Taxing Forums and Other Ideas

[Philip Locke]

I’ve been mulling over the following proposals for some time now. I feel that their implementation (at least in part) would help fuel our economy and create a real, easily visible dichotomy of winners/losers to help motivate and focus up and coming entrepreneurs.1.&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Impose an imperial tax upon all forums that do not belong to necessary government organs. This tax would be proportional – the more posts a forum gets, the more smaller the tax. To eliminate the potential problem of people spamming their forum into a lower tax bracket, revenue agents will perform routine examinations. These forum taxes will be collected monthly. Forums that miss one collection come under control of the Crown; forums that miss two collections are to be deleted after their posts are moved to a “debtor’s prison” of sorts. Post will remain safely there until sufficient funds can be gathered to pay for the missed taxes and for a “forum construction fee”.Some may call this unfair, but I see it as an effective and just way to stimulate the economy. Those organizations, institutions, and entities that can thrive will do so, and those that are just taking up space and resources will perish.&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Per esempio: Hyperborea, having three active and employed citizens, will surely be able to raise enough money to satisfy the tax collectors. However, the Boomist Temple, have few (if any) regular worshipers willing to donate Erb to its coffers, may very well be shut down.&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp If this tax was imposed, than a whole plethora of organizations would develop as a reaction to it. Say…a Shirerithian historical society might be founded and, with contributions from its members, support the continued existence of the aforementioned Temple. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp We would also be faced with lively public/private education debates, for the University would hardly survive under this system in its current state.Examples of taxable forums:&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Duchies&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Baronies&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Religious institutions&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Educational institutions2.&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp A forum construction fee, as mentioned above.3.&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Tax benefits for those who contribute real-world funds for the renewal of Shireroth’s ezGold status.I’m looking for sympathetic nobles who would be willing to sponsor bills pushing for the institution of some or all of the above measures. Now it's time to kick out the jams, motherfucker!

[Shasta Rana Wanderlust]

That does make sense, but I think it should also include a period of time where the new forum (new only, mind you), is untaxable, so that it has an opportunity to build up an audience, as it were. So, if god is falliable, does that mean that this universe (or plane of existence, depending on your style of thought) could be nothing more than a metaphysical trashcan?Platypi point to this being true.

[Alexandra Decens]

Quote:However, the Boomist Temple, have few (if any) regular worshipers willing to donate Erb to its coffers, may very well be shut down.Well.. the imperial government is collecting taxes from the people...couldnt a portion of the collected taxes just go to saving the temple if the government wanted it there? Also....this could be applied to any institution the government wanted to keep and/or might me nessecary in Shireroth, whether or not it was continualy posted in and/or didnt pay their taxes on time......just bringing up a point... I have no custom signature...oh wait...

[Shasta Rana Wanderlust]

That would actually be an excellent use for the tax money that we have that isn't being used. So, if god is falliable, does that mean that this universe (or plane of existence, depending on your style of thought) could be nothing more than a metaphysical trashcan?Platypi point to this being true.

[david northworthy beckfor]

I like the ideaalso, sthere good be the ability for someone to start a forumfor there own business, club, whatever, charge a large start fee "Disclaimer: Whatever is in the above post is probably a result of my blind following of Kieran Bennett, because I have even less of a brain than Kieran. Don't even get me started on my lack of independent thought."

[Philip Locke]

Quote:That does make sense, but I think it should also include a period of time where the new forum (new only, mind you), is untaxable, so that it has an opportunity to build up an audience, as it were.Agreed. A new forum should be exempt for one tax cycle (so, 30 days-ish).Quote:Well.. the imperial government is collecting taxes from the people...couldnt a portion of the collected taxes just go to saving the temple if the government wanted it there? No, I would prefer that the government remains secular. If it supports the Boomist Temple, then it can't refuse to support any other religious institutions that may spring up. Quote:Also....this could be applied to any institution the government wanted to keep and/or might me nessecary in Shireroth, whether or not it was continualy posted in and/or didnt pay their taxes on time...Think about that.Any unnecessary institution would only be given government funding if the Landsraad approved such monetary support. The Landsraad represents (and comprises much of) the citizenry of the nation, from which the taxes that would support these needless institutions would be collected. The more organizations that the Crown needs to prop-up, the more Erb it needs to take from its subjects.My system would eliminate wasteful spending, ensuring that citizens' hard earned money would not be used to keep dead wood afloat. Edited by: Philip Locke at: 3/10/04 7:12 pm

[Erik Mortis]

I like it....the university is government run... so why would it be taxed? Erik Mortis BrookshireCommoner of Alexandretta

[Philip Locke]

Because it is not essential.

[Alexandra Decens]

Quote:No, I would prefer that the government remains secular. If it supports the Boomist Temple, then it can't refuse to support any other religious institutions that may spring up.Unlike in the United States, Shireroth has no laws separating the church and the government I have no custom signature...oh wait...

[Philip Locke]

Actually, I believe that there is a bill that states that Boomism is the Established Church of Shireroth. I would like to see this scrapped, and I am currently networking to get a bill that would do so put before the Landsraad.

