In the U.S., we’re all familiar with the ideas that rich people don’t pay their taxes or that they can easily skirt them, the feeling that taxes are unfair at certain points in the tax ladder, and that in general we just don’t like taxes. Even if you agree with them, rare is the person that likes taxes. Even when you’re lower in the tax bracket, you might think, do I really want to pay that much in taxes if I ever do make that much?
The biggest problem with that last question, is that it’s legitimate. Many of us can see a world where we make up to a few hundred-thousand dollars. It would be a dream-life for many of us. However, most of us don’t see a realistic route to making billions-upon-billions. The truth is, small raises on most of the 1% isn’t going to move the needle in terms of providing for our nation’s needs. It’s the 1-in-a-million who’s lack of taxation mean something, not the 1-in-100. If we were to increase their taxes by a few percentage points, we could probably even cut taxes on those in the highest 10% and most of the 1%.
If we were to reframe the discussion of the super-rich to only include people in the .0001%, and made taxation laws that reflect that view, do you think higher taxes on the super-rich would be a higher priority? We could probably even cut taxes on those in the highest 10% and most of the 1%. What problems do you think this approach would have? Do you think those who are usually opposed to taxes would still feel the same?
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