[tjbiddle]

Taxes aren't just a means of revenue for the government, they're a means of incentivizing for various goals.

- Want a higher population? Give a deduction for children. - Want citizens to switch to alternative energies? Give a deduction for solar panel roofs and electric cars. - Want to reduce dependency on foreign oil? Give a deduction for new drilling operations. - Want to create more jobs? Give a deduction for each employee. - Want to create more housing? Give a deduction for real estate depreciation. - Want to encourage new technologies? Give a deduction for R&D expenses.

[kalleboo]

You could just hand out money instead of deducting it from taxes. E.g. it's common in many countries to get a child raising stipend which is basically cash in hand (well, in bank account)

[jsnider3]

Financially, these are the same, but politically they're not.

[pnongrata]

Taxes are also a way to disincentivize "behaviors", like taxing alcohol and tobacco, taxing pollution emitters.

[conanbatt]

You are making an excellent case for a revolt.

[ionised]

You want to revolt against how society has worked pretty much since the dawn of civilisation?

[conanbatt]

There's been plenty of revolutions since the dawn of civilization. But also taxing as a way to ('subtly') modify behavior is a very new concept, it didn't exist centuries ago.