Question

The only certainties we have are death and taxes, or so the saying goes. Taxation was one of the original concerns when the United States declared independence from Great Britain. Taxation, one of the central areas of economic policy for the federal and state governments, drives much public debate to this day. How do you believe taxes affect government economic policy today? What types of reforms would you like to see in taxes? Should taxes be lowered overall? Should some groups be paying more than they are now? How would the changes you recommend affect the economy and the ability of the government to carry out its functions?

Answer 1

1. Taxes drive much of government policy today. One of the main reasons why we have the policies that we have nowadays is because our budget is constrained by the amount of money that we get from taxes.

2. I think taxes should be better distributed to the people that need them the most. More taxes should be used for public services such as education, as well a for the strengthening of welfare.

3. I do not think that taxes should be lowered overall. In order for the government to function properly and to reduce inequality, the government needs to be able to raise enough money. Taxes is the best way to do so, and in the end, this arrangement benefits us all.

4. The richest people should be paying more taxes because they are often not taxed according to their wealth. As they have a lot more money than they need, and also consume more resources per capita, their contribution to society should also be larger.

5. The changes I recommend would allow the government to invest more money in programs that will improve the lives of all citizens.