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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: geode00 who wrote (218349)2/14/2007 12:04:17 AM
From: jttmab  Read Replies (1) of 281500
 
Only if everyone has the same income.

It's like (ok not exactly like but I like the metaphor) all of us going to a restaurant, some get caviar and others get canned tuna on toast but everyone gets the same bill.

No it isn't. Government is a service. Do you get more or less Defense services than I do? I don't care whose income is higher, we get the same service. When ADM gets millions of dollars in subsidies. You and I get the same service.

You and I get exactly the same benefit from the bridge to nowhere in Alaska.

If you want to make a metaphor. You and I get in airline coach [ADM is 1st class] and you have to pay more for your ticket because your income is higher than mine.

There are a couple of good arguments for progressive taxation:

The fundamental reason why it has to be progressive is that most people couldn't pay their tax bill if the system was fair.

1. The reality of the world we live in is that some stones gather much more moss than others and will continue to do so unabated until all of the moss is gathered on one stone or a small minority of stones.

That kills society as we know it and we go back to a feudal system. Been there, done that, don't want to go back.

I think that's the guidance for the progressivity of the tax system. You end up with a feudal system and the lower class takes up arms and overthrows the oligarchy and the next thing you see is the new leader of the people with an arm wrapped around Chavez and visiting Castro.

jttmab
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