When Richard II’s government (the king himself was a minor) implemented it, the result was the Peasants’ Revolt. When Margaret Thatcher pushed one through, it led to riots and serious divisions in her government. Yes, the poll tax has a history of being a political disaster. And yet, Rick Scott’s proposed GOP agenda includes one. What is he thinking?
First of all, it proves that he is ignorant of history–not that we should be surprised. Second, he thinks we’re living in 2010, and the Tea Party is all the rage on the right, which it isn’t. Finally, and most importantly, in addition to passionately hating government at all levels, Scott is completely committed to the makers/takers distinction that Mitt Romney made famous in 2012. Scott believes that businessmen create all the wealth in this country, and that those of us who no longer work for a living (or work for entities which don’t make a profit) should just die and stop mooching off the economically productive people. That’s the key to his political identity.
Two points are relevant here. First of all, Donald Trump wouldn’t be eligible to vote under the Scott proposal, as he typically does not pay income taxes–he thinks that’s for losers. Second, there is no corresponding proposal for a minimum tax on large corporations. It would seem that businesses don’t need any “skin in the game” to be major political players in the Scott universe.