Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, is making waves again:
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo has an idea to recoup some of the money Hispanics send south of the border.
A tax.
The Colorado Republican got the idea this week after reading about a report on the estimated $30 billion in remittance sent to Latin American countries each year.
[...]
Tancredo couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday, but his spokesman, Carlos Espinosa, said the congressman is suggesting a 5 percent tax.
I've written before on the ethical problems of taxation. Let me go out on a limb and assert that stealing money from people is wrong.
Tancredo isn't happy with Mexican immigration. Now he's proposing to legally steal immigrants' money. His wing of the conservative movement is as morally bankrupt as any political group in the country.
Posted by Walter at May 20, 2004 09:49 PMAs you know, you and I have differing views of taxation, and I needed elaborate now.
But I'm, of course, not for any and all taxes, or taxes simply for the sake of taxes.
And the idea that we should be able to tax people simply because they want to send money to families out of the country is nuts. No justification whatsoever save simple bigotry.
That it would also be a tax on people who, overwhelmingly, are immensely poor, is just icing on the cake.
Of course, it's Tancredo, so it's hardly a surprise. I wonder if he has kids who he dresses up as Mexicans for Halloween.
Posted by: Gary Farber at May 20, 2004 11:53 PM"I needed elaborate now."
That was supposed to be "I need not elaborate now."
Posted by: Gary Farber at May 21, 2004 12:02 AMThis just seems to me to be an unenforceable tax and some kind of political stunt. Was Tancredo's ex wife Hispanic or something? He really seems to have a grudge against Hispanic’s that goes further than a political stance against immigration.
Posted by: severin at May 21, 2004 09:32 AM