When toys are recalled from Mattel and beef is withdrawn from school cafeterias, there is a loud outcry over the lack of regulation and controls needed to protect us from dangers that may hide in any product we buy, from the food we consume to the clothing we wear.
However, safety requires testing and testing requires funding, which may only come partly through fees paid to government agencies by businesses that want their customers to be assured that the products they sell will do no harm.
In addition to testing and inspection of products bought by the consumer is the enforcement of safety rules for workers.
Then there is the very basic matter of protection from injury by fire, for which we pay our fire departments (with a few communities able to get by with volunteers). Yet here, as with other services we expect to be available when we need them, we can be skimpy in funding fire services, as happened in San Diego County in California. In recent large fires many homes were saved by valiant fire fighters, but there was not enough equipment because the voters had not approved the necessary funding.
If you are aware of other programs funded by local, state, and/or national taxes that help protect us from injury that are not included in this list, please let me know. Use the Contact Us form.
How do you want your taxes to be spent to protect you, and others, against injury? |
| ________ |
Enforcement of workplace safety rules |
| ________ |
Enforcement of laws to assure safe food and drugs |
| ________ |
Testing of products used in the home ranging from children's toys to soap and polish |
| ________ |
Fire fighting services including adequate equipment |
| ________ |
Enforcement of air safety standards |
| ________ |
Programs to prevent sexual and physical abuse |
| ________ |
Testing and enforcement of car safety standards |
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HOW TO PLAY
1. Read How Will the Election Change Our Taxes? for an introduction to the game.
2. Read Rules for the Tax-and-Spend Game in order to understand the assumptions under which the rules have been written — and to learn what you have to do to win the game.
3. Use the line in front of each item to write how you would like funding to continue, to be reduced, to be increased, or to be eliminated.
4. Complete all eleven categories in order to win the game.
Remember, while eliminating government waste should be pursued if for no other reason than that it will reduce taxes to some extent, that action alone will not eliminate the national debt.
Ask yourself the following questions to help you consider the importance of each item on the left. Pay particular attention to "why" and/or "how" you answer the question the way you do.
 Have I or my friends benefited from this government program? How?
In what way does this service benefit society as a whole even if I, or my family and friends, are not personally affected by the program?
Do I believe government should fund this program? Why?
If I am currently participating or benefiting from this program, would I be willing to have it eliminated in order to balance the budget?
How would I suggest the services provided by this program be funded? Why? See How Does the Government Get Our Money?
Could the services of this program be easily provided by the private sector? If so, how?
In the line to the left of each item, write one of the following:
Maintain . . .
. . . indicates you are satisfied in having your taxes support that particular program to protect you, and others, against injury in local, state, and national budgets at the same rate your taxes fund it today
Decrease . . .
. . . indicates you want to spend fewer of your tax dollars on that item
Increase . . .
. . . means you believe the government needs to do more than it is currently doing and you are willing to be taxed accordingly
Eliminate . . .
. . . means you do not want the government to provide this service and you know a way in which it can be supported effectively without taxes (see How We Pay for Government Services)
Use the Contact Us form to send comments and questions concerning the Tax-and-Spend Game. |
Protection Against Injury