Raise Taxes on America's Rich, it's the Patriotic thing to do!

Why not reward the system that has allowed America's rich to prosper in the BILLIONS? Something to the tune of a 3-5% tax increase on the top 5% of earners for 10 years would pay for a glorious Health Reform, and if continued it would eventually kill the nation's debt and fund things like Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and *omg* a public option (the real deal or the 'exchange', either one would do...for now).

I mean seriously, I love paying taxes, because of things like say the Police, the Military, Correctional Officers and associated facilities, and all other sorts of scarily great uses of my money. There are some things that Private corporations just aren't suited to take on, because the wrong incentives are present (ie at the end of the day it's all about profit, not about the customer).

But all that aside, paying taxes is a very Patriotic way of thanking our nation's system of [snark]greed and need[/snark] that every American should rightfully enjoy.

I'm hungry.

Shrapnel99

The rich tend to try to recoup lost money from their underlings. It is what they do.

So, how much in taxes did you pay this past year? I'd wager you are young, so not much. It's so easy to give away other people's money.guynamedbilly

The rich tend to try to recoup lost money from their underlings. It is what they do.

dercoo

[QUOTE="dercoo"]

The rich tend to try to recoup lost money from their underlings. It is what they do.

Ultimas_Blade

This would give rise to all sorts of anti-communist propaganda.

It's what our founding fathers fought for.

Who cares? I hope the world blows up.

The rich should pay the least so that they can rule over us more effectively, amirite?!

B... b... but a 3% tax raise is teh socialism! :ochessmaster1989

And we know socialism is the devil. I know this by reading books from the library, which is free!

Who cares? I hope the world blows up.

Assassin1349

That's crazy talk. How will we have zombies contaminating the world if it blows up?

You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

[QUOTE="Assassin1349"]

Who cares? I hope the world blows up.

one_plum

That's crazy talk. How will we have zombies contaminating the world if it blows up?

Wouldn't support it personally. I certainly don't think it's the patriotic thing to do.

I agree with your way of thinking. Now if only we had more Americans like you.CRS98

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Assassin1349

[QUOTE="Assassin1349"][QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

It's not my problem if someone is crossing the street at the crosswalk and gets run over by a car, but it is my duty to report it.

[QUOTE="Assassin1349"][QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

I agree with your way of thinking. Now if only we had more Americans like you.CRS98

From all the time I have spent posting on these forums, I have come to realize that American culture and values have less in common with Canadian and European values than I have first thought, so it's kinda pointless to keep arguing about all those taxes and healthcare topics.

You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

The government is made to serve the people as a whole. If you got your wish, the government would serve the rich almost exclusively seeing as the top 5% of earners account for something to the tune of +90% of all money earned. What do you do about the other 95%? Wait till trickle down economics to work?

You're playing a mean game of devil's advocate.

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Ultimas_Blade

[QUOTE="Sajedene"][QUOTE="Assassin1349"] Well, they can't contribute to society as much as you because they have a dead end job that doesn't pay too well. Someone's gotta do it! But seriously I think there should be some treatment that is UNIVERSAL no matter what your class. It would only be fair. Pixel-Pirate

It's not my problem if someone is crossing the street at the crosswalk and gets run over by a car, but it is my duty to report it.

[QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

[QUOTE="Sajedene"] It shouldn't be my problem but it is. And the idea of someone demanding more money from me because of someone else's problem is just too much. Who's going to help me?Sajedene

It's not my problem if someone is crossing the street at the crosswalk and gets run over by a car, but it is my duty to report it.

[QUOTE="CRS98"]I agree with your way of thinking. Now if only we had more Americans like you.one_plum

From all the time I have spent posting on these forums, I have come to realize that American culture and values have less in common with Canadian and European values than I have first thought, so it's kinda pointless to keep arguing about all those taxes and healthcare topics.

I don't make a lot of money now, so taxes aren't that big of an issue for me. I'll bump this thread during my prime earning years to update my sentiments :P

You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

Its a misconception you need to get rid of. ;)

Like the similar one that poor people are lazy.

I disagree. The rich are taxed enough and I know when I strike it rich I want to be able to hang on to the majority of my money.

Federal Income Tax Brackets For 2010 – Based On Taxable Income Ranges

Source:

Tax Rate
Married Couples Filing Jointly
Most Single Filers
10% Not over $16,750 Not over $8,375

15% $16,750 – $68,000 $8,375 – $34,000

25% $68,000 – $137,300 $34,000 – $82,400

28% $137,300 – $209,250 $82,400 – $171,850

33% $209,250 – $373,650 $171,850 – $373,650

35% Over $373,650Over $373,650

[QUOTE="one_plum"]

[QUOTE="CRS98"]I agree with your way of thinking. Now if only we had more Americans like you.CRS98

From all the time I have spent posting on these forums, I have come to realize that American culture and values have less in common with Canadian and European values than I have first thought, so it's kinda pointless to keep arguing about all those taxes and healthcare topics.

Precisely, that's why Americans do not understand something like universal healthcare and perhaps that's why Canadian can't understand privatized healthcare. Straying a bit off-topic, this is why there is so much tension between the West and the Middle East; not necessarily because of a right or wrong concept.

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Teenaged

Its a misconception you need to get rid of. ;)

Like the similar one that poor people are lazy.

You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

Better idea: Make the poor start paying taxes.

