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How many of you truly understand how the invisible hand works? Here's a simple test to find out.
Should taxpayers have the option to directly give their taxes to the government organizations that they believe are underfunded?
Yes = you understand how the invisible hand works
No = you do not understand how the invisible hand works
This test is simple...but it's not perfect. If you answered "no" but believe that you do understand how the invisible hand works...then compare your justification to all the justifications of other people that also answered "no"...Unglamorous but Important Things. Just search that page for keywords to find a justification that closely matches your own.
What about fairness?
Perhaps you truly do understand how the invisible hand works but you don't believe that it would be fair for wealthy people to have more of a say than poor people. But if you argue for fairness of spending in the public sector...then do you also argue for fairness of spending in the private sector?
Do you think it's fair that your favorite sports athlete or favorite actor or favorite musician or favorite author has more money to spend then you do? If you don't think it's fair then why do you purchase tickets to their matches or purchase their DVDs or purchase their songs from iTunes or purchase their books? If you didn't think it was fair for wealthy people to pay more taxes in the public sector...then what would stop you from engaging in ethical consumerism by boycotting them in the private sector?
What about logistics?
Non-profits are able to plan their budgets despite the fact that donors can make donations whenever they want. So why wouldn’t government organizations be able to plan their budgets despite the fact that taxpayers would be able to pay their taxes whenever they wanted?
Should taxpayers have the option to directly give their taxes to the government organizations that they believe are underfunded?
Yes = you understand how the invisible hand works
No = you do not understand how the invisible hand works
This test is simple...but it's not perfect. If you answered "no" but believe that you do understand how the invisible hand works...then compare your justification to all the justifications of other people that also answered "no"...Unglamorous but Important Things. Just search that page for keywords to find a justification that closely matches your own.
What about fairness?
Perhaps you truly do understand how the invisible hand works but you don't believe that it would be fair for wealthy people to have more of a say than poor people. But if you argue for fairness of spending in the public sector...then do you also argue for fairness of spending in the private sector?
Do you think it's fair that your favorite sports athlete or favorite actor or favorite musician or favorite author has more money to spend then you do? If you don't think it's fair then why do you purchase tickets to their matches or purchase their DVDs or purchase their songs from iTunes or purchase their books? If you didn't think it was fair for wealthy people to pay more taxes in the public sector...then what would stop you from engaging in ethical consumerism by boycotting them in the private sector?
What about logistics?
Non-profits are able to plan their budgets despite the fact that donors can make donations whenever they want. So why wouldn’t government organizations be able to plan their budgets despite the fact that taxpayers would be able to pay their taxes whenever they wanted?