Posted on 03/24/2002 10:22:13 AM PST by The Old Hoosier
Capitol Q&A
Should Americans Pay Global Taxes?
In a March 19 op-ed in the Washington Post about the UN’s Monterrey Conference on Financing Development, Mexican President Vicente Fox indicated his support for a system of global taxation.
"As a stepping-stone on the path toward development for all," wrote Fox, "Monterrey should allow us to move closer to new and more far-reaching goals, including some proposals that didn’t make the radar screen this time. For example, global taxes such as the one proposed on carbon emissions could be used to finance global public goods. . . . The industrialized countries . . . [could provide] money for development and also a more efficient use of scarce resources."
Human Events Assistant Editor David Freddoso asked some senators last week if they would support Fox’s idea for global taxation.
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
You know, not at this time. I think that probably can be considered, but I don’t think it’s for this time. Because many other nations have tax problems, so how can they do it globally? I think we’re the most advanced nation in taxation. But I think it’s an idea to think about. Because eventually, the way things are going, if there’s a war on terrorism, it should be the whole world fighting it, not only the United States.
So you would want American taxpayers to pay some kind of global authority to wage the war on terror?
I think we need to take care of our own country and our own needs, as well as global peace, which extends to other countries. That’s what we’re doing right now.
So we shouldn’t just do it through funding our own military and diplomatic corps, but also some kind of super-governmental structure?
I think we’re not ready for that kind of tax.
But maybe later on we will be?
In the future, maybe. As other nations come up to a higher caliber, that may be a good idea. As we keep saying, the world is getting smaller and smaller, you know? And maybe, you know, "One nation on earth."
A one-world `government?
Yes.
—Sen. Daniel Akaka (D.-Hawaii)
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
I have no idea. I haven’t thought about it.
You might be open to the idea of paying global taxes?
I have to look at it in more detail before I’d have an opinion.
—Sen. John Breaux (D.-La.)
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
No, I don’t think we should do anything like pay global taxes. We pay our own taxes to our own country. If our country chooses, according to the law, to help poor countries, we ought to do that, but before we join in taxing ourselves for global commitments, we should tax ourselves for our own government’s commitments.
So you’re in favor of using domestic taxation to support development in other countries?
Sure. We’ve been contributing to Israel and Egypt since the peace accord was signed between the two countries. We’ve wasted a lot of money with bad formulas during the Cold War just to be competitive. But I think we’re on a much better approach now, because countries of the world are looking more for capitalist-type development, along with some kind of freedom or some kind of openness. That’s what America’s been doing, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. I think that’s okay. If we do it discreetly, consistent with something that’s rational—because it is a burden on the American people—but if it works right it gives us a better world to live in, a world that we can do more business in, and it’s a commitment of very wealthy countries to help lesser developed countries get rich, like we are.
—Sen. Pete Domenici (R.-N.M.)
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
. . . There has never been anything accomplished by the redistribution of wealth. What you have to do in order to help people become better off economically, is to help them to help themselves. You can give a man fish, and he’s got fish for a day, but you can teach him how to fish, and he’ll have fish for the rest of his life. . . . But there will be a lot of ideas cropping up. The most recent one is what’s come through the World Bank and the [IMF]. They want to keep their bureaucracies going through lending. Now our President at least has tried to short-circuit it, try to cut out all the efforts to mislead the people of the world, that really when we give loans to these poor countries, that the money is going to come back. It’s just like giving them money in the first place. So let’s just cut through it, short-circuit the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund bureaucracy, and get right to it. But let’s make sure that that money is used to build the economy and structure of a nation—particularly with small entrepreneurship—and forget about this business of just redistributing wealth. It doesn’t accomplish a thing.
—Sen. Chuck Grassley (R.-Ia.)
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
No.
Will you pledge to vote against any legislation instituting global taxation?
Yes. That’s easy.
—Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R.-Ark.)
Do you agree with what Mexican President Vicente Fox wrote today in the Washington Post, that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
No.
Will you pledge to vote against any legislation instituting global taxation?
Yeah, but I’m sure it would never come up in the United States Senate.
—Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.)
Do you agree with Mexican President Vicente Fox that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
That hasn’t even been on my screen. I’m sorry. I don’t know.
The idea of paying—
Did you hear me?
Sure, you—
Did you hear me? Did you hear me?
You wouldn’t reject outright the
idea of paying global taxes?
I have no idea. I’ve not been even in that area. I haven’t read about it. I make no comment, all right?
—Sen. Ted Stevens (R.-Alaska)
Do you agree with what Mexican President Vicente Fox wrote today in the Washington Post, that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
I can’t do interviews like this on one subject. I have not had an opportunity to study the statement, or what the pros and cons are. So I’m not able to give you a response, but I commend you for your diligence.
Thanks. But just the idea of global taxes, you wouldn’t reject it outright?
Sorry, interview’s over.
—Sen. John Warner (R.-Va.)
Do you agree with what Mexican President Vicente Fox wrote today in the Washington Post, that we should pay global taxes to support development in poor countries?
You know, I have not had a chance to look at this proposal. I don’t even think I’ve read the article yet. Sorry about that.
In general terms, he was talking about—
Who are you with?
Human Events. [Fox] wrote, "Global taxes, such as the one proposed on carbon emissions, could be used to finance global public goods. This is based on a simple premise—fairness. The industrialized countries that generate a disproportionate share of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, should pay accordingly, providing money for development, and also a more efficient use of scarce resources." Would you be in favor of something along those lines—would you be open to it?
I don’t know. I learned a long time ago, until I have a chance to really study something, to just say I don’t know. I’m not sure I would be in agreement with him, but I’d have to look at it more carefully.
You wouldn’t reject the idea of global taxes outright?
I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean, I have no idea.
—Sen. Paul Wellstone (D.-Minn.)
March 25, 2002
Since the U.S. has voluntarily given up $1.1 Trillion in Aid since 1944, I guess we'll be exempt from paying taxes for "public goods" like welfare for a while.
Can we deduct this expense from our global tax return as 'charitable' contribution??
grr. THESE INTERVIEW RESULTS ARE CRIMINAL & WORRISOME!!
Nothing in life is Free..everything has a cost. I would like some controls on the trade thing..I am sick of everything I pick up being made in China..
We need to have the ability to produce the necessities steel, auto...etc to maintain our sovereignity
Shows you how far this guys reality is from mine. To even consider out present system as an advancment is appalling. St Kitts is sounding better every day....
Well, since welfare didn't work very well here in the U.S., the logical thing to do is throw more money at it and have the U.N. spend it.
Some people are brain dead.
5.56mm
When they say they need to study something, it means them must consult with their advisors and lobbyists before making a decision.
The day we pledge taxes to the UN is the day I pledge to stop paying federal taxes and join the revolt against a government out of control.
I agree.
But, we don't have to call them "taxes" ya know..
I mean, if you use that word Americans won't sit for it. No way.
Call it "aid" and then see what happens.
The good news is that so many "armed Patriots" do have a gut-level negative reaction to such treason.
Yes, now would be the time to organize. Early. But prepared for the big stick if you are at all effective.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.