--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll give you a simple formula for…" description: "\"I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital ga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/frank-zappa-702_alcohol_i-ll-give-you-a-simple-formula-for-strai_1929055.jpg" --- # I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the… ![“I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital gains and the tax off of savings. You decriminalize all and tax them same way as you do alcohol. You decriminalize . You make gambling legal. That…” quote by Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/frank-zappa-702_alcohol_i-ll-give-you-a-simple-formula-for-strai_1929055.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/frank-zappa-702_alcohol_i-ll-give-you-a-simple-formula-for-strai_1929055.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/frank-zappa-702_alcohol_i-ll-give-you-a-simple-formula-for-strai_1929055.jpg) > “I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital gains and the tax off of savings. You decriminalize all and tax them same way as you do alcohol. You decriminalize . You make gambling legal. That will put the budget back on the road to recovery, and you'll have plenty of tax revenue coming in for all of your social programs, and to run the army.” [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical fiscal plan proposes heavy taxes on churches, capital gains, savings, and legalizing gambling to fund social programs and defense. **In simple terms:** Tax churches, legalize gambling to fund the state. Key Takeaway Consider unconventional revenue ideas. Themes economics politics satire Mood critical skeptical Type political satirical When to use this quote - budget deficits - policy reform - public debate - legalization of gambling Key Concepts tax policy government spending social welfare Questions to Reflect On - Is such a plan realistic? - What are the social impacts of taxing religion? A Different Perspective May ignore moral and practical implications. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Alcohol Decriminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol-decriminalize-3007120/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Budgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budgets/) [Capital gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital-gains/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Decriminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decriminalize-1844091/) [Decriminalize Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decriminalize-make-3007119/) [Decriminalize Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decriminalize-tax-3007117/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Gambling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambling/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Plenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plenty/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Revenue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenue/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Savings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savings/) [Savings Decriminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savings-decriminalize-3007118/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-programs/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I would decriminalize marijuana, but you step out of your house high and you bother somebody else in any way, shape or form, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-would-decriminalize-marijuana-but-you-step-out-of-your-house-high/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. 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The assumptions on which our drug policies are based are flawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/we-should-decriminalize-all-drugs-the-assumptions-on-which-our-drug/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [ We went to the same college so I know \[Hillary Clinton's\] study habits, but when she was first lady of Arkansas, she did a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/we-went-to-the-same-college-so-i-know-hillary-clinton-s-study-habits/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [ \[S\]tatism is but socialized dishonesty; it is feathering the nests of some with feathers coercively plucked from others - on the grand scale. There… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/s-tatism-is-but-socialized-dishonesty-it-is-feathering-the-nests-of/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [It's amnesty that America can't afford. We have to stop people from coming in illegally. This will be a green light for anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barletta/it-s-amnesty-that-america-can-t-afford-we-have-to-stop-people-from/) [Lou Barletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barletta/) > [We will allow private and religious groups to compete to provide services in every federal, state and local social program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-allow-private-and-religious-groups-to-compete-to-provide/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The best social program is a productive job for anyone who's willing to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-best-social-program-is-a-productive-job-for-anyone-who-s-willing/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-imperial-projects-will-continue-wall-street-will-be-unimpeded-in/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) ## More by Frank Zappa > [If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/if-you-want-to-get-laid-go-to-college-if-you-want-an-education-go-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [While your children are sleeping, your puppy is crappin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/while-your-children-are-sleeping-your-puppy-is-crappin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Very few people do covers of my tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/very-few-people-do-covers-of-my-tunes/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Government is the Entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/government-is-the-entertainment-division-of-the-military-industrial/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Do your job and do it right, life's a ball, TV tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/do-your-job-and-do-it-right-life-s-a-ball-tv-tonight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world. There's a world, you see which has people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/fact-of-the-matter-is-there-is-no-hip-world-there-is-no-straight/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Broken hearts are for assholes, are you an asshole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/broken-hearts-are-for-assholes-are-you-an-asshole/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Anyone who is disturbed by the idea of newts in a nightclub is potentially dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/anyone-who-is-disturbed-by-the-idea-of-newts-in-a-nightclub-is/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-bigger-the-cushion-the-better-the-pushin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Give me the enchilada with the pickle sauce shoved up between the donkey's ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/give-me-the-enchilada-with-the-pickle-sauce-shoved-up-between-the/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Sit and spin 'til you rot on the cosmic utensil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/sit-and-spin-til-you-rot-on-the-cosmic-utensil/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [To me absurdity is the only reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/to-me-absurdity-is-the-only-reality/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Is this something new, having people stomp on you? Is it what I need to do for your pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/is-this-something-new-having-people-stomp-on-you-is-it-what-i-need-to/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/look-here-brother-who-you-jivin-with-that-cosmik-debris/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) [Explore all 400 Frank Zappa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) ## More Alcohol quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/) [Tyson Beckford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-beckford/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. 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I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) [Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital gains and the tax off of savings. You decriminalize all and tax them same way as you do alcohol. You decriminalize . You make gambling legal. 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