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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Milton Friedman’s Weird Abolition List

Bet On It • 171 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Economic Theory Public Finance Regulation
  1. Milton Friedman suggested abolishing certain government policies he viewed as unnecessary. Some of these policies include price supports for agriculture and minimum wage laws.
  2. He believed that many interventions weren't justified by their outcomes, indicating a need for less government control in various sectors.
  3. Friedman's focus was on promoting free-market principles, but his priorities differed from contemporary issues, revealing changes in the economy and regulation over time.

Trump Should Finish What He Started

Cremieux Recueil • 658 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy Bipartisan Issues Political Advocacy Public Finance
  1. A Destination-Based Cash Flow Tax (DBCFT) can simplify the tax system by making it easier to track consumption rather than complicated income measurements. This means businesses won't need to navigate through complex deductions and depreciation rules.
  2. Switching to a consumption tax can help encourage saving and investment, making the economy grow better over time. It treats current and future consumption equally, which can make people want to invest more.
  3. Taxes influence how businesses choose to finance themselves, often making debt more attractive than equity. A neutral tax approach would allow businesses to pick the best financing method without extra costs from tax rules.

Physiocratic Platform: Transaction Tax

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1266 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy Government Economic Theory Public Finance Legislation
  1. Transaction taxes are small fees added to all money exchanges, helping to fund government services. They can be applied to everything from buying groceries to trading stocks.
  2. A broad transaction tax could simplify the tax system by ensuring everyone contributes, especially from financial activities that often go untaxed. It aims to promote fairness among all economic participants.
  3. The proposed tax system would lower the overall tax burden for most people while ensuring that the rich and businesses pay their fair share, potentially reducing unfairness in current tax practices.

Tax Policy: Breaking the Impasse

Comment is Freed • 93 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy Political Reform Government Structure Public Finance Policy Analysis
  1. Tax reform in the UK is really hard because changes lead to public outrage, making it tough for politicians to make sensible decisions. Politicians often focus on how changes will be viewed rather than on what makes sense.
  2. The current tax system is too complicated and has become a way to solve a variety of issues, leading to confusion and resistance. There needs to be a clearer and simpler approach to tax policy that takes all aspects into account.
  3. Creating a separate office for tax policy could help develop better ideas and solutions without getting caught up in daily politics. This could support governments in making more informed decisions about tax reform.

New Orleans Police Superintendent has Collected $2.97M from Taxpayers since 2016

OpenTheBooks Substack • 248 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Law enforcement Public Safety Public Finance Crime Statistics
  1. The New Orleans Police Superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick, has made $2.97 million from tax payers since 2016, including salary and legal settlements.
  2. After a tragic attack on New Year's Day, Kirkpatrick revealed she wasn't aware that the city owned anti-vehicle barriers meant to enhance safety, even though they had been in place since 2017.
  3. Despite a reported decrease in crime rates since she took office, New Orleans still experiences one of the highest homicide rates in the country.
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