2075
in Australia, when we pay taxes, we get a receipt. The receipt shows what our taxes were spent on
(lemmy.world)
I assume "Other purposes" is govt kickbacks to mining and gas companies 😬
Not only this, I think this should be selectable by taxpayers before they pay taxes so they can customize the amount that goes to each category. This would be the true democratic way of doing it. So, for example, based on your salary you need to pay 20k in taxes. You'd then select how much you want to go into Transportation, Healthcare, defense, education, etc.
This wouldn't be truely democratic. It would rather be just like donations. Government spending works, because it's all out into the same basket. If it weren't, then rich taxpayers would move the movey to projects they want - and as would have very little old-age welfare, because they don't pay much taxes anymk6and every group in society would put the money into their projects.
If you can't see the obvious ways this would fail and/or be abused you should steer clear of any and all leadership positions.
Then everyone would just fund things 100% and 0% for everything else they deem not important, like education or roads.
That's the point. If people don't find it important, then it's not. Who else should decide if not the people?
There’s no point in having a government if you don’t let them decide how they spend and raise money
Tax-deductible donations get you part way there.
And if you get caught using a public service you didn't pay for, you get fined.