[Erik Mortis]

I know no such bill. It WAS a decree once.. but was revoked. Maybe no essential.. but why should the government have to pay itself to opperate? Erik Mortis BrookshireCommoner of Alexandretta

[Philip Locke]

It shouldn't - that's why no government forums would be taxed. I just keep on saying "unnecessary government forums" so as to differentiate between oh, say, the Landsraad and the Uni.

[Erik Mortis]

But this tax should proly be more for bussinesses and stuff....like ASTRO... The University is a central part of MORE.. now if it wanted More forums... than those would be unneccessary. Cause More... Momma..hell all the ministries could be called.. unneccessary.. only the Kaiser's court is REALLY neccessary. And maybe the Landsraad. Erik Mortis BrookshireCommoner of Alexandretta

[Kaiser Wyltheow I]

Taxing the university makes no sense. It's a public school and would logically rely on Government money to operate. I also don't believe we should tax duchy forums because We don't really allow them to operate on separate boards; however I am not adverse to taxing barony forums as they are non-essential and (most) can operate efficiently in the duchy forums. Wylþeow du GrifosThe Kaiser of ShirerothThe gods blessed you with power and a visionThe gods gave you life to accomplish a mission...

[Erik Mortis]

I'm currently working on a Bill that would include this tax and help establish a visible tax system in Shireroth. Locke, you may wanna come and check it out in Brookshire to see if you like the dirrection of the wording of the tax. I'm still in debate with MiniTrade over the details of my proposal so it may be some time before it comes forth. Erik Mortis BrookshireCommoner of Alexandretta

[david northworthy beckfor]

best not do this sort of thing in law...it means less flexability for the econ minister "Disclaimer: Whatever is in the above post is probably a result of my blind following of Kieran Bennett, because I have even less of a brain than Kieran. Don't even get me started on my lack of independent thought."

[Austi Scot]

I have an idea for a fee based maintenance structure of forums utilizing the ministry that currently does that work anyways. I don’t believe our economy is at the point to implement this yet but since this discussion is ongoing, let me attempt to give the structure of my thoughts on this.The Minister of the Interior is paid a fee – (the ministry already has a bank account) – is paid a fee perhaps every month by the “owner” of the forum. There may be some forums exempted, but we can find a method to include most forums (even government forums). This will allow the Minister of the Interior to “hire” people to perform forum work as he sees fit.Nobles are considered the “owner” of their Duchy or Barony forum. They are the ones who must pay the fee for their forum. Exactly how they get the money to pay the fee is their responsibility. I suggest a Nobility Tax and/or Business Tax, or perhaps they go to work for a company and earn a wage. – It’s up to the Noble to get a job or collect taxes in order to have the Erb to pay the fee.I’m attempting to get Mattlore Devious to charge sport team owners to have him run the sports league. He currently runs the rugby sport league, so there is an interest in Shireroth already for sports. There is also talk about a car racing event. Mattlore has mentioned running this event too. The rugby team owners can be considered for the most part to be nobles, but others could own teams as well – but there should be a limited number of team owners in any given sport. Mattlore would own the sports stadium forum and would be charged a fee by the Ministry of the Interior to maintain the forum. He gets the Erb from charging the team owners – Mattlore would basically be the sports commissioner.Mattlore already has a bank account and so do most of the team owners.It could end there but there is another aspect that could be added to enhance the economic simulation. Now this one is a little more involved – but not at all difficult. The team owners form an association that sells tickets to the games. The stadium forum is made restricted and/or hidden and accessible only to people who purchase tickets each month. The sports association has one person who sells the tickets and notifies the Minister of the Interior who is to be given access each month.Mattlore runs the games and post them in the stadium just as he is already doing. Those with tickets to the games can access the forum – those who don’t buy tickets can’t. The Erb collected for tickets is shared between the teams and used to pay the fee to Mattlore for running the games.I suppose the religious forums would have to be supported by donations from those who attend “church”. The person who wants the forum could just pay the fee out of the salary they receive from working for an employer (business or ministry).All businesses must designate their location in a Duchy or Barony and are operating out of a thread. A.S.T.R.O. was given a forum and there is no reason a business can’t be given a thread and pay the fee from the Erb they earn by being in business.While the university forums are under a governmental ministry there is every reason they could charge tuition and pay the forum fee from that. If the Minister doesn’t want to have manager an account he could do as MoMA has done and hire a financial officer. A tuition would even allow for a salary to paid to professors – if people take their course.Government forums could be pay the fee from the income tax collected.The fees should fit in the economy – thus being low at least to start with, and perhaps be on a sliding scale. The sports stadium may well take more effort by the Ministry of the Interior and perhaps have to pay a higher fee as a result. A business might have to pay a higher fee than a Duchy or Barony.A Duchy or Barony might pay a fee to have a new banner put up – or designed by the Ministry, unless they want to do it themselves or hire one of the Shirerothian business to design the banner.Austi ScotMinister of Trade