This page addresses the changes we need to make in the way we
collect funds for use in common enterprises.
Our premise is that indeed,
self-regulation and
self-government create an opportunity
for centralized governmental bodies that "govern
best that govern
least".
For the moment, we will forgo discussion of
temporary
taxation reform suggestions intended solely for the initial rebalancing
period
along
the Steps Toward a Fair Planet.
First we would like to lay out the general principles of taxation that
would be the hallmark of a Fair Planet. To
do that we
need to answer these basic questions:
A taxing proposition
Our fundamental premise is that taxes should
not be set up so that life-enhancing
activities within the socio-economic sphere are penalized. The "painful
experience" of paying taxes ought to serve as negative reinforcement
for conduct
not consistent with overall benefit of society. On the other
hand. contributions to funds set up to carry out plans benefitting many
need to be relabeled as "Commons Inverstments" and tangible ROI need to
be gained and "distributed" to the citizen investors.
Too
many taxes?
Perenial complaint of the citizenry,
especially those who like to complain about pretty much everything, is
to bemoan the level of taxation imposed on it by the various governing
bodies.
Who
Pays?
It would seem to be obvious that in a
fair and balanced system of taxation, the primary beneficiaries of the
expenditures funded by taxation should be the primary bearers of the
taxation burden.
Sins
and Crimes
Nothing
works as a corrective measure to any process as a material loss.
In that sense, some portions of any tax system need to be
designed to extract a fine from a social subsystem which has in some
manner substantively and negatively affected the functioning of its
"parent" socio-economic unit.
Punishing
Success?
We believe that high taxes on extreme,
almost obscene, wealth ought not be seen as
levied as punishment for success, but instead as a conduit for a just
recompense to the
overall social unit for the diffused costs the society incurs due to
imbalances caused
by excessive wealth.
