Right to vote = minimum of $1.00 federal tax.

WhoWee

I wonder if they'll adopt my idea that only (federal income) taxpayers (minimum $1.00) should be allowed to vote?

turbo

What an idea! Let's disenfranchise all the poor people! Next, let's disenfranchise all women and black people, too! That will set us back a century or so.

It is a fiction that people who pay nothing in Federal income taxes pay no income taxes. The people at the bottom pay the most regressive taxes of all. They cannot escape property taxes, fuel taxes, excise taxes, sales taxes, etc, which flow directly to the income-tax burden of the wealthy. At some point, it would be helpful to get away from the invective and try to figure out how to simplify the tax code so that the burden is more evenly shared.

Bobbywhy

Your idea would be welcomed in any Occupy group searching for consensus. This does not mean that the group would accept it, however. If you are seriously proposing that idea, why not propose it? That step is one of the essential ingredients in our participatory democracy.

JonDE

Are you suggesting that retired people should not be allowed to vote?

Evo

Most retired people pay taxes. IMO.

turbo

I am retired (disabled) and I pay taxes. It sucks to have to deal with right-wingers who assume otherwise, but that comes with the territory.

Also, many people who get earned income tax credits are in that situation for a reason - and no right-winger will ever acknowledge the need for such an offset, though they will gleefully accept offsets and tax-deductions for the rich. Who are these people? Do they all expect to hit it rich and be millionaires in a few years? It doesn't happen that way, boys and girls.

Jasongreat

Are you saying all blacks and all women dont pay taxes and shouldnt vote? Since that was your reply to the previous post. I know I will be labeled a right wing extremist, but I would like to get back to the system that only property owners can vote. Why should we allow those who own no property to vote on confiscating other peoples property? If we look back at the history of the US, when property qualifications were required to vote our government was limited, as soon as the progressives brought us the democracy argument that everyone should vote, our government has grown in numbers only the most 'educated' can 'understand'.

WhoWee

I stipulated a payment of $1.00 in federal income taxes - and you express outrage?

As for your comments about women and black people - what is the purpose and what is the basis of your attack and devisive rhetoric?

lisab

Yeah...don't you just hate it when that old dusty, musty US Constitution gets in the way of "if I could run the world" ideas.....

WhoWee

Just throwing out ideas for the Occupiers - they seem to need some direction.

Bobbywhy

It appears that you have either overlooked or avoided paying attention to the information contained in post #11 here, namely, that the Occupy Movement is indeed beginning to find its "direction".

ThomasT

Define "retired people". How many are there? How many of them pay taxes?

ThomasT

Why do you think this is a good idea? As it is now only about 50% of eligible voters vote.

Pythagorean

Wait, why is more voters better? I'm often in the minority, so I'm not all for the majority making decisions for me.

ThomasT

Well, the first thing that comes to my mind is that stuff about a country for, by and of the people. But then I suppose that excluding as many people from the process as possible would make things simpler if the aim is to control rather than to improve.

Jasongreat

I missed the part about it being for the few,by the few, against many at the expense of the few. And I suppose that including as many people to the process as possible would make things simpler if the aim is to control rather than to improve, which seems to me the progressive view from Teddy on.

Mege:
That is funny. :D

daveb

I think is a ridiculous concept since there are some who make next to nothing but provide a valuable service (such as Peace Corps workers). Why should they not be allowed to vote?