towards whoever will balance the budget and pay down the deficit. Since that party doesn’t exist I am politically homeless.

Why would anyone listen to the tax crop? Farmers don't listen to the cows.

Re: Where did my taxes go?

#120

Post by OkayPhysicist »

janalsncm wrote: post #72

Shouldn’t the “defense” line item be called “war” now since the department has been renamed? It’s more accurate anyways.

The DoD was named such by the act of Congress that established it. The President does not have the authority to rename it, no matter how much he pouts about it.
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