In the current "fiscal cliff" debate, I'm sure that we've all heard of which group should receive the brunt of tax increases that may be necessary to help reduce the budget deficit. If taxes on the wealthy are raised, what should we expect to happen? Who is wealthy in the first place--the top 20%? 10%? Maybe only the top 1%? Should anybody have to face tax increases?
Agree or disagree with the following motion: Taxes on the wealthy should be raised.
I like this "aord" idea. Followed with the hope that you do more. (Answer: taxes on everyone should be raised, because the rising debt is the most potentially-destructive policy problem America's got. After that blanket statement, it gets sticky because of the distinctions you raised.)
"I like taxes, with them I buy civilization", this quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes needs to be embraced by America. Taxes have somehow become such a negative concept. Oddly this may be because taxes in America often aren't used for civil reasons but are used to support the ultra wealthy by funding a huge military that is used to protect "American interests" all over the world. This is seems to be code for corporate / moneyed interest. So the taxes in America tend to benefit the ultra wealthy over the poorest Americans. All the while the contributions (in terms of tax rate and contributions compared to existing wealth) have dropped for the upper class and increased for the lower and middle classes. The times many look back on as America's glory days had a much higher tax rate for the wealthy and it did not stop innovation and did not lead to mass unemployment So, yes tax rates should be raised on those who can: one, afford to pay more and two benefit the most from how taxes are spent. I for one would pay more in taxes gladly if there was universal health care, even though I would be considered lower middle class. So my vote will be for increased taxes on the top 20% or so and then as social safety nets and other important aspects of a functioning civilization (good affordable public education, etc) increase and more people benefit from them, then an increase on virtually everyone's taxes.