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COMPLEXITY, SHOMPLEXITY
July 29, 2005
Kreig Mitchell responds to my post that asserts the tax law is complicated:
Joe Kristan asserts that the code is asked to do too much. I don’t agree with that statement. Being able to adjust where tax revenues originate from is a valid economic tool at the government’s disposal. This tool is no different than the government’s ability to spend and print more money, to issue and pay debt, and arguably to set interest rates and enter into international trade agreements. The fact is that there are not that many economic tools at the government’s disposal to regulate and possibly stimulate the economy. Why should the government ignore one of the few tools in its economic toolbox?
The original discussion wasn't about the proper role of the tax law; it was about whether the tax law is complicated. Mr. Mitchell doesn't really address my point: asking the tax law to do a lot of things inevitably makes it complicated, even if it is simple "for all that it does." If you designed a space shuttle that also did orthodontia, shined shoes, repaired transmissions and pressed laundry, it would be a complicated machine, even if it were simple "for what it does."
As to whether the tax law should do so many things, I suppose that depends on your confidence in the government to make so many decisions well and to enforce the resulting rules competently. Color me sceptical.
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Comments
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Name for me a more chilling line than:
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."
Posted by: hgstern | July 29, 2005 9:27 AM
Perhaps the traditional salutation from the Selective Service, "Greetings."
Posted by: Joe Kristan | July 29, 2005 10:25 AM