[Dialogue] The Life of Joe Republican

[David L. Thomas]

Bill Gates and others produced Microsoft and Microsoft's products.  These
products could not have been produced without the capital that they obtained
by selling shares or borrowing, so the owners of this capitol are rewarded
by dividends, capital gains, or interest.  These products could not have
been produced without the labor of Microsoft employees, so they have been
rewarded by salaries, stock options and other rewards.

These products also could not have been produced in Afghanistan, which has
lacked the necessary political, economic and social institutions and public
capitol, such as legal protections, scientific research, school buildings,
trained people, etc.  These social institutions and public capital in the
United States were produced by previous generations and can be said to
belong by inheritance equally to all our citizens.

A VAT tax charged on all production repays our citizens for that part of
productivity which results from our institutional and cultural heritage.  It
is a particularly appropriate source of revenue for Transfer payments to
people who need and deserve assistance.  The United States is almost the
only industrialized country which has no VAT tax and which imposes a heavy
(FICA) tax on employment, thereby discouraging employment which we value.
Tax shifting from employment taxes (FICA) to consumption taxes (VAT) has
been widely advocated by conservationists.  Dave Thomas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <FacilitationFla at aol.com>
To: <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] The Life of Joe Republican>
>
> Hi David,
>
> My little pea brain does not understand what this means.  Would you  give
me
> a more detailed explanation?
> Thanks,
> Cynthia Vance
>
> In a message dated 11/21/2004 12:09:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> DavThom at worldnet.att.net writes:
>
> People  believe that productivity is due to capitol and
> labor,  which should thus be rewarded.  They generally don't understand
that
> our cultural heritage and public capital accumulation are also factors  of
> production which should be rewarded.
>
> Cynthia N.  Vance
> Strategics International Inc.
> 8245 SW 116 Terrace
> Miami, FL  33156
> 305-378-1327
> Fax:  305-378-9178
> http://members.aol.com/facilitationfla