Tax on Men for Violence on Women Proposed

[VV o n g B a]

man, if i'm paying this tax, this says to me i get a green light for some domestic violence every year. if i don't use up my share, then my tax money would be going to waste.

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STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A group of Swedish parliamentarians proposed levying a "man tax" to cover the social cost of violence against women.


"It must be obvious to all of us that society has a huge problem with male violence against women and that has a cost," Left Party deputy Gudrun Schyman told Swedish radio on Monday.

"We must have a discussion where men understand they as a group have a responsibility," said Schyman, one of the party members to sign the motion for debate on the new tax.

Sweden already has the highest taxes in the European Union (news - web sites) as a percentage of gross domestic product to pay for its famous but hard-pushed cradle-to-grave welfare program.

It is also one of the world's most advanced nations in terms of gender equality, but Schyman said in a headline-hitting 2002 speech that discrimination in Sweden followed "the same pattern" as in Afghanistan (news - web sites) under the Taliban.

[kitty]

uhm... i don't like that idea. you're right... it might make people think they've bought a green light to hit their partners. it's also rather sexist, no? i mean, not ALL domestic abuse finds the man the abuser and the woman a victim. Should men only therefore be taxed?

[Seamus]

This tax would most certainly be unconstitutional in the United States. It's also morally outrageous. The whole idea of taxing people differently based on something beyond their control, namely their sex, is repugnant. Also, think of those poor families that end up with all sons.

[Mr.Lum]

They should tax husband beaters also then if they adopt this. Women aren;t the only victoms.

[VV o n g B a]

just for discussion's sake, how do u see this as differing from affirmative action?

or reparation?

[Mr.Lum]

Because it is an ongoing problem. Slavery was over 100 years ago and there are no American slaves left. Afirmitive Action IMO should be done on economic basis, not a racial one. I think it is a stupid idea tho...I mean seriously, not all men beat their wives..........

[ism]

Affirmative action aims to counteract an existing problem directly and does not intend to burden those who are already employing egalitarian practices. This tax would punish those who have no fault. Of course, you could argue that all men are responsible. If that were the case, how long before we see a tax on skinny people for fostering an oppressive culture against the obese? =)

[Mr.Lum]

This tax would punish those who have no fault. Of course, you could argue that all men are responsible. If that were the case, how long before we see a tax on skinny people for fostering an oppressive culture against the obese? =)


Because no such culture exists. They get fat as hell on their own. Their fault. No self control. Yuck.

[Arex]

While domestic abuse is a serious issue that should be addressed head on, I'm not sure you can fairly analogize between a tax on men for domestic violence against women, and affirmative action or reparations which were enacted to remedy institutionalized acts which were at one time sanctioned by the government (i.e., segregation/racism and the internment). Right now, there are already remedies to address domestic abuse committed by either men or women. There are both criminal and civil penalties for those who actually engage in such abuse. What they really should do is enact more programs to empower victims of domestic violence to come forward and break the cycle of abuse and bring the perpetrators to justice. While they're doing that, rather than tax all men, increase the penalties levied on those convicted of such crimes. In other words, increase the "taxes" on those that actually engage in such violence so as to deter the crime, rather than take money from all men assuming they will commit the crime.

RX

[kasia]

having to pay taxes for something does seem to give people a sense of entitlement.

i can envision it already:

man: "my tax dollars went to this. i can hit you if i want, bitch."
woman: "what tax dollars? you've been on welfare for the past year!"

and so on.

i don't see how it's going to help. maybe we should just balance our budget? and maybe Gov. Schwarzenegger should reconsider taking away the funding that goes to domestic violence training for police officers who respond to domestic violence calls.