Why do those who want to rail about taxes...?

Question

...like to pick on some of the most vulnerable and disempowered members of society to blame for their malcontent?
I have never seen one of these anti-immigrant-particularly-if-of-coloured-or-swarthy-appearance & anti-underprivileged-mum types complaining about taxpayers' money squandered on: (for example) weapons of mass destruction or the lavish lifestyle of MPs or government feasability studies. Why?

The thing about social welfare is that it is money circulating in the economy. It is not being hoarded: it goes on rent (private landlords or housing association or returns to municipal revenue), it goes on food and clothing and essentials, the latter two which are taxed. As well as these funds being comparitively small-fry, you cannot say the same for money spent on defence (should it be called attack) or the excesses of the fat-cats each of which go straight out of the country one way or another, and those who can afford to accumulate savings can avoid tax.

In answer to 'JacobW' the notion of subsidy and encouragement is not lost on me. However, the implications of imposing what you suggest is just not possible. If you cut off welfare from the most vulnerable, you would be presented with so much poverty and deprivation, that the bill for picking up the associated crime and other social ills would be equal or likely greater (prison/judiciary/health costs) than providing a minimum level survival of welfare to begin with. The government does encourage people back into work, the obligations in this regard have steadily been increasing to decrease benefit dependency. Seeing as people like to home-in on the single-mother (everyone's favourite whipping-boy), how about focusing on the success stories of those who get into work, adult education, voluntary work and F&H education and look after children too. Those children will will have grown up with a pretty good example of what it's like to work hard and better yourself.

In other words: what about the one who works hard, has children, invests in a business, her efforts are taxed...?

Immigrants present a similar mixed picture.

Answer 1

Just give me the money and stop asking questions. I'm the government and you should trust me with your money. And don't worry about New Orleans, just give me more money and I'll get on it.

Tomhale: Stop sounding like a Libertarian, just give me your money you traitor.

Lois: Your a good citizen, that's right. Pay your taxes and be happy we let you keep any of your money.

Answer 2

Yes. People forget what taxes do for them and at one end we support efforts to help the poor (this way under funded) and at the other end we support a huge war machine that kicks back millions of dollars to companies involved). In between we pay for a small Medicare, streets and highways, funding for poor states etc.

Answer 3

I am an American. If I may I would like to share my experience.

If you want to discourage an activity, tax it.
If you want to encourage an activity, subsidise it.

One works hard, does not have children she cannot afford, invests in her business and you tax her effort.

Another has children she cannot afford, does not work and you subsidise her.

Why?

Would it not be better to make the second person have to work to receive benefits?

Give a man a fish and he will eat dinner tonight.
Teach a man to fish and he will eat dinner every night.


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Answer 4

fair enough.

let's not stop there, and indeed, only continue essential spending and allow no perks for the fat cats at the top.

lean government works for me.

Answer 5

Life will not ge better for you when you are amongst a greater mass of mewling members.

Answer 6

cause we who work for our money, and pay into the tax system, dont like to see it given to those who dont. I dont like to see it wasted on iraq and stuff either, but i dont like paying for other people to breed a dozen kids when i cant afford to have one cause im working too much to pay for theirs.

Answer 7

Go to bed.