[EM] decision process design: wealth tax

[Dave Ketchum]

Agreed this thread does not belong here.

Ny only point was that properly raising government funds is a complex 
topic, needing more careful attention than it usually gets.

You are at least thinking, but need more as to the big picture.

DWK

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 09:53:17 -0700 (PDT) mrouse1 at mrouse.com wrote:

>>From Dave Ketchum <davek at clarityconnect.com>
> 
>>>Agreed that the bare land should be taxed, mostly for consuming roadside
>>>
> frontage.
> 
> 
>>>But, the five-star hotel owes more because it requires access to a major
>>>
> highway.
> 
> Land with access to a major highway would be worth more, and thus would
> pay higher "land rent." Combine with fuel taxes to pay for pollution and
> wear and tear on the highway (thus having the extra traffic generated by
> the hotel pay for the use of the road), and you would have a relatively
> fair method of taxation. Since a five-star hotel increases the value of
> the surrounding land more than a tenement building, the neighbors that
> benefit would also pay a bit more, equal to the amount of increased value.
> 
> 
>>>In other words, whatever activity imposes a load on a government budget
>>>
> should be paying for the services it consumes.  Pick on water as a
> service, and that can be charged by measuring consumption.  Try police
> services and that fits more into people living.
> 
> 
> I agree, user fees are a good way to fund government activities that do
> not benefit everyone. Fees for things like licenses, permits, waste
> removal, and possibly even national park access, are reasonable, as long
> as the money is used for that service, or for functions of government that
> benefit everyone. In addition, services that are for the general welfare,
> like the police, fire department, military, courts, and many local
> government functions, can be funded by a land value tax.
> 
> Michael Rouse
> 
> BTW, sorry about going off on a tangent not related to voting methods. :)

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  Dave Ketchum   108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708   607-687-5026
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