Let's drug-test the rich before approving tax deductions!

Here's a new one...I haven't seen THIS before!

We've seen in Florida and other places people get tested when ON forms of public assistance. What does ATS think about THIS idea though...?

Milwaukee congresswoman Gwen Moore, though, is “sick and tired, and sick and tired of being sick and tired, of the criminalization of poverty” she said in an interview on Wednesday. And, she added: “We’re not going to get rid of the federal deficit by cutting poor people off Snap. But if we are going to drug-test people to reduce the deficit, let’s start on the other end of the income spectrum.”

Why do I get the FEELING that more than a few politicians would be squirming as well as high paying donors? Can one REALLY sweat bullets? LOL

Moore plans to introduce a bill on Thursday that she thinks will even the playing field or, at least, “engage the wealthy in a conversation about what fair tax policy looks like”. The bill, called the Top 1% Accountability Act, would force taxpayers with itemized deductions of more than $150,000 – which, according to 2011 tax data compiled by the IRS, would only be households with a yearly federal adjusted gross income of more than $1m – to submit to the IRS a clear drug test from a sample no more than three months old, or take the much lower standard deduction when filing their taxes.

The Guardian

That's quite...BOLD if you ask ME! Asking the wealthy to do more?! Shame, shame, shame! We should be just GLAD they're here for us!

Drug test THE biggest tax-detecting wealthy...

Novel? Insulting? Biting the marvelous hand that feeds us?

How bad of a case of Stockholm syndrome does America have?

Can we add Corporate tax abatements, subsidies, tax credits and government contracts under these requirements too? Please and thank you.

Wrote a lot before reading the article, I should do that now and come back.

a reply to: DanteGaland

No one should be drug tested ever period , when related to taxes or benefits.

Drugs are not a problem. The war on drugs, aka the government, is.

a reply to: DanteGaland

This is off topic, but it made me think of something weird but kind of obvious. When you go into the DMV to get a drivers license or renew your license, why don't they breathalize you or give you a drug test? I don;t like it, but I don;t see how the government hasn't installed a program like that. If I have to take a drug test in order to get a job, I mean come on.

I am under the impression that those who want to drug test people who receive benefits want to do so because they think that tax payer money is going towards supporting a drug habit. Essentially, they don't want to pay for someone else's drugs.

The wealthy can afford to pay for their own drugs. What would drug testing them do for someone else, for example, a tax payer?

Note: I mostly agree with deadlyhope on this in that no one should be drug tested. I can think of a few circumstances where a drug test could be warranted. For example, if there is an accident in a workplace where the person responsible could have been under the influence of something. That's a private business matter though, and a private business should retain the right to drug test any of their employees if they so choose.

a reply to: DanteGaland

We need to stop drug testing people period. The idea is very bold I'll give her that. But we shouldn't be drug testing the poor or the rich.

But we can certainly stop giving the rich more tax breaks that aren't needed. Tax the rich, cut back the taxes on the middle class and the poor don't get taxed because they have nothing anyway. That's how it should be.

a reply to: DanteGaland

INDEED.

Though it might help the Republic more to just drug them into a lobotomized stupor 24/7/365. At least enough so they couldn't function in Congress at all. Maybe long enough to vote in some true Americans.

a reply to: DanteGaland

I disagree with that entirely. Drug test them for the corporate welfare they receive.

We should also make the politicians wear their sponsors jackets like the Formula 1 racing car drivers do too.

a reply to: Azureblue

I could vote to make them wear a tattoo across their foreheads:

!!!TRAITOR!!!

But most rich people owe taxes, so you'd be drug testing people to pay the govt?

a reply to: TycoonBarnaby

The wealthy can afford to pay for their own drugs. What would drug testing them do for someone else, for example, a tax payer?

The wealthy...do you mean like ...lawyers,judges,doctors,specialists,politicians ...Imagine what would drug testing would do

originally posted by: avgguy
But most rich people owe taxes, so you'd be drug testing people to pay the govt?

They likely owe taxes and are in arrears because they are on drugs.

Not kidding when i say i have meet a few on $50000 habbits a month and were racking up debts.

No matter how much money you have if you have habbit you will piss all your money away.

Why you think there are so many rock starts ect that end up going bankrupt?

Let's drug-test the rich before approving tax deductions!

And , drug test people before they vote....

How about let's not!

a reply to: DanteGaland

I really love the idea, but I'm also a realist. What makes her, or anyone for that matter, think that the rich won't find ways to pass the tests?? They can either buy the testers off, or just do what most people do: Buy those cleaner kits.

Now I'm going to sound like an ass, but I used to work for places that sold liquids to help people pass urine tests. We would always get people coming in angry because they didn't work. I've known many people who claim these don't work. Y'know why they don't work?? Because they're too stupid to 100% follow the instructions. They'll smoke the night before, chug the liquid, and assume they'll pass. I know the liquids we sold worked, because I've used them before. >_>;;

The rich didn't get rich by being stupid, so as nice as this all sounds on paper, they'll find ways to pass.

a reply to: DanteGaland

I know you are pitching this as a way to stick it to rich people for screwing over poor people all the time, but seriously can we just do away with drug testing altogether? It really is a HUGE invasion of privacy.

Fine then lets drug test the poor, and middle class to get their tax credits,deductions,rebates, and refunds too.

After all FAIR SHARE, FAIR PLAY, and all that jazz.

a reply to: neo96

Why not?

Either government drug tests for all or drug tests for none.

originally posted by: neo96
Fine then lets drug test the poor, and middle class to get their tax credits,deductions,rebates, and refunds too.

After all FAIR SHARE, FAIR PLAY, and all that jazz.

Sure. I know I'd pass...

How about everyone else?