tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3592770355903900038.post5943019321083183271..comments2023-03-06T03:47:37.771-07:00Comments on Slick Shoes: What's fair about it?oofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03131528154686495708noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3592770355903900038.post-84693655510575771242010-12-07T03:51:59.322-07:002010-12-07T03:51:59.322-07:00I volunteer to try the higher tax bracket. Pick me...I volunteer to try the higher tax bracket. Pick me!Princess and A BYU Fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07657108410709596908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3592770355903900038.post-20401601991185949322010-12-06T14:21:59.852-07:002010-12-06T14:21:59.852-07:00I think that there is a misconception about who, e...I think that there is a misconception about who, exactly, it is that fits into the wealthy category and why it is that they are wealthy. Your example of the Dr. is a good one, I think, for two reasons:<br /><br />1) The doctor probably does not make 250k per year in taxable income. In fact, I would guess that very, very few doctors do.<br />2) Only in the US is it possible for a Dr. to make that sort of money. I think that's a pretty big benefit that he/she is receiving for his/her citizenship. A marginally higher tax bracket seems acceptable to me in light of the increased benefit.<br /><br />Fundamentally, I really don't think that most people in the wealthy category are more talented or work any harder than those that are not. Instead, I think they are are generally in that position through dumb luck, the hard work of many, many other people, or perhaps even taking advantage of system.<br /><br />Fundamentally, I think the problem that we are facing as a society is the loss of the social compact between the wealthy and the non-wealthy. We now view wealth as the measure of success, rather than one of the byproducts of it. CEOs and professional athletes seem to be the extreme example of this. Subsequently, we've reach the point that the poor despise the wealthy for their wealth, the wealthy don't acknowledge that their wealth is the result of the contributions and work of many, many individuals.<br /><br />The reality is that some of us will be wealthy, but must of us won't. I'm not going to begrudge someone their wealth, but I hope that they will acknowledge that they have that wealth because our system of government provides equal protection to us all. <br /><br />I don't want the government to be in the business of redistributing wealth, but if raising taxes on a few can reduce the pain of cuts on all of us, it seems to be a good idea.oofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03131528154686495708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3592770355903900038.post-54918196844186659892010-12-06T13:12:09.934-07:002010-12-06T13:12:09.934-07:00Why is it those that are talented and work harder ...Why is it those that are talented and work harder than the rest should be responsible for supporting the rest of us?<br /><br />I'm not saying that those who earn less that 250k don't work hard, but for some reason I can't look a doctor in the eye that has just delivered my baby and tell him he should have to pay more taxes because he and his family made the sacrifices required to be a physician. <br /><br />The incessant whining from the government is getting old. Don't tell me that you're going to raise taxes and not curb spending. <br /><br />The idea we need to take more money from those that are working and give it to those that don't angers me. (Probably because I have fully capable relatives that are milking the system for all it's worth)Salt H2Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530132008817346271noreply@blogger.com