|
|
« Previous McArdle | Next McArdle » |
|
By request: consumption taxes
By
Reader Scott asks:
Why isn't your tax plan consumption based? (IRA's without restrictions)
Because with a decent tax code, there's no reason for the government to artificially bias peoples' choices towards savings and away from consumption. The bourgeois moral affection for savings is a socially useful cultural belief, but it is not actually a moral law. Savings is just time-shifted consumption. I see no moral difference between consumption now and consumption later. As Anatole France said, "If the hangover preceded the inebriation, drunkenness would be a virtue."
Why isn't your tax plan consumption based? (IRA's without restrictions)
Because with a decent tax code, there's no reason for the government to artificially bias peoples' choices towards savings and away from consumption. The bourgeois moral affection for savings is a socially useful cultural belief, but it is not actually a moral law. Savings is just time-shifted consumption. I see no moral difference between consumption now and consumption later. As Anatole France said, "If the hangover preceded the inebriation, drunkenness would be a virtue."
Presented by





























Join the Discussion
After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register. blog comments powered by Disqus