Acton tax policy based on cheapness theory

(Part 2.)

In the last article, I tried to show how the desire to help others by using public funds is a form of being cheap. Instead of stepping up to raise money for a cause privately, some believe it is better to have the public pay for it.

On the one hand, this results in a much (much) lower cost-per-donor. But on the other, it forces people to support a charity perhaps against their will.

If the society as a whole is almost universally behind a charitable-giving program, then it makes sense to have society pay for it. But when there is widespread disagreement, such a decision should not be made by a bare majority, which forces a large plurality to go along against their will. If there is that much disagreement, then the bare majority should raise the funds privately.

By not doing so, they could be called cheap. They are able to fund their desired charitable giving by spending a lot less themselves.

This example has a parallel in local tax policy in the town of Acton....

Article continues on www.ActonForum.com at:

http://www.actonforum.com/blogs/allenn/acton-tax-policy-based-cheapness-theory