Episode
The Dangerous Myth of 'Taxpayer Money'
- Podcast
- Deep Dive
- Published
- Oct 7, 2024
- Duration seconds
- 549
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
This article argues that using the phrase ”taxpayer money” is harmful because it perpetuates a myth that only certain groups of people contribute to society, particularly wealthy, white, and male individuals. The author contends that the phrase reinforces the idea that taxation is theft, and that government spending is somehow stealing from “taxpayers” rather than utilising public money for the benefit of everyone. This, the author argues, reinforces the idea that “taxpayers” are the ones who deserve to be protected by the government rather than the public at large, and it reinforces a politics of faux-populism that benefits the wealthy at the expense of the poor. The author further explains that public spending is not about collecting money but about creating new money, and that using public money for the benefit of everyone, including the less wealthy, is the correct and ethical path forward. Sources: https://www.splinter.com/the-dangerous-myth-of-taxpayer-money-1819658902, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/04/taxpayer-dollars-the-origins-of-austeritys-racist-catchphrase/