[Commie Basher]

The government should make it's money through taxation. If you want them to make money in other ways, be prepared to accept them doing all sorts of foolish things in pursuit of a buck.

I prefer that govt make money through means other than taxation. User fees, commerative stamps, Off-Track Betting (as in NY), and lottos are all better, since they are voluntary. I'd rather others voluntarily subsidize govt, so as to lower my tax burden.

[gridlock]

I prefer that govt make money through means other than taxation. User fees, commerative stamps, Off-Track Betting (as in NY), and lottos are all better, since they are voluntary.

User fees, commemrative stamps, OTB and lottos are all very inefficient ways to collect money. For the money taken in by the government, only something like 20% is available for government programs. Better to collect one quarter that amount in an 80% efficient tax, and minimize the burden on society.

BTW, did you know that NYC Off Track Betting routinely loses money? (That's looses in FReep-speak). So NYC is running these smelly, smarmy betting parlours all over town, and actually has to pay to keep them open. But the mayor can't close them, because it's impossible to cut any government program.

I used to live next door to one of these places. I always had a dozen cigar-smoking "patrons" outside my window, and a constant stream of people going to the back yard of the apartment building to pee on the bushes. And that place was losing money! I was paying tax money to keep that place open!