The More Taxes You Pay, Should Your Vote Count More?

This article on the Houston Chronicle's blog page is probably offensive on so many levels (especially to East Texans), but it raises an intriguing point....the concept that for every $1000 of tax money you pay to Uncle Sam, you receive one vote.  Therefore, those with the largest investment in the government have a larger say.  

There is a feeling among some that it is a conflict of interest for those who pay little if anything in taxes and receive entitlements from the government to be able to vote.  They have a greater interest in bigger government and are for raising taxes among the well-offs in order to finance their government dependence.  This is similar to "back in the day" when only property owners, who were thought of to be the major stakeholders, could vote.  

Now, on the other hand, if those who make the most income, and therefore pay the most taxes, have a relatively larger say, then they are obviously going to vote for things that benefit them.  We might have a bigger problem of electing leaders in line with certain well-off citizens special interests and pet projects.  I think it is always bad to put the power in the hands of a few, no matter what end of the spectrum.  Do we really want the Bill Gates and Warren Buffetts of the country having the largest say in government?  Some may argue that we already do with the lobbying process and cronyism that already exists.