Quote:
Originally Posted by mookiemookie
Flat taxes seem like a fair idea on the surface. What could be more fair than everyone paying the same percentage? But it presents problems when you dig deeper into it.
1. One of the biggest knocks on capitalism is that it takes money to make money. You could make the best coffee in the world, but you're never going to cut into Starbucks' market share. Too often the person with the better idea or product can't compete with the person with money - the one with money can essentially write the rules and regulations to favor themselves and present barriers to entry to any upstart, no matter how superior the upstart's product or service may be. A progressive taxation system addresses this inequality.
4. Our laws, infrstructure and financial system benefit those with money more than those without. If you've got $1 million in the bank, you need the government to protect that $1 million through law and military force a lot more than the guy with $100 in the bank. Why shouldn't the person with more to lose pay more?
|
I really don't buy those arguments. It certainly helps to have money to make money, but capitalism is about good ideas attracting investors. Many, many people started with very little and made fortunes. I sure don't see that as a basis to tax them more, that's penalizing excellence and success.
One person, one vote. Why should one guy pay 40% income tax when another only pays 5%, or nothing. Especially when the guy paying 40% is contributing $20 million dollars and the guy pitching in 5% is contributing $500. Yes, I agree about the point that a guy making $20,000 a year needs every dollar he can get, but still, think about it. Even if you are wealthy, it's all relative. I would be sick to think of being forced to pay millions in taxes and be outvoted by thousands who pay nothing at all.
I never worked for a poor man.