[QUOTE="Sajedene"][QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

It's not my problem if someone is crossing the street at the crosswalk and gets run over by a car, but it is my duty to report it.

Assassin1349

Well then, if you don't think that is right, why do you demand the rich to pay more? Special treatment only works one way for you?Sajedene

It's not exactly special treatment when EVERYONE gets the same treatment. As I said in the original post, America's Rich would likely be not-so-rich if it weren't for our awesome society. Why wouldn't you want to perpetuate greatness through taxation?

It's horrendous for someone making $9,500/hr (~$18.2 Million/yr gross) not to pay higher taxes. 10% tax Simply does not dent your money unless you're buying million dollar yachts every few months or snapping up a couple foreclosed homes (sad I know) for summer and winter vacation every year. Hell if you are making $250,000/yr, if you take $25,000 in taxes you still have $225000 left, which in American English is pronounced "a **** ton of money".

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

Its a misconception you need to get rid of. ;)

Like the similar one that poor people are lazy.

And a government calls for all (rich and poor) to contribute accordingly so that can happen.

If you desire to pay the same as the poor or if you want to get better treatment, neither of these will achieve this soothening of differences.

[QUOTE="Assassin1349"][QUOTE="Sajedene"] Moral duty perhaps. You have no legal obligation to do so unless you are a part of the accident.Sajedene

[QUOTE="Assassin1349"][QUOTE="Sajedene"]You know what I wish? I wish that I get more out of these public services since I pay more. The more I pay, the more services I should be entitled to. Why should I pay more and get the same treatment as someone who isn't contributing as much to society as I am?Sajedene

You don't need help, you're already part of a wealthy elite that grants you privledges and opportunities beyond that of the average person. Let me introduce you to a couple of concepts, one is called tax burden. Let's put it this way, if person A is wealthy and has a wife and a child and person B is poor and has a wife and a child and it costs the same amount of money to feed both families it is harder for person B to feed his family because even though he pays the same amount of money as person A he has no wealth to fall back on in case of emergency. Should something happen, say he loses his job, his family will be in trouble whereas if person A loses his job he always has the option to cut back spending or dip into savings. This is tax burden, if everyone paid a flat tax the burden on poorer families would be disproportionate as it costs them considerably more in added value given that they need their income that much more.

Second concept is combined risk. What do you think insurance is in the first place? Communal risk. Everyone in the given pool pays a monthly rate to retain the ability to utilize certain services if necessary. The idea is that when one individual needs to utilize those services he/she will do so at a reduced cost, and that can happen due to the backing of the communal rates everybody is paying. The same concept can be applied to universal coverage, it's simply increasing the pool and expanding coverage to everyone.

Lastly, you do get more out of public services, you just don't realize it. You went to a school that got better funding than one in a poorer neighborhood, you probably live in an area with good emergency services response, which is inadequete or virtually non-existent in some poorer neighborhoods, you probably live in an area with a considerable amount of taxes going to beautification and community events and services.

Don't kid yourself, you get plenty more. If you want to make sure that only use what your tax dollars pay for it defeats the purpose of taxes, combined risk in a sense. All these things cost a lot of money, by pooling resources everybody is able to afford them. If that were not the case even the moderately wealthy would not be able to afford many of these things. Do you know how much an ambulance call costs? What if you're a shut-in with health problems? Even if you had money you couldn't afford to call an ambulance for help every time you needed it, at least not on an on-going basis. What about police presence? I'm assuming since everyone is getting exactly what they pay for police are going to have an increased presence in wealthier areas. Do you live in the wealthiest area around you? Would you like it if police pulled out because a nearby neighborhood had more money, or if fire response times were lower in your neighborhood?

[QUOTE="Sajedene"]Well then, if you don't think that is right, why do you demand the rich to pay more? Special treatment only works one way for you?Ultimas_Blade

It's not exactly special treatment when EVERYONE gets the same treatment. As I said in the original post, America's Rich would likely be not-so-rich if it weren't for our awesome society. Why wouldn't you want to perpetuate greatness through taxation?

It's horrendous for someone making $9,500/hr (~$18.2 Million/yr gross) not to pay higher taxes. 10% tax Simply does not dent your money unless you're buying million dollar yachts every few months or snapping up a couple foreclosed homes (sad I know) for summer and winter vacation every year. Hell if you are making $250,000/yr, if you take $25,000 in taxes you still have $225000 left, which in American English is pronounced "a **** ton of money".

[QUOTE="Sajedene"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]The fact that you are paid more doesnt mean you contribute more.

Its a misconception you need to get rid of. ;)

Like the similar one that poor people are lazy.

Teenaged

And a government calls for all (rich and poor) to contribute accordingly so that can happen.

If you desire to pay the same as the poor or if you want to get better treatment, neither of these will achieve this soothening of differences.

All I am saying is its insane to ask the "rich" to pay more than they are already paying now when they already pay more than the "poor" and the "poor" still get the same public services as the "rich" - that is NOT patriotic.Sajedene

[QUOTE="Sajedene"][QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

It's not my problem if someone is crossing the street at the crosswalk and gets run over by a car, but it is my duty to report it.

Assassin1349

I remember a year or so when a man had a heart attack or something in a store in the middle of a bunch of people. No one helped him and basically just let him lie there and die as they didn't want to be bothered. Quite a few were found guilty for not helping the man and were indeed punished by a judge.