Democratax

Herewith my first serious post on a real issue:

Something about the urinals here at work this morning gave me an epiphany about income tax. What if only a part of the tax one paid went to the general receiver account, say 75%, and you got to decide how the rest was to be apportioned? You could be given a list of government spending areas and be allowed to assign your remaining part piecemeal amongst the options. For instance (of the remainder) I could choose to assign 20% to renewable energy research, 10% to scholarships, 30% to conservation programmes, 20% to the TAC and 20% to my critical thinking course for cabinet ministers.

Not only would everyone suddenly feel much more included and important in the budgetary process, but it would give us a great view of what everyone feels is really important that the governmant should spend money on. It would make tax (slightly) less of a grudge expense. Also the more money you make - and thus the more tax you pay - the more you get to influence the things that you feel strongly about. I suspect we'd end up with a couple less frigates but gain several thousand more riverine rabbits.