Taxation and the National Debt Lesson 4 Is there a fair and efficient way to fund and maintain the public services we want? Two Political Cartoons (resource 1) Opener using the handout Two Political Cartoons, and any knowledge you have about taxes, answer the question: What do you know about taxation? Discussion Benefits: Why does society need taxes? (Cartoon A) Costs: Can taxes be harmful? (Cartoon B) Record points of discussion in the chart on your paper. Criteria for Evaluating Taxes (resource 2) Scenario: You need to make decisions as voters on the design of the tax system. To make these decision, you will need to select and prioritize criteria for evaluating the benefits and costs of any given tax.Scenario: You need to make decisions as voters on the design of the tax system. To make these decision, you will need to select and prioritize criteria for evaluating the benefits and costs of any given tax. Think Pair Share: Use resource 2 to rank what you consider to be the top 5 most important criteria.Think Pair Share: Use resource 2 to rank what you consider to be the top 5 most important criteria. Which criteria relates to FAIRNESS? --everyone is treated the same, or pays the same tax, or that those who use services the most pay the most. Which criteria relates to EFFICIENCY? --taxes created the right incentives by, for example, putting higher taxes on undesirable things like smoking and lower taxes on desirable things like working. *Are these two goals compatible or contradictory? In groups of 4, divide into 2 groups Group 1- look at Perspectives and Evidence on the Gasoline Tax (resource 3, 5 parts) Group 2- look at Perspectives and Evidence on the Capital Gains Tax (resource 4, 3 parts) Directions: With your partner, read through your handouts (cartoons, text excerpts, quotations, tables, and graphs). Highlight or note whenever there is evidence related to one of your top 3 criteria and whether that evidence gives information on the fairness of the tax, the efficiency of the tax, or both.Highlight or note whenever there is evidence related to one of your top 3 criteria and whether that evidence gives information on the fairness of the tax, the efficiency of the tax, or both. Complete the activities and questions in each packet of documents.Complete the activities and questions in each packet of documents. 2 + 2 = Groups of 4 Group 1 will explain your handouts and share your findings with Group 2. Then vise versa.Group 1 will explain your handouts and share your findings with Group 2. Then vise versa. As a group of 4 answer the 4 questions on your handout.As a group of 4 answer the 4 questions on your handout. Criteria, Questions, and Evidence (resource 5, adapted- no handout) Complete the Graphic OrganizerComplete the Graphic Organizer In the Evidence box- write what you know about each tax.In the Evidence box- write what you know about each tax. In the Question box- write any questions you have about the tax.In the Question box- write any questions you have about the tax. In the Criteria box- write which of your top 3 criteria the tax meets (from previous activity).In the Criteria box- write which of your top 3 criteria the tax meets (from previous activity). Closer The current gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon The current gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon The current maximum capital gains tax is 15%. The current maximum capital gains tax is 15%. Without discussion, write on a piece of paper what your gut feeling is on these taxes should they be raised, lowered, or kept about the same? Without discussion, write on a piece of paper what your gut feeling is on these taxes should they be raised, lowered, or kept about the same? Keep it to yourself until we discuss as a class (that means hide your response!) Keep it to yourself until we discuss as a class (that means hide your response!)