[Serious] The revolution was successful! The old government is gone. You get to help write the new Constitution. What do you put into it?

pinkdrunkenelephants@sopuli.xyz to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 158 points –
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The wealthiest 10% of people must donate at least 5% of their yearly earnings to a general fund for public welfare, including free food, shelter and medical aid. Business assets domestic and international are included in this calculation. Anyone who attempts to hide assets to avoid donating, even within the confines of the law, can be tried for the manslaughter of everyone who died from poverty that fiscal year.

Essentially, if you have the financial means to help people, you are legally required to.

Why use the term ‘donating’? You’re describing a tax. More specifically, an income tax.

You're not wrong, but I'd want it separate from tax so it goes directly to welfare and not just government funds. It also sounds nicer to donate than pay taxes, and you never get a donation rebate.

The word “donate” implies that it's voluntary. If it's enforced by the government, it's a tax.

Tax goes to a single government spending fund, but I want this to be separate so it can't be channelled into buying guns or whatever. It's only welfare, and nothing else.

While donations are typically voluntary, there's nothing stopping it from being enforced. Someone can put a gun to your head and force you to donate to charity, and that's still a donation.

The vainglorious rich jerks might be less hesitant to part with their cash if they can boast about how much they donated, even if it was required of them. Only a little less, but that's still good.

I have thought about it, and I am sticking with "donate" as the term.

Tax goes to a single government spending fund, but I want this to be separate

Then it's still a tax, just a tax going to a different fund.

Someone can put a gun to your head and force you to donate to charity, and that's still a donation.

In that case, the person holding a gun to your head stole your money and then they effectively donated it to charity.

Punish those who work hard. Reward those who don't contribute to society. Let's see how that helps!

It's hilarious you think the people with the highest yearly earnings get that by working hard. Do you think Jeff Bezos has been working harder than you have this entire year in the time since you posted your comment alone?

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