Political Systems
Sep. 23rd, 2003 03:14 pmhonest intelligent socialists do exist:
Cosma Shalizi on Market Socialism
My dreamed-up system: "State Owns Some of the Land - Rent as the Only Tax"
Advantages:
* Unlike other taxes, it does not disincent healthy economic activity, such as trading (sales tax, transaction taxes, income tax), working (income tax), investing in good business (capital gains tax).
* If the state owns the land, it even doesn't infringe on liberty by collecting the rent.
* It must be responsible with its budget, since it has no way of collecting more money.
One possible objection: so if the state is just another real-estate corporation, what is the incentive for them to serve us?
My response: what is the incentive they have to serve us now?
As far as a state is needed, I am (almost) convinced that this would be a good way to finance it.
Cosma Shalizi on Market Socialism
My dreamed-up system: "State Owns Some of the Land - Rent as the Only Tax"
Advantages:
* Unlike other taxes, it does not disincent healthy economic activity, such as trading (sales tax, transaction taxes, income tax), working (income tax), investing in good business (capital gains tax).
* If the state owns the land, it even doesn't infringe on liberty by collecting the rent.
* It must be responsible with its budget, since it has no way of collecting more money.
One possible objection: so if the state is just another real-estate corporation, what is the incentive for them to serve us?
My response: what is the incentive they have to serve us now?
As far as a state is needed, I am (almost) convinced that this would be a good way to finance it.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-09-24 01:51 am (UTC)So, my question then is. Would the government make enough money? I think not.