[MD] Distinguishing Levels (Individual level)

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Case]
I agree that there has been a change in the public dialog that is corrosive.
Taxation for example has been portrayed as theft. The ancient Jews called it
tithing. But taxation serves a number of public interest besides funding
services and programs. The value of these functions has been overlook in recent
years. 

[Arlo]
I agree. I have no problem with taxes. They are not "evil", nor are they "the
problem". The are necessary to provide a strong infrastructure. EMTs, fireman,
policemen, libraries, roads, museuems, pubic lands, hiking trails, pollution
clean-up.

[Case]
By taxing certain expenses government can discourage them. Sin taxes, purchase
of foreign made goods are examples. By providing deductions for specific
expenses governments can encourage citizen behavior and stimulate the economy
in targeted areas. These are ways to influence citizen's behavior without
demanding compliance. None of this is possible when people think taxation is
supposed to be 'fair'. It is not 'fair'. It is not supposed to be.

[Arlo]
Anticipating what you say below, I have argued many times for an abolition of
the income tax and a progressive consumption tax. The more you "take out"
(using Forbes' words), the more you "pay in". I have also argued that the
government, while it NEEDS to collect taxes, should not tax basic commodities
valued in the lowest 5% of the local market. All this does is make the lowest
priced goods more affordable to the poorer folk. And it encourages ownership,
and "thrift"!

As such, I have no problem with providing deductions to those who use solar or
alternative energies, or carpool, or bike, or or act in any number of ways that
makes the quality of MY life better. When more people use public transit, it
means MY air is better. And so if they get some tax dollars back for that, all
power to them. 

[Case]
I for one detest the income tax. It seems to me an extraordinary and unnecessary
for the government to know how much I earn and how I spend it. It is ironic to
hear the wealthy whine about a flat tax or a fair tax since the only reason we
have an income tax at all was to screw rich people. Perhaps I am wrong but why
else would citizens have voted to amend the constitution to allow it?

[Arlo]
Agree.

[Case]
Taxation is not evil anymore than "government is the problem".

[Arlo]
Agree.

[Case]
It strikes me that poor citizenship is our biggest problem. "Citizen" is highest
public office in this land. To be a "Citizen" is a matter of personal honor and
public duty. A "Citizen" is educated, informed and actively pursues the public
interest as well as his own. A "Citizen" demands respect for his personal
rights but does not shirk his civic responsibilities.

[Arlo]
Agree. (Damn man, give me something to argue with!)

[Case]
I fear the title has been devalued and demeaned in modern public discourse.

[Arlo]
Indeed, your "citizen" and my "Quality Principled Person" are quite akin. 

The devaluation of the term is just part and parcel of the idiotic Holy War the
Jesters have embarked on. For example, a citizen should be proud of his
heritage and country, but is not blindly obedient or unquestioningly acritical
of it. In the Holy War we are forced into two positions; Patriot (an
unquestioning and blind obedience to State) and Traitor (anyone who is NOT
unquestioning and blindly obedient). The Jesters paint any criticism of the
status quo as traitorous, using "red scare" McCarthyism to discredit and smeer.
Witness the whole current discussion. Because I have evidence criticism over
the quality of the land, air and water in my town, I warrant only more insipid
"commie, wacko, greenie" nonsense. I expect this, because that's really all it
ever is with Platt, and it is often comical watching him stumble around saying
things like bicycling "is a wacko lib thing".

[Case]
While Gore talks about the future he spends most of his time talking about what
is going on now all over the world. He also gives the example of the frog that
jumps out of hot water but will die if the heat is turned up gradually.

[Arlo]
Well, we are certainly "gradually" accepting many things, aren't we? I gave the
example of "bottled water" before, and it still blows my mind at how in less
than 20 years we've actually accepted this. Can you imagine going back in time
and saying in 1975, "in the future, the water will be so dirty that you'll have
to buy all your water in purified bottles"?

This is also the problem with air quality. If Platt's hometown suddenly had the
same air quality as LA did overnight, I wonder what his reaction would be
(other than to turn on the radio to find out if it was, indeed, a problem or
not). Many of us notice the drop in quality, and prefer to think about making
it better, rather than worrying about "whose Party" it is an issue for.

In the end, all that matters is that me, you, everyone, has clean air, clean
water and unpolluted lands. Right?