Is it buying votes, and is it ethical ?

[Cazzo]

When the government cuts taxes, that money was the people's money to begin with, so that's not buying votes when taxes are cut.

On the other hand, when the government (or someone in particular in the government) gives checks to the public, or raises taxes on some and gives more to those who don't pay taxes, isn't that buying votes ?
Is it ethical ?
If not, do you think it should be illegal ?

For example, President X comes along, and proposes raising taxes on the rich, and at the same time, giving checks to non-taxpayers. Both the President X and his particular party in congress push the bill through and it takes effect.
Is the president and his party buying votes ?

 

[cosmictraveler]

Yes.

 

[spidergoat]

Lowering taxes on the rich does kind of buy their votes. So does giving money to the poor (nobody doesn't pay taxes of some sort). But, this isn't necessarily the intent of such measures.

 

[joepistole]

I think you are misrepresenting the issues again. There is no quid quo pro in your senario. If doing things that are popular is vote buying, I think that is why our founding fathers made this government a representative democracy versus a monarchy...so that citizens could elect officials to do their will.

 

[swarm]

Tax anything over a million dollars a year at 100%