http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023849224Mon Oct 14, 2013, 06:36 PM
OmahaBlueDog (9,367 posts)
Would you support the opportunity to make voluntary NPS contributions on your income tax returns?
If you are fortunate enough to get a tax refund, you know that the government gives you an opportunity to part with some of your refund. You can, for example, apply your return to next years taxes. Or, you can buy savings bonds. You can contribute to deficit reduction.
One idea I think would be interesting is offering a line item where you can contribute part of your refund toward the National Park Service. Anyone who is non-disabled, non volunteering, and under 62 would receive an annual pass if $80 or more is contributed. (seniors, disabled, serving military, and volunteers receive discounted or free passes under separate programs). Contributions of any amount, however, would be welcome.
Is this something that you'd support?
In case you were wondering, here is what an annual pass gets you.....
A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. A pass covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.
You actually think a leftist wants to pay for anything???
Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 06:52 PM
Historic NY (20,500 posts)
1. It should be designated directly to a park or momument...
because the parks service shuffles funds, delay repairs, builds un-needs or wanted facilities and then crys when the place is falling down around them. I visit more than my fair share every year and many historic places take it on the chin. They then build mega-million dollar visitors centers which really serve no legitimate purpose except to decrease what is actually spent on the actual historic buildings. They did that in my state.
You mean government can`t be trusted?
Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 07:18 PM
oldhippie (2,119 posts)
3. No .....
I don't trust the IRS or the NPS to get or properly use the funds. Whatever I do, I'd rather do direct.
Firm grasp of the obvious but of course means you wont even privately.
Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 07:22 PM
Zorra (20,715 posts)
4. Yes, but it would be smarter to cut the defense budget in half and use a fraction of the savings
from that to support the NPS.
I'd prefer that my actual tax money went to constructive, and not destructive, services.
The idiot brigade weighs in.
Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 07:22 PM
eqfan592 (5,152 posts)
5. I would support it.
And sign up for it.
Likely pays no taxes.
Response to OmahaBlueDog (Original post)
Mon Oct 14, 2013, 07:31 PM
Warren Stupidity (34,195 posts)
6. No. This is the PTA bake sale defunding of the commons.
Public infrastructure is a national treasure, literally, and it's upkeep and development needs to be funded completely through tax revenue. Not by charity. By revenue.
In other words Warren means "paid for by someone else".
Useless,greedy pieces of shit.
