tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post8173644245111403619..comments2023-10-26T05:55:04.557-06:00Comments on Along the Grey Path: Only the Rich Believe a Flat Tax is FairGreyTheoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238997262469046371noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-34993704004841468222009-02-06T10:48:00.000-07:002009-02-06T10:48:00.000-07:00Reed Hastings, the multimillionaire founder of Net...Reed Hastings, the multimillionaire founder of Netflix, proposed the same thing just today:<BR/><BR/>"Then, the next time a chief executive earns an eye-popping amount of money, we can cheer that half of it is going to pay for our soldiers, schools and security. Higher taxes on huge pay days can finance opportunity for the next generation of Americans."<BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06hastings.html?th&emc=thGreyTheoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15238997262469046371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-53897574515417525462009-02-06T10:37:00.000-07:002009-02-06T10:37:00.000-07:00Also, if you are really worried about the rich peo...Also, if you are really worried about the rich people paying their taxes, you should advocate the flat tax. The flat tax has been shown to reduce tax evasion (see Russia). Getting rid of our current tax system (in USA) would get rid of all the legal loopholes that allow the rich to currently pay a much lower percentage of their revenue than the middle class. Not only do the rich believe the flat tax is fair, that's the reason they don't want it (and the reason we don't have it.) It would mean higher taxes for the rich and lower taxes for the poor. <BR/><BR/>Actually, your comment has made me angry now, because in place of morality you have espoused an idea that people who have more than you should get to keep less. <BR/><BR/>And this idea has blinded you to the system that could actually help the poor you are pretending to care about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-67310546224589332042009-02-06T10:25:00.000-07:002009-02-06T10:25:00.000-07:00Most flat tax proposals have an exemption for a ba...Most flat tax proposals have an exemption for a base amount of salary. For instance, the first $17K is not taxed, but any dollar above that amount is taxed at a flat 17%. Therefore your argument about how a flat tax would hurt a poor family is largely irrelevant. <BR/><BR/>While there is a principle for not taxing the basic amount an individual would need to live off of, this does not logically lead to the idea that people who make considerably more than what is needed to survive (for instance the Obamas) should get to keep a much lower percentage of income. <BR/><BR/>You may not like that people make more than you and can therefore live in houses or take trips that you don't get to take, but that does not mean that it's "fair" to take it away from them just because you don't like that they have more. If one is able to earn substantially more, that excess belongs to them because they earned it. It's fair to be able to retain just as much of what you earn as the next guy. For every $20 one earns, it is fair that each person gets to keep the same percentage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-83143442515490703132008-07-18T21:41:00.000-06:002008-07-18T21:41:00.000-06:00Jordan ... That's the standard load of libertarian...Jordan ... That's the standard load of libertarian drivel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-32184679447900177832008-07-13T12:46:00.000-06:002008-07-13T12:46:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.GreyTheoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15238997262469046371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-37512862791902484592008-01-13T06:03:00.000-07:002008-01-13T06:03:00.000-07:00Why in your article must you take a swipe at Presi...Why in your article must you take a swipe at President Bush? It was needless to the point you were trying to make. Also, you leave out the fact that though the couple making $20,000 have the right to have 2 children, they also have a responsibility not to since they obviously do not have the resources and should not be allowed to steal from anyone making more than they do, because they have applied themselves and made their breaks. Your class warfare attitude is despicable. Over 80% of Americans polled believe "everyone" should pay some tax to support "our" government. I work damn hard for my $42,000 a year (wifes incl) and for you to want to give it away to those who will not shouldered their responsibility, or worse take it away through you income redistribution plan is wrong. No "gray" area about it you thief! By the way, in case you think I'm heartless, I give 10% off the top of gross income per pay check and then in my monthly budget have another $40 set aside for additional giving. People like you do not have any understanding of what fair is or actual giving! John E. JordanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-42806233580825969902008-01-05T13:30:00.000-07:002008-01-05T13:30:00.000-07:00The poverty base of $20,000 is way off. Please se...The poverty base of $20,000 is way off. Please see http://greytheory.blogspot.com/2007/07/minimum-wage-increases-today-but.htmlGreyTheoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15238997262469046371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33769710.post-65732377346623149372007-12-16T10:33:00.000-07:002007-12-16T10:33:00.000-07:00Given your argument, which seems sound, where woul...Given your argument, which seems sound, where would you begin a "fair tax" plan? At sometjing like 150% of a $20,000 poverty base?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com