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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cosmicforce who wrote (70100)	1/10/2003 12:08:49 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

I'm talking about the general meaning of the word subsidy, not a specific definition that may exist in the US tax code. Congress or the IRS can define things anyway they want to. I'm looking at it from a bigger picture. If you were in a business, and one division was not being charged and another was, you are moving the cost center. This is a specific tax law being applied to one company (even if its two divisions), not a general philosophical principle that applies to all companies or individuals. Your bank robber example is bad because it is criminal and not officially sanctioned. The government taking money is sanctioned by the government. The bank robber taking money is sanctioned by the bank robber. Your example would be better if government has a natural right to prior claim on any wealth generated in the country. I deny that idea. The government has more power then the bank robber and it is more necessary and usually more popular then the bank robber but otherwise the analogy is perfect within the limit context of this discussion. Tim