Current Events > Beto proposes 'war tax' to pay for veterans' healthcare

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https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/06/24/politics/beto-orourke-war-tax-veterans-plan/index.html

Non-military households would pay a "war tax" to help cover the health care of veterans of newly-authorized wars under a plan Beto O'Rourke's campaign unveiled Monday.

The former Texas congressman and 2020 Democratic presidential contender's proposal is part of a series of health and economic measures aimed at improving care for veterans.

O'Rourke is in Tampa on Monday for a veterans' roundtable, where he is expected to discuss his plan for the first time. It comes before the Democratic field holds its first debate Wednesday and Thursday nights in Miami.

O'Rourke is also calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with half the money currently being spent there redirected to programs for veterans of those wars.

Money collected through the "war tax" -- which he is proposing for future wars -- would go into a new trust fund for veterans established at the outset of each war.

Households making less than $30,000 per year would pay $25; those making less than $40,000 would pay $57; those making less than $50,000 would pay $98; those making less than $75,000 would pay $164; those making less than $100,000 would pay $270; those making less than $200,000 would pay $485; and those making more than $200,000 would pay $1,000.

"This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families," O'Rourke's plan says.
O'Rourke had introduced legislation in 2016 and 2017, while he was in the US House of Representatives, to create the same "war tax" and trust funds for veterans of future wars.

The idea is not a new one: Prior to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States had historically levied additional taxes in times of war. Under former President Lyndon B. Johnson, Congress enacted an income tax surcharge that meant taxpayers eventually owed 10% more. A group of House Democrats sought a similar tax in the mid-2000s, but were unsuccessful.

Gotta be a better way to brand this, imo
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Shouldn't part of the bajillion dollars they already spend on war go to that?
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I'll admit it's very in your face about war and supporting it.
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stone posted...

Shouldn't part of the bajillion dollars they already spend on war go to that?

To his credit, that seems to be a big part of his plan:

O'Rourke is also calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with half the money currently being spent there redirected to programs for veterans of those wars.

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stone posted...

Shouldn't part of the bajillion dollars they already spend on war go to that?

No that just buys the stuff and pays the current people.

I like this idea. People always talk about supporting vets.. so.... Prove it.
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Like enough of our taxes don't already go towards military spending. How about we buy one or two fewer jets, that's literally millions of dollars right there
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Why? Why not just reallocate some of the already insane military budget we have to provide that for the veterans like it should?

How did he think this was a smart plan at all? The people are already paying for the military.

Antifar posted...

stone posted...

Shouldn't part of the bajillion dollars they already spend on war go to that?

To his credit, that seems to be a big part of his plan:

O'Rourke is also calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with half the money currently being spent there redirected to programs for veterans of those wars.

Well that would work, but I don't see why have a new tax on top of it if they're trying to redirect all that money to their care already.
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War already extracts a tax from us all
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The Pentagon cant account for somewhere in the vicinity of 6.5 trillion dollars. Shouldnt we be pushing for more financial oversight instead of throwing more money into a pit? Im sure we could find plenty to spare.
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I was hoping this would be some sort of sales, excise, or VAT on the sale or production of weapons and machinery used in war. Not just another income tax on the people.
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Wtf is with Democrats wanting to tax everybody into the poor house, and the ones that are already there out onto the street?
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One of my vet friends told me about how spending works with a nice story.

Basically, his CO told him that, if they don't use up millions of dollars of equipment, the next allotted budget will shrink.

So they took the remaining stock of rocket launchers and drones, and played the world's most expensive round of clay shooting. So that they could spend more money next time, which they will then blow on destroying rocket launchers and drones.

I'm enlisting and that shit still sounds super fucked up.
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Guide posted...

One of my vet friends told me about how spending works with a nice story.

Basically, his CO told him that, if they don't use up millions of dollars of equipment, the next allotted budget will shrink.

So they took the remaining stock of rocket launchers and drones, and played the world's most expensive round of clay shooting. So that they could spend more money next time, which they will then blow on destroying rocket launchers and drones.

I'm enlisting and that shit still sounds super fucked up.

Dude that's government spending 101. Use your budget or it shrinks.
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Guide posted...

One of my vet friends told me about how spending works with a nice story.

Basically, his CO told him that, if they don't use up millions of dollars of equipment, the next allotted budget will shrink.

So they took the remaining stock of rocket launchers and drones, and played the world's most expensive round of clay shooting. So that they could spend more money next time, which they will then blow on destroying rocket launchers and drones.

I'm enlisting and that shit still sounds super fucked up.

https://vimeo.com/27060669

Wish that was on youtube
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eston posted...

