This keeps popping up on Facebook.

[madamesilverspurs]

Gotta admit, it's timely and darned good discussion fodder.





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[rusty quoin]

1. Sounds good to me.

[Salviati]

2. Then billionaires would be doing everything they could to get purged.

And they'd still have an outsized effect on elections due to all their dark money spending...

[Initech]

4. Same with soverign citizens, racists, and hardcore right wingers.

People like the Bundy Militia - this would be their wet dream.

[Gothmog]

3. Great meme

[Initech]

5. Absolutely terrible idea.

People would be doing everything they could to get purged - and right wingers (think Bundy militia) would wear it like a badge of honor. Not a good idea at all if you ask me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. How about those who simply don't vote?

They are likewise being taxed without representation. Or the people who lose the franchise because of a prison term?

No, it seems like a good idea but it is a terrible one.

Plus, of course, the question would remain as to which taxes would they be exempt from? Income taxes? Sales taxes? School taxes?

I'm suddenly reminded of the bullshit about what percentage of poor people don't pay taxes. Maybe they don't pay federal or state income taxes because they earn so little, but if they have a job they still pay payroll taxes (FICA) and sales taxes, and gasoline taxes if they drive a car.

No. Work like hell to get people elected who understand that we are better off if more people vote.

[renate]

7. But when people choose not to vote, not voting is their choice

It’s completely different from when people who have every right to vote are denied representation.

And everyone is taxed, as you explained.

So... what’s the problem with letting people who want to vote, but are prohibited from doing so, make the taxation without representation argument? I think that position is 100% correct and was one of the things that our country’s foundation was based on.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. It's a slippery slope

Who would you include or exclude? How about people who've lost the right to vote because of prison time? Will they be exempt from taxation? And again, what taxes? Will they have to make up what they didn't pay once they get the vote back? Some of the tax exemptions would be tricky to figure out, like school taxes. Gasoline taxes. Will gas stations be required to offer two prices? How would you prove you've been unfairly or incorrectly removed from the voting rolls? Some states require you vote periodically or you get purged. Lots of people don't know about that. Yeah, the states should do a better job of informing the voters, but someone who doesn't bother to vote for six years or more, well that if that person is purged it's because they chose not to vote. I can see people deciding that being purged wasn't so bad because now they aren't paying taxes.

Again, on the topic of what taxes: If they don't have to pay FICA, then down the road they will get little or no Social Security.

It strikes me as a feel-good stance that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

[drmeow]

9. By the same criteria

DC needs a senator

[jberryhill]

10. Considering that the only reason some people vote is for tax cut promises

Then this idea sets up an incentive to be purged.

There are plenty of people who, given the option, would take “no taxes” over the privilege of being one of millions to vote.