The Legacy fund is primarily money taken from a select group of North Dakotans. That has never been a good way to fund anything. Funding sources (taxes) need to be derived from a majority of the population, not a select few. Once you make them poor, they will eventually get to your segment of the population. And you will find yourself with just as many friends as those who currently contribute the majority of the money to the Legacy fund.
Yessir, I think in a former thread me and you were in a small group that were against how the Legacy Fund gets it's money. It's always been my view that if people want their cut of oil money, there are plenty of companies hiring. My comment was more in line with if these big slush funds are going to be done away with, I'd rather them lower tax burdens than paid out in lump sums to citizens. The AK PFD really can't be compared to the legacy fund as the PFD is derived from mineral rights owned by the state and the people of the state; and the legacy fund is derived from private party mineral rights. But it's a joke how the AK PFD is paid out IMO.
As far as I'm concerned, in recognition that we do need money to fund a number of essential government programs and projects (and in recognition that most states and feds could and should slash their budget by at least 50%), I think that consumer taxes should be the majority of the few taxes in place. We should have at least a 25% tax on junk food. Set a sugar amount (including processed sugars in certain bread and pasta that charade as "healthy") and tax the shit out of those items that are considered food. Fund agriculture programs with a small tax on produce and dairy, environmental programs on vehicles and fuel taxes, so on and so fourth. Roads and such should be covered by vehicle and vehicle part taxes. People will fall into their tax bracket by how much they spend. Naturally higher earners will spend more and pay more in taxes. Keep a small property tax for minor maintenance and snow removal on those local roads. Low income people will hopefully clean up their diet and money spent on garbage food would ease the strain those diets have put on Medicare and Medicaid. Hell, a tax on junk food would be so massive that it could probably even fill the holes in social security. I recognize there are holes in what I just proposed, but I think it's worth the conversation. 50% of this country doesn't pay taxes, they need skin in the game. Us hunters, fishermen, and gun enthusiasts have successfully funded conservation, fish and wildlife management, and public lands with this model.
As far as the system in place, I 100% agree that they should do away with paycheck deductions for taxes. I would LOVE to see that made illegal if the Republican party can get back a majority across the board. Everyone should get full paychecks and then have to write a check to Uncle Sam at the end of the year. That is the only way the fat will ever be cut. That or the inevitable economic collapse from our unsustainable debt. Add in that you can't get a check from the government. If your tax bill is $8,000 but your child tax credit is $12,000; instead of the government paying that person $4,000 they should just be happy with being at $0.
Of course that's all just dreaming. Red ties and blues ties, it doesn't matter, they're all the same and need our money to buy votes to stay in power.
