Forced to pay for something we oppose

[mossytrail (deleted)]

Some of us (such as me) are here because we see industrial farming harming the environment. Others are here out of concern for the suffering of the animals on farms. But the sad truth is, even if we never purchase meat, we are still financially supporting these farms. The U.S. government subsidizes industrial farming to keep prices down; and the money for those subsidies comes from taxpayers -- i.e. us.

I don't know 'bout y'all, but I am tired of having to pay people to trash the planet. But if I decided one day to stop paying, Uncle Sam would call it "tax evasion" and come after me, as though I was the one doing something wrong.

Clearly, it is time for tax reform. We hear about so-called tax reforms from time to time, but never the kind that counts: the kind that give us, the taxpayers, say-so in how our money is spent. Here is the sort of reform I would propose: allow individual taxpayers to opt-out of subsidizing specific programs if we are opposed to them. In order to prevent people using it as a loophole to avoid paying taxes, the law would specify that opting-out of this or that will not affect the amount the taxpayer owes. That is, my tax would be the same whether or not I subsidize the meat industry; by opting-out of the meat subsidy, that just means that portion of my taxes are re-allocated to the programs I did not opt-out of.

We might make some unlikely allies in this cause -- I am sure there are "Traditional Values" activists who would very much like to be allowed to opt-out of subsidizing Planned Parenthood, for example. I propose forging these kinds of alliances, whether or not we agree with the specific agenda, for the greater good of taking back control over our own money.

Who's up for it?

Live was I ere I saw evil

[charles72vegan (deleted)]

mossytrail wrote: Some of us (such as me) are here because we see industrial farming harming the environment. Others are here out of concern for the suffering of the animals on farms. But the sad truth is, even if we never purchase meat, we are still financially supporting these farms. The U.S. government subsidizes industrial farming to keep prices down; and the money for those subsidies comes from taxpayers -- i.e. us.

I don't know 'bout y'all, but I am tired of having to pay people to trash the planet. But if I decided one day to stop paying, Uncle Sam would call it "tax evasion" and come after me, as though I was the one doing something wrong.

Clearly, it is time for tax reform. We hear about so-called tax reforms from time to time, but never the kind that counts: the kind that give us, the taxpayers, say-so in how our money is spent. Here is the sort of reform I would propose: allow individual taxpayers to opt-out of subsidizing specific programs if we are opposed to them. In order to prevent people using it as a loophole to avoid paying taxes, the law would specify that opting-out of this or that will not affect the amount the taxpayer owes. That is, my tax would be the same whether or not I subsidize the meat industry; by opting-out of the meat subsidy, that just means that portion of my taxes are re-allocated to the programs I did not opt-out of.

We might make some unlikely allies in this cause -- I am sure there are "Traditional Values" activists who would very much like to be allowed to opt-out of subsidizing Planned Parenthood, for example. I propose forging these kinds of alliances, whether or not we agree with the specific agenda, for the greater good of taking back control over our own money.

Who's up for it?

Live was I ere I saw evil Good luck with that. As long as people keep voting for republicans or democrats nothing is going to change.