Why should rich people pay more taxes, if they get the same services that everyone else gets from government?

Question

they drive on the same roads, they use police the same, firemen the same, laws are made, one vote is cast per person. That would be like them going into a restaurant and me (a person who is nowhere near rich) going into a restaurant and me paying 2 bucks for a hamburger and them paying 50 dollars for a hamburger because they can afford it, whereas i can only afford 2 bucks for a hamburger.

and i never thought about it this way until today when i was listening to talk radio, see i was indoctrinated in government schools so, i am behind in learning things in life.

so platinum... you really think its fair to cheat people for the same services just because they work harder and risk losing their money... see at my job, i don't own the place, i don't worry , i just punch in and do my job and punch out, and life is good. but the bossman has to worry, he's got his whole life savings invested in that business.

Answer 1

You are right. That's exactly what it's like. And in your scenario, some would not even pay at all, in fact they would get free burgers paid for by everyone else.

I don't mind paying more for my taxes at a set percentage. what I DO mind is paying a higher percentage of my income just because I am financially successful.

Answer 2

When you tax something, you get less of it. Tax income at a high rate, people will figure out, making more money is not worth the effort. You are far better off staying home, doing the cocaine/Roman Orgy lifestyle, rather than working hard to help or please a stranger to get paid. The stagnant economic growth of our economy is partially explained by these outrageously high tax rates.

What should be taxed is consumption, to encourage savings. So make a $bil, keep all of it. Buy a yacht for $100 mil, you should pay 20% tax. The tax would be the same if a poor person were to buy the same yacht. So that solves your equal treatment problem.

You can set differing tax rates on consumption depending on how desirable the consumption by the individual is to our country. So buy weight lifting equipment, make that tax free. Buy a cheese burger, put the tax at 50% to pay for the health care cost consequences. The tax to be fair may reflect the true social costs of the service or product. If these benefit the nation, make them tax free.

Answer 3

Those with greater means, property, and wealth benefit to a considerably greater extent than those with less. They utilize more of the services, particulary in legal protections and infrastructure, and send far fewer of their children into the military. They depend upon a stable society and they benefit from it. They have gifts that are either inherited or God given. And in fairness we should remember the maxim "To whom much is given much is required." With the exception of medicare, and social security which benefit the wealthy as much as the poor (and social security dispropotionately benefits the wealthy as a percentage of income) all of the programs for the poor combined are a very small portion of the Federal Budget. Compared that to what the wealthy benefit from (consider corporate welfare and tax breaks and laws that protect corporations and large property owners). When was the last time you saw a poor person get the same quality health care or legal protection as a millionaire? A graduated income tax is only fair and a flat tax would dispropotionately take money away from basic needs of the working class.

Answer 4

Hm... why ?
Cuz as a rich people, they can become so rich cuz they use many of the government facilities, lands, acts, regulatio & much more to become more rich

If u can become rich by just had small 1mx1m office, using typewritter, only had small black&white TV, use telegram & post only, I think your tax will be a lot more smaller, but can u become rich using thatfacilities in this day ?
Absolutely nope !

They build a lot of factories using a lot of space, build office center using a lot of spaces too, had private jet, and many many exclusive things

Plus being rich mean had more social responsiblities too
Rich man had the responsibilities to make their country prosperous too cuz u become rich in their soil & lands, using their citizen too

Ok so using your analog about hamburger, we can say that the poor people can only buy a common burger but the rich of course only want to eat the best, most delicious & fresh burger that being made by using the best ingredients, best cooking technique, and best tools to made it
So their price is more expensive

Answer 5

Who says the rich people paying the same taxes like ordinary people?With the help of their money they can hire best accountants and tax adviser to avoid paying taxes by legal loopholes.They use many expenses right-off.Even personal expenses like celebrating son's party in a lavish style will be right off from their businesses.They have chartered accountant who will certify this kind of practices as legal. From social point of view there are many less fortunate people in the society.They do not have the luxury of eating 2 meals a day.Their children cannot have nutritious brake fast.Single mothers are worst-case scenario.These segment of the society must be look after otherwise you and me will be not able to walk on the street. Rich people can and should pay more no doubt about it. In return ordinary people should not criticize or jealous of their success.

Answer 6

Your hamburger analogy doesn't hold water because a hamburger is rather trivial and the money goes to some company. We're talking about giving money to keep down crime, preserve justice, support a military. This country didn't get the most powerful military in the world through funding cuts.

If rich people are loyal to the country, if conservatives believe in protecting these borders, then they will not oppose giving what they can afford in the form of higher taxes to the rich to keep it going.

PS. Don't worry, the rich won't go hungry.

Answer 7

I would worry more about about addressing the huge and growing deficit, which is partly the result of cutting taxes too much while increasing spending irresponsibly.

And more to your question, the reason the rich are taxed as such is a concept called "social justice." Almost every industrialized country in the world tries to practice it somewhat, so that the poor and disadvantaged, who are also citizens, don't go to bed hungry.

Answer 8

Let's be honest to ourselves and admit the fact that rich people enjoy special treatment/privileges not available to poor and middle class people. On the surface, everything looks fine, but dig deeper and you will find the unwritten rules that only apply to the rich people. If you are not a Lindsay Lohan or a Paris Hilton, you will go straight to jail if you were caught driving under the influence.

Answer 9

I've got really bad news for you . . they don't pay more taxes and never will. No matter what taxes they give to the rich, they give more to us . . that kinda stuff rolls down hill.

HIllary plans to raise taxes too . . . we're all in trouble now.

Answer 10

spoken like a man who wants to be rich someday...


But to your question, its really about "balance" over "equality". It would take volumes of work to fully explain this. However we are trying to achive a functional "balance" for a stable system.