After reading a couple other threads in the forums that covered Social Security and government budget cuts; I thought I would post a question I find interesting to ponder and one that I struggle with.
If the numbers I see on TV are true, that around 50% of the population pays no federal income tax; should these same people have any say at all on how the governement spends the money it collects from others?
My first instinct is to say, "heck no", particularly in the case of social welfare programs as it's just not right to allow people to vote to themselves other people's hard earned money; but, I am not sure this would be in line with our long history of democracy? On the other hand, in most all other "private" organizations, if you are not an investor or shareholder, you don't get to vote on the direction of the organization...I wonder what others out there might think?
If the numbers I see on TV are true, that around 50% of the population pays no federal income tax; should these same people have any say at all on how the governement spends the money it collects from others?
My first instinct is to say, "heck no", particularly in the case of social welfare programs as it's just not right to allow people to vote to themselves other people's hard earned money; but, I am not sure this would be in line with our long history of democracy? On the other hand, in most all other "private" organizations, if you are not an investor or shareholder, you don't get to vote on the direction of the organization...I wonder what others out there might think?