Like enough of our taxes don't already go towards military spending. How about we buy one or two fewer jets, that's literally millions of dollars right there

this.
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I like the idea of new taxes for new wars, because they will create political pressure to prevent endless wars.
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"War Tax" would be forcing the children of congress to fight in each war they support

like the athenians used to do
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This is a fucking stupid idea for a new tax.
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isn't this something a third world war chief would do?
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I deal with the VA on a daily basis. They're a total embarrassment and no amount of money will fix them.
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hold a vote on the war and those who vote in favor pay the tax
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Guide posted...

One of my vet friends told me about how spending works with a nice story.

Basically, his CO told him that, if they don't use up millions of dollars of equipment, the next allotted budget will shrink.

So they took the remaining stock of rocket launchers and drones, and played the world's most expensive round of clay shooting. So that they could spend more money next time, which they will then blow on destroying rocket launchers and drones.

I'm enlisting and that shit still sounds super fucked up.

This is how state spending works too. I see it every year and it's crazy. I wish there was a better system, like maybe giving agencies credits for unused budget
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eston posted...

Guide posted...

One of my vet friends told me about how spending works with a nice story.

Basically, his CO told him that, if they don't use up millions of dollars of equipment, the next allotted budget will shrink.

So they took the remaining stock of rocket launchers and drones, and played the world's most expensive round of clay shooting. So that they could spend more money next time, which they will then blow on destroying rocket launchers and drones.

I'm enlisting and that shit still sounds super fucked up.

This is how state spending works too. I see it every year and it's crazy. I wish there was a better system, like maybe giving agencies credits for unused budget

Give bonuses for going under budget while still acheiving the goals of said budget.
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"We love our soldiers and thank them for their service! God bless you! God bless America! We're forever in your debt."

Veteran: "I caught cancer with serving in Iraq and while I was away my roof caved in, can I have some support to fix my life?"

"......Go away"

I mean I get the argument that soldiers shouldn't get special treatment but I don't get why the American media and political figures, especially conservatives acts like they should and talks like they should. But then they back out of actually doing anything beyond words :/

Either care or don't care. Don't say you care and then do nothing.
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King_Hellebuyck posted...

This is a fucking stupid idea for a new tax.

It really isn't. When there is a war, we pay more taxes, when there isn't, we pay normal amounts. It will make people feel the cost of war more which would hopefully cause us to be more selective about what we get into.
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uwnim posted...

King_Hellebuyck posted...

This is a fucking stupid idea for a new tax.

It really isn't. When there is a war, we pay more taxes, when there isn't, we pay normal amounts. It will make people feel the cost of war more which would hopefully cause us to be more selective about what we get into.

... But isn't there always a war somewhere that the American army sticks their nose into?
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This is fucking stupid. Why should citizens be taxed to pay more toward the military when :

-They choose to go
-They're already paid to go
-They get 2 years worth of food and housing for next to both nothing, if not outright free for every run
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stone posted...

uwnim posted...

King_Hellebuyck posted...

This is a fucking stupid idea for a new tax.

It really isn't. When there is a war, we pay more taxes, when there isn't, we pay normal amounts. It will make people feel the cost of war more which would hopefully cause us to be more selective about what we get into.

... But isn't there always a war somewhere that the American army sticks their nose into?

In our history there's like 20 years where we weren't in a war or supporting an ally in a war or some shit like that.
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stone posted...

uwnim posted...

King_Hellebuyck posted...

This is a fucking stupid idea for a new tax.

It really isn't. When there is a war, we pay more taxes, when there isn't, we pay normal amounts. It will make people feel the cost of war more which would hopefully cause us to be more selective about what we get into.

... But isn't there always a war somewhere that the American army sticks their nose into?

Yeah, and we should stop doing that.
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EnragedSlith posted...

The Pentagon cant account for somewhere in the vicinity of 6.5 trillion dollars. Shouldnt we be pushing for more financial oversight instead of throwing more money into a pit? Im sure we could find plenty to spare.

Government holding itself accountable?

HA
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Non-military households would pay a "war tax" to help cover the health care of veterans of newly-authorized wars under a plan Beto O'Rourke's campaign unveiled Monday.

This is likely to be challenged in the courts immediately, from an "equal protection" angle.

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Balrog0 posted...

isn't this something a third world war chief would do?

...No?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZARAldXlSyA" data-time="
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uwnim posted...

It will make people feel the cost of war more which would hopefully cause us to be more selective about what we get into.

That makes it sound like the US military actions are mainly driven by popular support.
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