Do You Think The Rich Should Be Taxed More?

[Mott the Hoople]

You only mentioned the rich and the poor. Are you envisioning a world without a middle class?

Thats because for most of human history societies had very small middle classes with little political power. Large middle classes have largely been the product of recent industrial liberal democratic republics with market economies which not that long ago were considered radically revolutionary.

[Mott the Hoople]

Mott's post is rational and accurate. Capitalist economies are fueled by consumption. If you are hoarding your gold like a dragon in his cave, you are not consuming. When the gold is shared among the lower and middle class, they *do* spend it. The things that they purchase cause production of those things to increase.... which causes creation of jobs for those who create the things. The Republican meme that giving tax breaks to the so-called job creators causes the economy to flourish is wrong. The "job creators" are those who spend money to buy goods and services, not those who park their wealth in banks and investment vehicles.

Not quite true. Someone has to produce those goods and services but consumption does drive the economic engine in modern economies which is why nations with large middle classes are the most powerful economically, politically and militarily.

[/MSG/]

Good. Let’s pay much less on the gluttonous military. Let’s pay much less on corporate welfare.

Are you in?

Sounds fine. I've long advocated pulling out of NATO.

[/MSG/]

Meh....maybe you haven’t noticed but they do that without being coerced.

No, they buy better food. Not the same thing as paying more. Unless you're one of those proles who thinks Wonderbread is just as good as anything else, which you probably do.

[/MSG/]

they do

because they choose to


they should pay what everyone else does when they make so much beyond what it takes to live a decent life


they gain the MOST benefit for being an American so they need to pay the MOST taxes to support this nation

Not an argument

[evince]

your ideas have about destroyed the republican party silly boy


its bleeding out orange blood

[PoliTalker]

Hello and greetings Mason,

Under Socialism we wouldn't have to tax the rich more:-)

We don't have to choose between socialism and capitalism. We can blend the two (as we already have) andseek to choose the best aspects of each, while minimizing the worst.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Quetzalcoatl,

Then the government needs to spend less. Taking more of my money is unacceptable.

That is a quite common sentiment. It voices your concerns for your own well being, but have you considered what is good for the nation?

Whatever the government cuts spending on will affect somebody negatively and hurt the economy to some extent. We don't have to do that if we simply tax the rich more. They can afford it without negatively impacting their lifestyle, since they spend so little of their overall wealth on lifestyle.

[PoliTalker]

Hello domer76,

Good. Let’s pay much less on the gluttonous military. Let’s pay much less on corporate welfare.

Are you in?

Sounds good to me. We already spend more than the next 7 nations combined. How many times over do we need the capacity to destroy the world?

[iolo]

Not more than 99% of their income.

[/MSG/]

Hello Quetzalcoatl,



That is a quite common sentiment. It voices your concerns for your own well being, but have you considered what is good for the nation?

Whatever the government cuts spending on will affect somebody negatively and hurt the economy to some extent. We don't have to do that if we simply tax the rich more. They can afford it without negatively impacting their lifestyle, since they spend so little of their overall wealth on lifestyle.

Spoken like someone who has little money to begin with. Increasing the tax burden simply invites incentive to avoid paying anything at all. Hence our current tax code. Additionally, economic meddling is beyond the scope of what governments are created to do (and they are almost universally terrible at it in any case). The SOLE PURPOSE of the State is to safeguard our rights and act as a impartial arbitrator in disputes regarding said rights.

[evince]

billy

how much money do you have ?

[PoliTalker]

Hello and greetings Mott the Hoople,

(great band)

Yes. For several reasons. One is that progressive taxation is the only fair form of taxation. Mainly because the wealthy, benefit disproportionately from Government program.

Totally agree.

Historically governments have been kleptocracies that taxed the most productive members of society into poverty and redistribute that wealth to the upper classes. Religions primary social purpose has been to rationalize that kleptocracy to the people. With government primarily redistributing productive wealth upwards (despite the political rhetoric) than progressive taxation is the only truly fair form of taxation.

True! As evidenced by growing extreme wealth inequality. The super-rich are in no danger of being 'taxed into poverty,' or having socialism 'cause them to stop working because it isn't worth it any more.'

Secondly for a modern economy to be robust and healthy its currency must be kept in circulation so that it can perform its designed function. The wealthy tend to accumulate wealth then take it out of circulation with the end result the economy of that nation declines and less people have the opportunity to profit. So to keep our monetary system from stagnation higher rates of taxation, on a use it or lose it basis, of those who accumulate vast wealth and take it out of circulation is needed to keep our currency in circulation so it can perform its economic function.

Spot on. Consumerism drives the economy. As wealth inequality becomes greater, consumers have less to spend.

[evince]

there are wealthy assed people who agree the wealthy should pay more


only the sociopathic ones want taxes eliminated for them


you do the bidding of your want to be slave masters

[PoliTalker]

Hello Frank,

Yes...much, much, much more.

In a progressive way.

I think we should be back to a top rate of pre-Ronald Reagan.

70% on the top stuff.

I have actually run calculations using publicly available figures. I calculated that we could adopt a top tax tier of 50%, keep all current spending, and begin paying down the debt.