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From: slack@wxlvax.UUCP (Tom Slack)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.taxes
Subject: Re: Abuse of social contracts. (tax system)
Message-ID: <404@wxlvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Feb-85 14:25:03 EST
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Posted: Wed Feb 20 14:25:03 1985
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> > Once we get away from the idea that taxes should be used to
> > redistribute the national income and achieve broad policy
> > objectives, and return to the original justification for taxes,
> > which is to provide revenue to run the government on, I'll pay my
> > share with a smile.
> > 
> > 				Michael C. Berch
> 
> What's wrong with using taxes to achieve policy objectives?
> Surely you would agree it is a good thing for the government to
> encourage the use of alternative energy sources? In stimulating
> a new market, the government can either give direct subsidies
> or tax breaks. I don't see much difference. Actually, I prefer
> having the tax breaks so I don't have to deal with as many government
> agencies.
> 
If the government had not discouraged alternative energy sources
for so long it would not have to encourage them.

I also prefer the tax breaks to subsidies.

The point is that we have a constitution which states what things
that the Federal Government should get into and also states that
other things not mentioned are specifically left up to state and
local governments.  Most "policy objectives" are in the categories
of things that should not be decided pro or con at the federal level.
People should be free to decide these things.

Sure I might agree that it is nice to have this or that tax break
to get people to do this or that thing.  But should I have the
power to enact it?  That is wielding power that no group of people should have
(no, not even majorities, and our system is not run by majorities either).

Tom Slack