Re:Police use new device to seize money in bank accounts or ...
by incongruity on Thursday June 09, 2016 @12:18PM
(#11870365)
I'd rather see it directed, specifically, to needed public goods. Otherwise it becomes just another generic revenue source (i.e.: a tax) and, over-time, it becomes all too tempting to still milk it for more money. Red light cameras are a good example of this. Revenues from them (in Chicago, at least) went to the city's general fund. That didn't stop the city from reducing yellow light times to increase revenues.
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Re:Police use new device to seize money in bank accounts or ...
by harryh on Thursday June 09, 2016 @01:23PM
(#11870818)
I like that goal too, but I'm not sure how to really do that. A lot of states direct all lottery money to education but that just allows the states to spend less on education out of the general fund. Ultimately money is a fungible thing. No way around that.
Re:Police use new device to seize money in bank accounts or ...
by incongruity on Thursday June 09, 2016 @04:23PM
(#11872079)
That's certainly fair/true. FWIW, I appreciate the symbolism and/or keeping revenue streams constrained. At least that forces governments to be honest in taxation rather than allowing these back-door taxation strategies.