Mind you I'm not a polysci major or anything, but I've seen more than a few people here who seem to be on top of their game politically and economically.
So I was walking home from work, and passed yet another homeless person. This one was legit and asking for non-perishable food straightup, not just some ass panhandling for money. I got to thinking and this is a summation of my thoughts:
+Essentials should be exempt from a laissez faire economy. They should be rationed by the government as a constitutional right. All luxury goods and excess essentials can remain capitalistic.
How?
+Shift people's spending on essentials to spending on taxes to fund the provisions, essentially forcing everyone to be doing what is currently considered donating.
Why?
+So no-one falls through the cracks like with the current system that relies on generous donations.
I defined "essentials" as the following:
+Sufficient food and nutrition
-Can taste like crap
-Healthy and nutritious and provides at least 1800-2000 calories a day
+Utilities
-Water
-Heating
-Electricity
+Acceptable shelter
-Stays dry and warm
+Birth Control
-Free and available everywhere
-Multiple methods (Condoms and morning after pills etc)
You may or may not agree with some of those essentials, but let me continue:
+Food: The current farming system is retarded. Farmers make money NOT growing food because of capitalism applied to food. Farmers should be government employees, paid on a government payroll.
+Utilities: People oppose communistic governments. Instead, they'd rather a company extort them for the same goods and services. You pay for it with your money in taxes or you pay for it with your money in bills. The difference? People seem to hate the idea of paying taxes for something that doesn't go to them. In some cases, that's justified, but in the case of holding back so you can have luxury goods while someone goes without basic utilities is just asinine.
+Shelter: Habitat for humanity with solid backing. I'm not talking free houses, but at least you can stay somewhere dryer and warmer than a cardboard box (like an insulated wooden box! With a working lavatory!)
+Birth Control: Subtle population control. This is what really makes this work.
Now, this would never work given the amount of revenue it would cost the government with existing taxes. How much do you spend on food? Utilities? House payments? Add it all up. Would you pay that much in taxes instead? Figure out the minimum for living with those. Make 101% of that a tax to cover the taxed and the unfortunate.
Now this would never happen if it required the dissolving of existing monopolies. Can you imagine big companies like GE just bending over and accepting their demise? All existing enterprises on food and utilities and real-estate would actually continue, although they probably wouldn't like it. Only the minimum would be given for free and it would be rationed. Anything beyond that will cost whatever the market can bare from existing companies. Kind of like being charged for going over your monthly limit on your phone.
So what if you don't work, and thus can't really pay? This would replace welfare. I've noticed people (at least I've met) on welfare aren't smart with money. Giving them what they need rather than direct money takes away the responsibility from them.
Now this really would never happen because this would be labelled communism, every corporation that ever existed would oppose it, people don't like taxes, and it probably would cost somewhat more than the current system.
I think surprisingly little would change for the taxed. You'd pay slightly more for the minimum of the essentials. Everything else would remain, except all the bums on the street wouldn't be.
So imagine you were forced to donate for the less fortunate through taxes. Thoughts?
I know at least someone will agree that birth control should be eagerly provided to everyone for free