i believe we need a government for the people, not a people to support the government. given human nature, i'm not confident that we will ever have a govt other than the kind that puts its own issues ahead of those people it should serve.
i also believe that those with more should pay a higher percent. that is why i believe in a graduated tax. in my mind, if i make $80k a year the road that gets me to work is much more valuable to me than my neighbor making $10k per year - i think this is obvious, if it needs explaining then i will. the fact is that if i invest in a bookstore and make lots of money (oh how i hate amzn ;-), the roads are more important to me, the net is more important to me, the police are more important to me, the street lights are more important to me, etc b/c not only do i need these resources but my avenue for making money, joe public, needs these resources, as well as my suppliers, or i might not make big bucks. since they have a higher % value to me should i pay a higher %? i think yes is a reasonable answer.
i don't mind paying more taxes than my neighbor who makes 50% as much as i do - even on a % basis.
the other fact of life is that a large portion of success is luck. if bill gates was born in south central la he would not be running microsoft. did he chose where he was born or was he just lucky? sure, he is a savvy guy who made many wise decisions and has reaped the benefits (as he should!), but it would mean nothing if he weren't lucky first. i have no problem with those that are lucky paying a higher percentage. i'm more lucky than most (financially, anyway) and i don't minbd paying a higher percentage.
now are current percentages reasonable? that is a different question altogether. ;-) again, spending has to be cut so that revs match exps. tanstaafl, or so they say ;-)
oh, and the bottom line is that those who are less, financially well off realistically can't support what needs to get done if those with higher incomes don't pay more.
in fact, now that i think about it, you are proposing a graduated tax ;-) you want to exempt the first x amount of dollars. why? your answer is the same reason i'd add another 2 or three different rates.
same concept, slightly different application. our differences appear to be quantitative and not qualitative ;-)
ps - i have no problem with forbes wanting to lower his taxes. i'd expect it. i do have a problem paying for his extra $30-50+ million marginal savings. make no mistake, if you are anywhere near the middle class, you will pay for his cut - if not now then eventually. |
