This presentation looks at the cost of collecting the income tax. The IRS overhead itself represents the direct cost to the government in generating this revenue. Beside that there is the burden put on the tax payer in preparing his return, in the case of an audit there may be the cost of representation before a tax court. You also become aware of the vast amount of human resources wasted on this activity for the revenue generated.
Would Rube Goldberg have been able to design a less straightforward system of funding government than the U S Federal income tax? In this presentation, HGS instructor Bob Jene looks at what it costs to collect this revenue. The direct cost to the government of operating the Internal Revenue Service is only a small part, as the burden put on the taxpayer, and the diversion of effort from productive uses, should also be considered.
America’s only Political Economy Book Club discusses Candide, Voltaire’s 1759 masterpiece that ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies and philosophers through allegory. As Jean Starobinski notes,”The fast-paced and improbable plot—in which characters narrowly escape death repeatedly, for instance—allows for compounding tragedies to befall the same characters over and over again.”
It’s only a hundred pages or so depending on the translation and format, and is available in English translation free from Project Gutenberg (in several formats) as well as from the Internet Archive, where there is also an audiobook.
PEBC coordinator Bob Matter would appreciate an RSVP, if possible, from those planning to attend.
Do we need to suffer like this (and/or pay someone else) in order to fund government? In this presentation, HGS instructor Bob Jene looks at what it costs to collect income taxes. The direct cost to the government of operating the Internal Revenue Service is only a small part, as the burden put on the taxpayer, and the diversion of effort from productive uses, should also be considered.
Metropolitan Planning Council’s Alden Loury will discuss his research into the costs that racial and ethnic segregation impose on all of us here, and might be persuaded to hint at the recommendations to come from phase 2 of the study. We have a post with a bit more information.
Bob Matter’s Political Economy Book Club is reading Jack London’s dystopian novel The Iron Heel. On June 25 we’ll discuss chapters 1-13, and on July 23 chapters 14-25. This 1908 text is available free from Project Gutenberg, in hardcopy from some public libraries, or as an audiobook. You can buy used hardcopies for < $10 from several vendors.
We’ll meet at the East Loop location of Bridgeport Coffeehouse, 73 E Jackson Blvd.
Bob Matter’s Political Economy Book Club concludes its discussion of Jack London’s dystopian novel The Iron Heel. On July 23 we treat chapters 14-25.
We’ll meet at the east loop location of Bridgeport Coffee, 73 E Jackson.
“In 1606, approximately 105 British colonists sailed to America, seeking gold and a trade route to the Pacific. Instead, they found disease, hunger, and hostile natives. Ill prepared for such hardship, the men responded with incompetence and infighting. Only the leadership of Captain John Smith averted doom….” (from the book jacket).