Quote:
Originally Posted by Partial
Why should someone that makes 150,000 pay a higher pecentage of taxes when a flat tax percentage would already be more money than someone that makes 50,000?
Why should they even pay the same percentage? That is dumb. He doesn't use the services any more than anyone else yet is penalized for probably working twice as many hours, having twice as much higher education, and working twice as hard. I think its bullshit.
Mailman was just joking.
But I will try to answer your questions, grasshopper. The concept is that we will all help each other to some extent to improve society, and because we can accomplish things working together (like raise an army to defend the country) that couldn't be done as individuals. You may not agree with this value of contributing to the social good, but that's the explanation.
Most people believe that the social burden should be shared relatively equally. That's why taxes are done as a percentage. A $10,000 tax bill for you is a far greater burden than a $10,000 tax bill for Bill Gates. Again, I understand that you oppose this on philosophical grounds, but that is how most people think.
In actuality rich people pay a significantly lower percentage of their income in taxes than working people, so the system does not meet the standards of fairness that people have generally agreed upon. Perhaps this has something to do with wealthy people having greater influence in government? I don't know, just a thought.