Do you have any idea how much money you are forced to pay New Jersey, your county, and municipality?  There are major taxes and fees you pay directly to the government, and hundreds of more taxes you pay via pass through.

Most people don’t realize how much the state, county, and local governments take from you: an estimated $20,350 for the average household income in NJ, which is approximately $70,000/year.  If you make more than $70k/year, they tax you even more.

New Jersey is one of the highest taxed states in the union, not because our state provides better or more services for its citizens than other states, but as a result of waste and corruption.  New Jersey can operate on a lot less – your current elected officials want you to believe otherwise so they can divert funds in ways that benefit THEMSELVES.

The solution to this extreme taxation is Fiscal Democracy.

In a true democracy, every person votes on laws and conducts the public business.  The founding fathers of the U.S. Constitution realized that a true democracy was untenable due to several limitations, so they gave us a representative democracy.  We now have the technology to move closer to a true democracy.  We have the power to place all appropriations into the hands of the people. The people, not politicians, should have the power to make appropriations. “Fiscal Democracy” is a much needed additional check to the balance of political power.  Your government has too much power.  The people have very little.  “Fiscal Democracy” turns this upside down and grants people REAL POWER!

“Fiscal Democracy” can be funded many ways. My current proposal calls for introducing a flat personal income tax of 10% for all residents of NJ or earn income from sources in NJ.  That will cut your individual tax obligation down by one-third of what it is today within the State of NJ.  This translates into approximately $13,000 annually savings for the average NJ household.

The implementation of this plan will require a state constitutional amendment to nullify all current taxes and fees in NJ and replaced with “Fiscal Democracy.”  That means that all the current taxes that you have been conditioned to accept will go away.  The plan calls for the full elimination of the Property Tax, Sales Tax, Gas Tax, Public Access Fees, Vehicle Registration Fees, Corporate Taxes, Realty Transfer Taxes, all government licenses fees, and any other fund the government bleeds out of you.

The focal aspect of my proposal gives the individual the power to appropriate their income taxes where he/she deems fit.  Of the proposed flat 10% tax, the individual can choose what government programs he/she wants to fund at any level of government within the State.

By the same constitutional amendment that removed all current existing taxes, legislators may not re-appropriate funds elsewhere once an individual specifically appropriates to a specific government program.  Once an individual specifically appropriates, a politician cannot undo it.

The only limits that individuals have on how much they can appropriate to a government program are limited by budgetary caps, which will be implemented by law.  Budgetary caps will be necessary in this plan to prevent programs from being over funded.

For individuals who don’t want the added responsibility of making specific appropriations to the government, I propose the following default settings (can be set forth by law), would be 50% of required contributions to the municipality general fund, 15% to the county general fund, and 35% to the state general fund.  Legislators can only re-appropriate from general funds. This will give legislators power to correct funding deficiencies on a priority basis.

This proposal represents a new form of government.  It is a pragmatic step towards true democracy.  Our Republic is currently implemented via a representative democracy.  We elect representatives, and they are expected to implement policy representative of the majority within constitutional limits.  This representative democracy has failed us.  My plan will allow the average person to have a substantial impact on government if they so choose.  Under my plan, the average person will be able to take control of how their government works while still allowing elected representatives to do work on behalf of the people.  Under my plan, you can personally reclaim power from your elected officials and exercise that power YOURSELF!

For further information on my plan, including its benefits, click here.