OT - a rational, fair republican voice?

[this'll be my last post, so feel free to have the last word...]

On Sep 30, 5:51*pm, wrote:

I don't agree with them, and certainly not to the point that the majority pay
little or no taxes. *

Depends on what "the majority" makes. Our middle class is
disappearing, and it's hard to wring much out of a turnip. Meanwhile:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...8033845016.htm

Bring back policies where "the majority" will be a true "middle class"
and I'll be happy to tax them.

again, at what point does your
sympathy begin? *At what income level should "business owners" by taxed 40% on
their personal income? *And what about wage-earners? *If someone earns 25K, why
shouldn't they be taxed just like someone who make earns 250K? *

Because we don't live in Pakistan and the way our society is
structured it takes 25K to "just live". I've no idea what the "right"
levels are and don't have the time or interest to figure them out, I
just know that I'm happy to see those that have benefited more from
the social and legal and physical and governmental structures that are
in place that allow them to succeed pay their share, and I believe
that share should be somehow progressive. No one is "self-made" in the
absence of all the societal structures that are maintained to enable
it.

Let me ask you this: *if I let you set my tax rate, would you let me set yours?
Would you let me set yours after you set mine? *You know, sorta like the old
deal about sharing - one person cuts the sandwich, the other gets to pick their
portion first.

That implies that you and I are somehow "equals" on the financial
playing field, which I doubt. How about we lay out how much wealth all
the people in the nation hold at our respective class levels and then
divide our tax responsibility in proportion to the accumulated wealth
at our levels? I'd say that's fair.

http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/fac...ome&wealth.htm

Note on that data the difference between wealth and income
distribution, which in part explains why a flat income tax is
_regressive_ when it comes to wealth (and the corresponding impact on
families). If we aren't going to tax wealth accumulation, then I'm in
favor of a progressive income tax that mirrors the wealth curve.

Take care,

Jon.