Wealth for the Common Good
 

Seems odd that one would want to pay more taxes. Is there a compelling reason?

http://wealthforcommongood.org/

There are always altruistic people around. They are who donate to charities, do volunteer work, etc.

Andrew Carnegie is an interesting case. He was the worst of the robber barons when he was younger, but then felt guilt over how he had crushed all his competitors and decided that he would not leave the bulk of his wealth to his kids but to donate it to a trust to do good works. His kids were upset to say the least, but we have the Carnegie Foundation and all the libraries, hospitals, and concert halls that they built. This is a great case for PRIVATE trusts doing good. Nobody taxed his money away for the 'common good'
He did it himself. There are still people like that around now. As much as I despise Bill Gates' software, I respect him for his charity work.

Donating my money for the common good and taking my money for the common good are two different things. I want the government out of the decision-making process.

Socialist crap.

I fully understand why some people want more taxes taken from them - they want to think that they are doing "good" with their money and since the .gov is the fairest judge in the land (its only the .gov buildings that have the blindfolded naked lady holding scales...)- money in its hands will do better than anywhere else- this is a very reasonable mode of thought...

Or, as Bot might mention- all these people feeling indebted to society dont have a worthy Atheistic charity to give their money to =)

I really dont want to spin this thread toward healthcare, but the tax side of things is something that I have yet to hear of in **any** of the MSM's portrayal of foriegn/"better" healthcare systems. Europe has better public health systems becuase everyone is taxed at %40-%50 and pays for it all. You are free to think that this is ok, I'd rather you donate to or start a local/national/IGO charity that meets the needs of your giving wishes. Charities that have to compete for dollars (local shelters and freestores) spend more wisely and efficiently than those that don't (UN).
I like to hear of a "better" system...as I'm sure that one exists (us humans are **always**making things better...) but the issue is always so one-sided.

Maybe once "Wealth for the common good" gets 1000 signers who want more taxes removed, they can make a big co-op that provides health care for the un/underinsured with a (however you define...) "fair" policy...
...instead of throwing it into .gov coffers where its custodians seem to think that adding rules and laws is the way out of any problem.

imho

I lolz because one of the quotes on thier site is from a teacher....what are the chances that he/she makes more than $235k/yr ? They couldn't find enough rich people to quote ?

-John

yeah, every time I curse windows I am reminded that Gates donated a lot of money to the unfortunate people in this world so it almost, almost makes up for windows.

I'm not wealthy, but I do consider myself and those above me on the financial food chain to be under-taxed.

As for this point:Those are definitely two different things, both of them good. The reason I would prefer to have the government take more in taxes is that it makes it harder for cheapskates to freeload on my charity. We want a civilized society, I hope, and those don't come cheap.

I keep hearing that the Scandanavians have:

Highest taxes
Highest standard of living
Best health care
Most % people happy

I do not have the primary supporting data sources however.

They do have that hottie Tina Nordstrom, so that is good enough for me.

As far asI know, if you owe $5,000 in taxes and you send a check for $10,000 ther is no penalty. Problem solved. No new laws or Czars needed. The govt. doesn't have to "take" if YOU want to "give". Just don't assume that everyone else should just because you want to.

For one thing, I didn't mean to suggest that I want my taxes to double. I'm talking about a much more modest increase. And you apparently missed my point about freeloaders.I don't see why not. That's exactly what we do now. Nobody asked my permission about the way we are taxed or how the government spends the taxes I pay now.

If you feel you are under taxed by any amount, feel free to write a check for the difference to the IRS. They have no problem taking extra money.

Just don't force me to write a similer check.

If given the chance how many of you would not pay any taxes but still use social programms like public roads ??

Yeah, if only our founding fathers had kept their noses out of other people's business and just let private enterprise take care of things.

And why in the hell did we depart from the education model of Great Britain? They didn't let common riff-raff into secondary schools and universities. No, they kept those for the elite, the way things ought to be done.