Why Do We Tax Those Whom We Tax?

I might be willing to agree that we should tax people according to their income.  I’d be less inclined to agree that we should increase the rate of taxation as the income moved ever higher.

However the debate went, I would insist on this:

Taxation of the people is meant to pay for the necessary role of government.

There is no way that you could get me to agree that we need to confiscate the wealth of one man and simply hand it to another.

3 responses to “Why Do We Tax Those Whom We Tax?

  1. To be sure, in a democratic polity that’s up the voters to decide. After all, all businesses are possible due to infrastructure, rule of law, a currency backed by the government, and social stability (no social welfare at all might cause a socialist revolution). So issues like this are at base political issues to be decided by democratic oversight. I personally think sometimes it’s good and necessary to help those in need, especially children — and that wealthy often earn much more than their work and ingenuity would mean (did Mitt Romney or Warren Buffett really “earn” all their hundreds of millions?) and thus have benefited from their position in society. Taking some from them to try to create opportunity and basic protections (health care, basic minimums) can be justified.

    • To be sure, in a democratic polity that’s up the voters to decide.

      Truly there is the idea that we’re protected form the tyranny of the masses. You cannot simply round up enough friends to take my money.

      After all, all businesses are possible due to infrastructure, rule of law, a currency backed by the government, and social stability

      The proper role of government. If you agree that there is a proper role of government, then you must agree that there is an IMproper role of government. I would be happy enough for someone on the left to admit at least that. That there is something the government can’t do.

      So far – crickets.

      Taking some from them to try to create opportunity and basic protections (health care, basic minimums) can be justified.

      The hedging aside. I’m talking about even the blatant acts of taking money and handing out checks.

      Ick.

  2. To me the proper role of government is what the citizens decide, bounded by the Constitution (which citizens can amend if need be). I may have my own opinions about what I *think* government should or should not do, but it would be pertinacious for me to label my opinion as objective fact. I can try to convince people that my ideas make sense though and hope they agree.

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