Is it really fair to tax people more because the succeeded?

Question

Why should the rich get taxed more? Most of the time (unless you are extremely lucky), if you are rich it is because you have worked your butt off to get there. So why should the rich have to pay more in taxes? We all have the opportunity to make something of ourselves, and to be honest, if you are poor, it's your fault (excluding kids.)

If you are going to answer this question, spare us the sob stories. Thank you.

Answer 1

The rich are not taxed more - they can afford better accountants, and enjoy more write-offs. The smart ones also invest in a wide range of tax shelters. That's why the 10% flat tax never passed Congress - the rich opposed it.

Answer 2

It the way socialist Democrats operate.

Answer 3

You are correct. Thomas Jefferson put it best when he he said:

"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father’s has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association—the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

Answer 4

Yes.  There's a certain amount of money you need for a comfortable lifestyle.  It makes sense to keep taxes low up to that point to maximize the number of people who can live an okay life.

On a societal level, countries function better when there is a small disparity between the rich and poor.  Denmark (and the rest of Scandinavia) would be a good example.  Less crime, less poverty, no revolutions -- everyone just kinda gets along.  And the average person works only 1500-1700 hours/year, compared to 2000 hours in the U.S.

Answer 5

Why the rich should get taxed more:

1) They've enjoyed more of the benefits of this society

2) They have more to protect

3) THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS!

What, do you recommend taxing the POOR?

By the way, not all rich people worked their butts off.  Quite a few inherited it from someone who did.  They often become wastrels.

Answer 6

The reason for this is to try and make up for all the poor people. Though I am not a rich person, I understand that a certain percent of my paycheck will pretty much go to people who are just sitting around on their a**. However, because there is a chance of kids being involved, I cannot get too upset in the end. It does suck though that the richer, the more you have to help, but then again we do live in a country where the poor do in fact get poorer, so it is not always their fault. Personally, for this to ever be fixed, I believe that we need to concentrate on education, maybe adopt Japan's education system, so that people poor and rich are more motivated and have more opportunities!

Answer 7

Is it fair to tax the poor because they didn't get rich