A Modest Solution to Citizens United
Here's a crazy thought. What about extending personhood under the First Amendment ONLY to tax payers in proportion to the percentage of their income that they pay in taxes? Never mind one person one vote. Try one vote per 10% of income. Under the Eisenhower tax rate, this would have given the wealthiest 9 votes, because over 90% was the tax rate. If you want tax breaks, then you pay for it in votes. You want to pay less? You get less say. Votes = 10%(income) - (tax breaks + subsidies+deductions) /Unadjusted income.
Something like that
This would neuter the 1% who pay no taxes and create a substantial disincentive to cut taxes and would empower those who are too poor to afford tax shelters, high power tax attorneys and accountants.
Under this arrangement Romney, paying only 15% on capital gains, would get no more than 2 votes (rounding up, most generous.)
Companies like GE who make billions, but pay no taxes have no right to political free speech. Neither do High Income No Tax individuals.
I LIKE IT!
It absolutely turns Citizen United not just on its head, but inside out!
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