Why should the rich pay more?

[_Simpson_ 250]

ok I am confused.

I agree it doesnt jump that much as ded suggested.

200,000 taxed at 20%

The other 1 dollar taxed at 25%

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I don't know where you get the idea that the rich don't use government services. They do rely on infrastructure (provided by the government) to make a living. There is a large trucking company that regularly run 18-wheelers down the back roads I use to get home. so why shouldn't the owner pay more taxes especially when they use the road way more than I and their trucks tear up the roads and create more pot holes?

They already do pay more taxes than you do. They are 'choice' taxes though as they are 'consumption' taxes and not ones taken from your hard earned salary.

There's a Federal and a State Gas tax that is supposed to fund roads/bridges (though the Federal one shouldn't be in place as state's/cities should keep 100% of the monies collected).

[SMR 368]

I don't know where you get the idea that the rich don't use government services. They do rely on infrastructure (provided by the government) to make a living. There is a large trucking company that regularly run 18-wheelers down the back roads I use to get home. so why shouldn't the owner pay more taxes especially when they use the road way more than I and their trucks tear up the roads and create more pot holes?

Actually, they call this weigh stations. I've heard arguments that truckers don't pay enough at weigh stations. But it's nonsensical to try and justify a higher tax on the income of the owner of a trucking company because his company tears up the road when there is already a separate mechanism in place to collect money for the extra damage done by trucks to the road.

[Nina~ 431]

Actually, they call this weigh stations. I've heard arguments that truckers don't pay enough at weigh stations. But it's nonsensical to try and justify a higher tax on the income of the owner of a trucking company because his company tears up the road when there is already a separate mechanism in place to collect money for the extra damage done by trucks to the road.

Roads are just one instance of business owners needing infrastructure. They need other goodies like power supply, water supply, low crime rate, qualified work force etc to keep their business running. So why do you think it is fair for regular folks to pay taxes for better electrical grids, power lines, water supply lines, water treatment plants, schools, police etc because some rich Joe wants to make more money? Is it really our duty to subsidize businesses and let them off the hook of their fair share of the "tax burden"?

[^_^ 5,021]

An educated population, stable government and sound (if not world-class like Australia's) infrastructure are the reasons countries like the U.S. have so much business and countries like Somalia (also known as

) do not.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Roads are just one instance of business owners needing infrastructure. They need other goodies like power supply, water supply, low crime rate, qualified work force etc to keep their business running. So why do you think it is fair for regular folks to pay taxes for better electrical grids, power lines, water supply lines, water treatment plants, schools, police etc because some rich Joe wants to make more money? Is it really our duty to subsidize businesses and let them off the hook of their fair share of the "tax burden"?

The government doesn't own the electrical grids for one.

Off the hook for their fair share? Fair share means everyone pays the same. The rich/businesses already pay more in a year (maybe even a month depending on the company) than you'll ever pay in your lifetime.

[Nina~ 431]

The government doesn't own the electrical grids for one.

Yes, someone philanthropist paid for it out of the goodness of his heart!

Off the hook for their fair share? Fair share means everyone pays the same. The rich/businesses already pay more in a year (maybe even a month depending on the company) than you'll ever pay in your lifetime.

Exactly! Because they use it way more than a normal households do. Fair share is not paying the same.. it is paying for how much each individual/company/corporation uses.

I don't know about you, but I am not in the habit of buying lottery tickets for strangers just because they want to win.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The government doesn't own the electrical grids for one.

Yes, someone philanthropist paid for it out of the goodness of his heart!

Off the hook for their fair share? Fair share means everyone pays the same. The rich/businesses already pay more in a year (maybe even a month depending on the company) than you'll ever pay in your lifetime.

Exactly! Because they use it way more than a normal households do. Fair share is not paying the same.. it is paying for how much each individual/company/corporation uses.

I don't know about you, but I am not in the habit of buying lottery tickets for strangers just because they want to win.

*sigh* - Did it ever occur to you that companies put up power lines and then companies purchase the energy from the plants/line companies to provide power to your home? Hell, even the government has to pay its electric bill.

The government has very little to do with electricity outside of EPA regulations....

You need to learn a little more about the world instead of making these grand assumptions that government is good in every way and helps you along in every day life. It really doesn't. If you rely on government for so much in your ilfe, then perhaps you'd be on welfare. Outside of regulations here and there though, the government doesn't really do all that much that you think they do.

Oh and in case you didn't know, your local "consumption taxes" aka "sales taxes" pay for fire, police, etc... - There again, those wbo buy more pay more. Income in not a factor.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[mawilson 2,133]

So why do you think it is fair for regular folks to pay taxes for better electrical grids, power lines, water supply lines, water treatment plants, schools, police etc because some rich Joe wants to make more money? Is it really our duty to subsidize businesses and let them off the hook of their fair share of the "tax burden"?

You're forgetting that the top 5 percent of income earners *already* pay 60 percent of all income taxes,

while the bottom 47% have zero or negative individual income tax liability.

[SMR 368]

Roads are just one instance of business owners needing infrastructure. They need other goodies like power supply, water supply, low crime rate, qualified work force etc to keep their business running. So why do you think it is fair for regular folks to pay taxes for better electrical grids, power lines, water supply lines, water treatment plants, schools, police etc because some rich Joe wants to make more money? Is it really our duty to subsidize businesses and let them off the hook of their fair share of the "tax burden"?

Actually, businesses already pay for their power supply (it's called an electric bill), their water supply (aptly named a water bill), and work force (it's called a salary and payroll taxes). As far as crime prevention and schools, that is typically paid through property taxes. Businesses typically have higher property values (bigger buildings, more land, better locations) and thus pay more property taxes. And it's not really fair to say that a business has a bigger stake in crime prevention than the average citizen. It's important for everyone and it's not a service that businesses "use" more in any measurable way.

You clearly have some sort of complex where you think you are subsidizing a business. If you think it's so easy, why don't you go and start a business? Everyone will be subsidizing you and you'll be able to make lots of money.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You're forgetting that the top 5 percent of income earners *already* pay 60 percent of all income taxes,

while the bottom 47% have zero or negative individual income tax liability.

See, sometimes being successful isn't all that it's cracked up to be.