Suggestions for how to reduce spending, balance the budget, and pay off the deficit

[Matt J]

Actually if the mob simply reported their income the IRS would leave them alone.

 

[Bob Wells]

If an activity is illegal, the government is already into it. They can throw you in jail. I guess you'd rather keep certain vices illegal in order to avoid taxes. I'd rather be taxed than imprisoned myself.

I am not talking about illegal/ legal. I am talking about regulation and the cost to government to regulate. There also would be a cost to do business above paying a tax on it. Think about it, Walton County has no business license, so the prostitute would be unregulated as to her/ his business. Suppose they are running their business out of the house/ condo next to yours. Plus this particular business would seem to be a primarily cash business, which may lead to tax evasion and more government scrutinity.

 

[Matt J]

I am not talking about illegal/ legal. I am talking about regulation and the cost to government to regulate. There also would be a cost to do business above paying a tax on it. Think about it, Walton County has no business license, so the prostitute would be unregulated as to her/ his business. Suppose they are running their business out of the house/ condo next to yours. Plus this particular business would seem to be a primarily cash business, which may lead to tax evasion and more government scrutinity.

Actually it would violate the adult businesses ordinance the county has, so the county could act to shut them down.

 

[LuciferSam]

I am not talking about illegal/ legal. I am talking about regulation and the cost to government to regulate. There also would be a cost to do business above paying a tax on it. Think about it, Walton County has no business license, so the prostitute would be unregulated as to her/ his business. Suppose they are running their business out of the house/ condo next to yours. Plus this particular business would seem to be a primarily cash business, which may lead to tax evasion and more government scrutinity.

So you don't think there would be a net gain in tax revenue from these activities in the grand scheme of things? Well I guess you're entitled to your opinion.

 

[Andy A]

There is a lot of that "you're entitled to your opinion" running around these days.

 

[LuciferSam]

There is a lot of that "you're entitled to your opinion" running around these days.

Your point being???

 

[Andy A]

It was said in good humor. I guess I should have used a smiley so all would understand.

 

[LuciferSam]

It was said in good humor. I guess I should have used a smiley so all would understand.

That's cool. I just wasn't sure what you meant.

 

[Bob Wells]

So you don't think there would be a net gain in tax revenue from these activities in the grand scheme of things? Well I guess you're entitled to your opinion.

Not in certain businesses, I don't think there would be a net gain.
For canabis to to become a taxable commodity big business would have to be involved so as to track it and then they would have to make it addictive enough ala tobacco. As for prostitutes it would not work IMO, as they have a cash business and then how would you suggest we track it? Obviously if there was a solution then there would be a possibility, but I find it difficult to find a solution. Oh and thank you

 

[futurebeachbum]

Not in certain businesses, I don't think there would be a net gain.
For canabis to to become a taxable commodity big business would have to be involved so as to track it and then they would have to make it addictive enough ala tobacco. As for prostitutes it would not work IMO, as they have a cash business and then how would you suggest we track it? Obviously if there was a solution then there would be a possibility, but I find it difficult to find a solution. Oh and thank you

I actually believe that big business is involved in the canabis trade right now. Its just not big business that files tax returns and follows any laws.

The savings from legalizing canabis would come from more than tax revenues. It would allow law enforcement resources to be redirected towards other crimes, would reduce some prison overcrowding issues and would take some of the wind out of the sails of drug cartels. It should also reduce some of the illegal traffic through our porous borders.

I expect that a major amount of the funding behind anti-legalization efforts comes from the illegal drug trade. They're investing in it so that they don't suffer the drop in revenues that would come from legalization.