Here’s this week’s nonpartisan solution — this one aimed at the completely attainable goal of fixing and saving America (by ‘America’, I brashly mean the United States thereof).
Are you ready? This is a good one:
Advance tax payments.
Yup. Simple as that. Citizens who wish to pay their next year’s taxes ahead of schedule are encouraged to do so! There has to be a tax break of some sort or a tasty little deduction for the favor, of course. This idea really pops when we all agree that the government invest all of the ‘advance tax payments’ in U.S.-held state-and municipal bonds and a small portion of low-risk mutual funds.
Seriously. . . let’s get some of that money early from those who have it parked on the bench, call them ‘heroes’ for their voluntary action (more effective than throwing tomatoes at them from your protest encampment, yes?), and use their money wisely to nudge our deficit down a little. . .
What’s a good incentive? A tax-bracket bump-down for every dollar paid min. 8 months early? A discount on T-Bills? Something along those lines.
. . . and just think about all those states and municipalities getting juiced for infrastructure, development, green energy somethin’ (now I got ya on board – -I said ‘green’), etc. . . All of a sudden taxpayer money is put to good use: The U.S. treasury invests in long-term earnings from its states and cities, which supports local and regional economies. . . we get cash flowing into the system smartly. . .
And people who are doing well for a few years can get a little assurance looking ahead: if they’ve already paid their estimated taxes for a couple years out, they’ll be able to weather downturns better; also, they’ll be less risk-adverse regarding investment opportunities.
Are there holes in this plan? Let’s plug them! Who wants to run with this one? Jeez, I’m givin’ y’all the entire candy store here at Enough BS Already. . . tied up with a neat little bow and everything.
