Modest proposal 2 - the opt out clause

Deficit spending is so out of control, it wouldn't make a difference whatsover. We think of our taxes as contributions to the budget, but in reality, most of us never put enough in the federal coffers to even cover the cost of the linens in the White House. Furthermore, most Americans aren't net taxpayers in the first place. If any net receivers or those who break even "opted out" of anything, would that mean that money has to be taken from that program? ;~D

I have a real big gripe about my tax dollors going to peopel who are not suppose to be in the u.s. tostart woth because they are not legal. I think it's ridiculous that they are getting all this frrebie stuff when there are people who are u.s. citizens doing w/out. also all these people who are drawing disability that don't deserve it. There are so many drawing that are perfectly able to work they are just too damn lazy. out goverment does not check into this like they should. People that really deserve have an awful time getting it. all these people that keep bringing children into the world so they can draw more it another thing that needs to be checked into. The children are not taken care of & so many times are abused in every way possible.

It sounds good Dawn but what happens if down the road you lose your job , your house and you and your children are destitute. Would you let your children starve because you chose to opt out. I dont know that i would. I think that taxes are made for just in case situations and it could happen to anyone.

Oh I would love that....its not that I don't want to help anyone....but I raised three kids with very little child support....worked two jobs to pay our way and never used the welfare program....that would be one I would love to opt out of..there are probably a few others....I have seen too many know right down to the coding what they can get for nothing......or very little like another program I would opt out of it subsidized housing...

Hi, D! What a wonderful idea! I would never choose to pay for people to kill people. I'd pay a lot for programs that actually help people be independent. If only we had choices!

Those who are actually on welfare don't pay taxes, so without us paying for welfare the poor people would be scr*wed!! I just don't see how this would work because people are not honest or giving anymore. If they could find a way to not pay taxes, or pay the least amount of taxes possible, they'd just go and check every box so they aren't paying taxes into anything! When I was younger I used to ask myself why taxes weren't voluntary. Well duh! Who'd volunteer to pay taxes? I know I wouldn't, mostly because if they weren't automatic, I wouldn't be able to afford them. I think the best option is just to have honest politicians who stop all the stupid spending with our tax dollars! That's about as likely to happen as your proposal!

I don't like that opt out clause...why? because you will have people opt out of paying say...welfare...but than one day actual need to use it. Does that mean because they opt out they should not receive it? No, but the will be using the welfare the very way they would be opting out of not paying taxes on it. Because it would be supporting people who ave never paid in. I also think opting out of paying certain taxes would hurt many good programs in the long run and cause them to be shut down.

That might be a good thing for some people. But, what i am wondering now, is what will happen to the people who would sign such a thing, if they loose their jobs, loose their transportation, or any means of supporting their families? With the economy the way it is already, that would be a bad choice for some people. I have seen those that had money, end up on the homeless list, just this year. People are still trying to find jobs again, that lost them just a year ago.

school department.i don't have kids and yet we still pay taxes toward it. they need to audit the one around here BADLY.you wouldn't believe the budget they blow through.

From the perspective of data only, an opt out clause like this would create an administrative as well as an auditing nightmare across this country. Who is going to determine what percentage of any individual's taxes goes towards which specific program? The IRS has no way of knowing the specifics of federal funding so they cannot adjust anyone's tax obligation based on an unknown variablee. Now let's talk about the states. Does the federal government currently determine the amount of resources a state assigns to individual programs administered by the state? Should the feds have that right? These are just a few ideas but they should give you something to consider.

Dawn, This may be a mistake on my part by talking politics but since it's you I'll make a contribution. Here's the problem I see with that option. To me it is important how you look at Welfare. We have a lot of people depending on food stamps because the husband or wife or both have lost their jobs and have no way to feed themselves or their family. Right now we and other Countries are smack dab in the middle of a Depression. My hubby lost his job over 2 yrs. ago and as we know there are over a million people out of work here in Florida. Since I'm disabled we have a small income. But my income isn't enough to pay all the bills and buy food, much less medications that my hubby is on. What I'm trying to say is that, someday this could happen to you (God forbid) and you would be left to starve. Welfare is a sore subject to most of us because there are a lot of people out there abusing the system because they are lazy, theives or whatever, just not people that the law was made for. Leenie

It is an interesting idea, but as you say, I don't know how they'd be able to administer it properly. It is certainly preferable than fining someone $1900 for not buying healthcare and then fining them $25,000 or sending them to prison for a year if they can't afford the fine! If you opt out, then no fine, BUT you are now ineligible for the government run program.