For the Record


"You can't get something for nothing. At least, that's how the old saying
goes.


For almost half of all taxpayers, however, that is no longer true. That's
because they pay no federal income taxes. For them, Tax Day has become just
another day on the calendar. Since the federal income tax is the predominant
revenue raiser for the federal government, these 'nonpayers' receive
government services and benefits without sharing any of the costs. ... Passing
the point at which less than half of all tax filers pay income taxes is
dangerous because beyond that threshold, approximately a majority of voters
could vote themselves an increasing share of government benefits at no cost to
themselves. ... In this situation, politicians have even less incentive to
restrain government spending because more votes could be won by increasing
spending than lost by increasing the tax burden. That is a deadly recipe for
never-ending increases in government spending that will inevitably lead to a
fiscal implosion when there are no longer enough productive taxpayers to pay
the bill for the expanding welfare state. ... To make matters worse, most non
-payers not only pay no income taxes, but actually collect cash payments
through the tax code. For these recipients of government redistribution, Tax
Day is like an extra payday."


--Heritage Foundation analyst Curtis Dubay





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*Durango b301 #PE*