Taxation without representation?

Question

How is it that minors who work have taxes taken out of thier paychecks, yet do not have the right to vote? You could easily argue that they knew this when applying for a job, yet I believe that this basic ideal that we fought the Revolutionary war over should not be ignored.

Answer 1

This is not necessarily true. I hate that almost no employer has a person working in the personnel dept (or even no personnel dept) that knows how a new employee should fill out their W-4's (the form you fill out to take taxes out.) They either automatically make you single and no dependents or something so outrageous. Minors are not required to file tax returns unless their parents want to include their income on their own tax returns. If you are under a certain age, not sure what age it is now, you do not have to file. So you should file your federal and state(if any - some states do not take out taxes b/c that comes from sales tax) as "EXEMPT." Actually anyone has that right to file that way, it is only when they file their taxes at the beginning of the next year that they are responsible for the tax liability owed, if any. Now there will be medicare and social security taken out of your check that is "supposed" to be there when you are ready to retire or if you have an early demise and you have dependents to take care of. Those two types of deductions on your check are required by law and it is illegal to not take it out of an employees check. The medicare might be there, but I doubt the social security will, it won't be for me.

Answer 2

You are sooooo far off base it isn't even funny. there was no income tax back when the revolution was fought. sorry. the taxation without representation came from the fact that the colonies where being levied import tarrifs and taxes on standard commodities. they where basically be charged for doing business, even if they did not actually serve the england. It would be like china coming over here and charging you a tax for items you but from england or france. this would increase the price of buying things. since the colonies where not allowed to vote on any political office here or in England the people felt that no one was defending thier interest or piont of view when passing these laws and tax acts. Since you live in this country and people here are allowed to vote for our representation in congress you are considered to be represented even if you don't personally ever vote, since you are a part of a demagraphic that has some voters to represent you.

Answer 3

Persons up to age 24 living at home, and being a full time student can be claimed on your taxes as a dependent. You get the exemption for them. Since the child has someone else claiming them as a dependent they get all the taxes paid to the government back, of course the government keeps the interest from the taxes. As for controlling more where taxes go. The United States is a republic, not a full democratic system. We have representative in congress that vote where the tax money goes.

Answer 4

Really good point...However, lowering the voting age wouldn't be very smart either. The American Revolution was different though. Taxation without representation refers to the colonies not having any representation in the English Parliament. Americans today, on the other hand, have representatives who speak directly for them...we didnt have that at all under the british. I understand your frustration though...but calling it taxation without representaiton is not quite the right way of putitng it.

Answer 5

Taxation without representation is a slogan used to teach history. You will not find it anywhere in the Constitution. And it referred to the collective rights of the American PEOPLE… not any INDIVIDUAL.

There are plenty of adults who don’t have the opportunity to elect the governments that levy taxes against them. I pay sales tax to a neighboring town each week when I go grocery shopping because there are no supermarkets in my municipality. Should I get to vote for their mayor? My sister lives in one state, works in another, and pays taxes to both. Should she get to vote for two governors? A European businessman is working in Chicago on a three year assignment and paying federal income taxes to the IRS. Should he get to vote for our president?

You can get more information from your local public high school… which provides all minors with a free education paid for by voting adults.

Answer 6

You make a good point, although most minors get most or all of their taxes back. Using this argument, one could also make a case that anyone not eligible to vote should not have to pay taxes, including felons and resident aliens (no slur intended). I don't think I agree with the idea, but it is not without merit.

Answer 7

Most minors get all their money back at the end of the year anyway, since they don't earn much..... Would you want a 9 year old, working in mom and dads store, voting just because he/she has income? Come on, some things, like voting, need to wait until you are old enough, and experienced enough to understand the issues and the consequences of your decisions.

Answer 8

That's one of the several exceptions -- in that case, it is because their parent or legal guardian is supposed to look out for their best interests, which includes voting. So, the minor does have representation, by proxy through the parent.

Answer 9

it's an interesting idea. I've always thought we should all have at least a little more say in what specifically our tax dollars go towards. But kids use lots of publicly funded stuff, so i don't necessarily care too much that they don't get to vote on it. Sorry founding fathers.

Answer 10

to add to that thought...

inflation is the same. in this fiscal nation, the government controls how much our money is really worth. ever wonder why prices continually rise?... what if you try to save some money to retire, then try to spend it years later... what happens?... inflation causes you to have to work during retirement to make ends meet.