Why not? By hiring employees, starting businesses and investing in companies, they are contributing, dare I say more, than some schlub buying a new plasma screen.
Yes, that was your original point. I responded to that: Sure, they hire more people. Whether they pay an extra million in taxes really doesn't affect that. They hire those people because it's in their best interests in making money. Unless the taxes are so crushing that they can't afford to invest in their money-making ventures, your point isn't relevant to the effects of a cascading tax system on the overall economy. And I've seen nothing to suggest taxes are that crushing. So, yes, they contribute, but that contribution isn't affected by the cascading tax system. So that's a null point; you haven't countered barfo's point that it helps the economy to have richer people pay more taxes.
If they have that extra million dollars, they have more money to spend, invest, hire and start companies. Their interest is irrelevant. Just because the taxes aren't crushing doesn't make it fair. I don't need to address the issue that barfo supposedly brought up that having rich people pay not only more, but a higher PERCENTAGE, of taxes is "good for the economy" because I don't look at this issue in terms of "the good of the people", but rather a system that is fair for all citizens. If we did everything in the name of being "good for the people", we might as well just push a socialist agenda.
I don't have kids, why should I have to pay for schools? It's not fair! I didn't want to go to war in Iraq, why should I have to pay for that? I don't want to obey speed limits, so why should I have to fund highway cops? I'm not that old, so why should I pay social security taxes? Let the elderly fund Medicare if they want it. Why should we pay for secret service protection for the president? Let him look out for himself. Etc. If you want to build a society based on selfishness, there are plenty of avenues to explore. barfo
How is wanting an equitable tax structure being selfish? I don't know how one can morally justify that the PERCENTAGE of tax burden cascades as you make more. Even with a flat tax rate, the richer will pay more net versus the poor. Its just the same percentage of their income. I really don't see the problem here.
If everyone invests 100% of their wealth into the economy, you are absolutely right. Since that's not what people do, this is wrong. The taxes they pay aren't dollars being taken away from their businesses. They aren't going to shut down their money-making ventures because they pay extra taxes. All the people they hire to help them make money they will continue to gire. I already said that I'm not debating the fairness. Just the issue of how it affects the economy. Incidentally, "the people" includes the rich. Strong economies are very much in their interest. So it's not like it is "for the good of the people" at the expense of the rich.
I don't know how one can morally justify that I pay for schools when I have no children. [Actually, I do, but for the purposes of this argument..] Why should I pay for schools? Wouldn't it be equitable for me to not pay anything? barfo
