Show of Hands

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Taxation is a necessity in a society to pay for protection of the group and its assets. Taxation has been a part of functioning societies long before any nations existed.

The IMF and World Bank both encourage austerity measures, I'm not inclined to disagree.

Austerity and tax cuts because less government is better government.

Republican strategy: I made it into the lifeboat, now pull up the ladder!

I have happened to have been in both before. Either can be nice or older and more run down. Depending on the location. What’s your point?

Taxation is theft, so I’m always against them. Government buildings, employees, projects, investments should be one notch up from being barely existent. The government sucks at everything and should do as little as possible.

Austerity never works bc politicians are cunts and can in no way stop from spending/promising money away when they see it.

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Do you know what austerity means? It often involves the raising of taxes and an increase in unemployment.

Look at what austerity did in the U.K. About half the country is living in poverty, and look at Greece we all know what happened there.

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“Investment” means income redistribution and buying votes.

The fed and state already have massive shortfalls for existing benefits.

“Investment” 😂
I see what you did there.

Neither. Investment and level taxes.

In reality, with our current political environment, we’re actually choosing between wasteful spending and lower taxes and more wasteful spending and higher taxes.

More government is bad. I don't know why people think that the government is competent, let alone trustworthy.

^Objectively false. We had no federal income taxes prior to 1913.

M, that’s fair but I said they should barely exist. How’s that excessive taxation working out in Cali? Do you guys have glistening sidewalks, streets, and government buildings?

No. They’re all covered in human shit. The private sector wouldn’t stand for that.

Austerity keeps money in the hands of those people that earned it. The other method is a fancy term for theft.

The question implies there is only investing when raising taxes. Austerity means being prudent with your investments also.

A nation or this nation? If a nation was ran austerity there would had no need to raise or lower taxes. This nation has been investing so recklessly that it has put our children at risk of government servitude. Cut the spending and save the children.

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That’s the democrat strategy, except you make other people pay for the ladder too.

Unsustainable spending forced Greece to live with high taxes and austerity, that’s why they’re suffering. Low government spending doesn’t directly cause poverty, even if some programs ease the burden on the impoverished.

Less tax = more free people

There's no such thing as free. Those who don't like coffee are paying for your coffee.

Mine sure doesn't. They want 75 cents a cup.

Investment doesn’t necessarily mean raising taxes. And raising taxes during a pandemic...?! Not wise.

Depends on the county and its culture.

By not overspending, because that’s the only relevant option given.

Lower/no taxes is also morally and philosophically superior in its own right.

Austerity because the best government is the smallest government. Taxing and spending only grows the government, its power over its citizens and erodes liberty.

How about neither? The budget deficit is an overused political talking point that won’t die because each party uses it when convenient to them.

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too

I appreciate your assessment. In LA county, you are largely correct. In Orange County, that’s not really the case.

If the private sector won’t stand for it, why do they? The businesses that could afford such private ventures to clean up the streets often skate taxes due to exemptions. Shouldn’t they have the money to help out?

Why would they pay for something that they’ve already paid for as a.) private citizens b.) private businesses?

That’s paying twice for shit service. Doesn’t make much sense.

I looked up how it would be phrased for economic purposes and to remain unbiased.