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Least Bad Tax

Choose the form of the destructor!

Picture this scene[1] from the film, Ghostbusters[2]:

Gozer the Gozerian: Sub-creatures. Gozer the Gozerian, Gozer the Destructor, Volgus Zildrohar, the Traveler has come. Choose and perish.

Ghostbusters-facing-gozar.png

Ray Stantz: What do you mean, choose? We don't understand.

Gozer the Gozerian: Choose. Choose the form of the Destructor.

Peter Venkman: Oh, I get it! I get it. Oh! Very cute. [to the others] "Whatever we think of." If we think of J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover will appear and destroy us, okay? So empty your heads. Empty your heads. Don't think of anything. We've only got one shot at this.

Gozer the Gozerian: The choice is made.

Peter Venkman: Whoa! Hold on! Whoa!

Gozer the Gozerian: The Traveler has come.

Peter Venkman: Nobody "choosed" anything! [turns to Egon] Did you choose anything?

Egon Spengler: No.

Peter Venkman: [to Winston] Did you?

Winston Zeddemore: My mind is totally blank.

Peter Venkman: I didn't choose anything! [All three slowly turn to confront Ray]

Ray Stantz: I couldn't help it. It just popped in there.

Peter Venkman: [sternly] What? What just popped in there?

Ray Stantz: I-- I-I tried to think--

Egon Spengler: LOOK! [They all look over one side of the roof]

Ray Stantz: No! It can't be!

Peter Venkman: What is it?

Ray Stantz: It can't be!

Peter Venkman: What did you do, Ray?

Winston Zeddemore: Oh, shit!

[They all see a giant cubic white head topped with a sailor hat]

Ray Stantz: [resigned] It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

[the Ghostbusters watch the gigantic form of Mr. Stay-Puft stomping towards them]

Peter Venkman: Well, there's something you don't see every day.

Ray Stantz: I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood, something that could never, ever possibly destroy us: Mr. Stay-Puft.

Peter Venkman: Nice thinkin', Ray.

Now, choose!

Ghostbusters.png



Tax Scheme Pros Cons Notes Entities that Use Supporters
Personal income tax
Corporate income tax
Property tax (land)
Property tax (other assets)
Sales tax
Estate/Death/Inheritance tax
Poll/Head tax
Import/Export tax (Tariffs)
Value-Added tax
Capital Gains tax
Excise tax (fuel, alcohol, etc.)
Wealth/Net-Worth tax