Buying votes

While it is illegal to buy votes it is acceptable to institute programs that curry votes. For the very low income offer free childcare for preschoolers, Medicaid and food stamps. Next up the economic ladder offer child tax credit and earned income credit. Moving up offer tax deductible mortgage interest and property tax. Up again offer deferred compensation and stock options and finally for the top capital gains tax instead of income tax. Our government runs on offering benefits for votes. We have now reached the point where half of the people pay no income tax so they are encouraged to vote for more benefits. In 1951 a guy named Peterson said the government can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. Some say we are approaching that point.