I still encourage the idea of positive reinforcement. The politicians must complete their own tax forms without help and for every error, they must deduct $1000.00 from their salary.

Hello Tap2Golf,
I don't know that it would matter. As some have pointed out, there are now so many getting returns or not paying any income taxes nowadays and they are so simple minded as to see it as a bonus instead of their own or someone else's money (earned income credit)... However, if we were to vote to force people to pay each quarter like business owners do instead of forcing employers to deduct... now that would have serious impact! Better yet scrap the system and press for a fair tax.. That's my two cents..
Regards,
O.A.

Or...at least hold the primaries on 4/16. Incumbents would be more sensitive to their own activities....and would-be challengers would have a strong position to kick off with.

This is a two-edged sword. Presumably, the moochers will have gotten their payoff by then and this would solidify the relationship between voting for the giveaway party versus getting the reward. Once the tipping point is reached as to which voters get more mooch-loot, it won't matter what day "April 15th" falls on, nor which day the elections are.

It is not a coincidence that elections are 6 months away from tax time... As far away as they can get.

Or...at least hold the primaries on 4/16. Incumbents would be more sensitive to their own activities....and would-be challengers would have a strong position to kick off with.

...Or...at least hold primaries on 4/16. Incumbents would be more aware as to the impact of their activities.

You have my vote

I like the reverse idea better - of moving the Income Tax deadline date from April 15 to some random day in the last week of October.

Something that's always rankled is the special relish with which the IRS - and their State-level counterparts - seems to adopt in dumping their avalanche of enslavement on people right smack in the aftermath of the Christmas holidays. Right after the time when, regardless of religiosity or its rejection, people typically celebrate abundance, well-earned relaxation, camaraderie, family, the self-evaluation and goal-setting of a New Year and its resolutions.

Its placement before Election Day is of obvious benefit, but its proximity to Halloween, witches, zombies, ghosts, goblins, monsters, and other random Scary Stuff, would be far more apt than a massive in-your-face killjoy immediately following what is for most people the single biggest and happiest vacation break of the year.
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Taxes. Such an ill subject. We all hate to pay, I must admit. Especially since what we pay isn´t invested on us directly and, I dare say, even indirectly. Today, I know that all my taxes are being spent on ill causes that don´t encourage anything but idleness, bigatry and unjustice.

In order for taxes to be fairer, I say let the public know how much of their share is reinvested to them directly, indirectly and not at all. For instance, I understand that maintanance is crucial, as well as security, health and education. This would all count for directly, as well as roads, communications, etc. Indirectly I would count welfare issues that go along the line of promoting honest jobs and true labor, not checks for the unemployed. I would also dare say industry, science (NASA included) and offshore markets (that would be beneficial indirectly, at the very least, to local gain).

The last category would go to the reserve, the federal parks and wildlife, inmigration benefits and control, and yes, even marketting and, lets say, culture such as music, film, sports, theatres and other such things as public libraries, buildings, etc.

Shame that this isn´t obvious to all...

If you brought an alcoholic to a place where someone has died of alcoholism, all you'd be doing is hurrying him out to the nearest bar. Those spendaholics would possibly hesitate for a minute or two before voting to spend millions in order to defend against the Martians in case there are any. In Washington, money no longer means any more than it does in a game of Monopoly. It is, however, a means of acquiring personal wealth. At the current rate, we are on the verge of a currency apocalypse so it may mean nothing at all in the long run.

No