Why should the rich pay higher taxes

Because they have more than they need- I know that they give to charity but none of that charity falls down to anyone I KNOW who needs it including me. I am not lazy but in order to go to school you have to have money. I don't have any- I am a single mother of three and because of that I was unable to keep all of my grades up so I am not eligible for much in the way of financial aid. The flip side of your original question is simply: Why am I being punished for being poor?

Well, is the question why do the rich pay higher taxes or is it should the rich pay higher taxes? The rich pay higher taxes because they are easy targets politically. There are fewer rich people and, therefore, fewer votes available to curry favor with politicians or combat such attacks by politicians. Conversely, the poor are plentiful and have more votes. The poor are likely to have little sympathy for the "plight of the rich" and often benefit directly when the rich face heavy taxation. Democracy is plagued by the terrible effects of these occurrences, namely lobbying and financial influence. The rich contribute to their own problems when they reward the political system with large sums of cash to address the taxation issue. Politicians then have incentive to keep the problem going. Should the rich pay more taxes? That's a trickier question to answer. It's more of a grey area rather than a black or white issue. Who is using the services that the taxes are being collected for? Who benefits most from government use of taxpayer dollars? Who influences government most and dictates state policy? your views are likely to be based on what role you believe government should play as well as how effective you think government actually is. It may also depend on the role you think individuals should play within society. I think that asking people to pay for things that either they themselves or their community can't benefit from is wrong. It is also wrong to pretend that everyone is equal while at the same time asking some to pull more weight and accept fewer rights/benefits. Furthermore, it is patently unfair to force those incapable of paying to accept services in an attempt to enslave them. I believe that there needs to be an opportunity for any citizen to opt out of taxation depending on the lifestyle that they live. Forcing everyone to pay the same amount of taxes means that essentially the populace is a slave to the government. I think that the Canadian system attempts to address this issue with a minimum income level before taxation sets in. Unfortunately, this level is too low. My solution would be a flat tax after the minimum income level has been reached (for example: anyone earning upto $20,000 pays no income tax, and thereafter a flat tax of $5000 sets in). This system would also have the bonus effect of defining a maximum amount of money that the government could receive through taxation on income. No government will live within a budget if they can forever increase tax revenue. Such a system would avoid punishing those struggling to make a living while giving incentive to, and rewarding those who do, work more/harder. User fees and sales taxes are different because the option to use the service/make the purchase or to find another solution is there. If the toll on the road is too expensive for you, then use a different route, find another mode of transportation, go elsewhere, or don't travel. If the sales tax is too high at the store, make your purchase online from a company out of state/province/country. Alternatives must be available otherwise a user fee or sales tax shouldn't be allowed. For instance, the government can't collect taxes to build and service infrastructure and then turn them all into toll roads. Essential food and clothing should not have sales tax. That's my view anyway...

I'm going to answer this backwards. They give a great deal to charity because it is a tax write off. It is like... let me give the money to this organization instead of the government. Going back in history of taxation in the US it was only the top 1% of Americans that actually paid any taxes at all... I believe that was Andrew Jackson that did that... let me check. Actually it looks like it was Lincoln to pay for the war... Jackson was the only person to pay off the national debt. In the years following it was a loosly formed governmental agency until I believe 1912. Now to today... the average American's tax basis (Fed, State, Local) is ~40%. Make $40,000 you only have $24,000 in your pocket. Ok there is the basis. Now let's take the richest man in the world Warren Buffett who is in the highest federal tax bracket of 35%. Buffet's cleaning lady paid 30% in taxes and he himself only paid less than 18%. There are many legal reasons why but Buffett is not happy at all about this. He WANTS to pay more taxes... as well he should. There are others out there that pay $0 in taxes; legally. The one's that get shafted the most are the small business owners (especially start-ups) because they don't have the money for the lawyers, accountants, etc... nor do they have the right-offs go get their taxes down and they are taxed at the highest tax rate PLUS 5% business tax. This is where perponents of the fair tax or the flat tax argue... they say everyone should pay their own share. I say that if you work to get ahead you will receive a break on your taxes... we all know the joke of the man who doesn't take the lottery money 'cause it will 'put him in a different tax bracket'. My father's best friend growing up turned out to work for the IRS (now retired) and he has said as do anyone with any tax knowledge that there is far more paid into the IRS than what should be. So even though the tax brackets are higher for the rich... they are able to pay less in taxes because of write-offs and loopholes. It is the middle class ($45000-$200000) people that really concerns me and the people that want to do for themselves and start their own business. Great great question. Thanks Zelo

I think that is because many assume that they sitting around giving orders and have not worked hard for their money or else they inherited it. So therefore because they did not spend all day working two or three jobs, they have to be punished. The trouble is that it puts the good rich with the bad rich. We do, in both Canada and the States, have a basic amount allowed to us before getting taxed, and yet it seems that if you are at a certain leval you pay a percentage of your income on taxes, and yet the percentage goes up the higher you make your money. However I think the reason is that the rich have more opportunity for deductions. For instance, they can give more to charity since they do not have to live on much of their income, and they can invest more. So I think the government takes in account that they are giving to charity and investments and that is deducted. And I guess it is the rich who are so stingy and do not help others or donate money who are probably fuming.

I think it has alot to do with, the more you make, the more they, "the government" takes. The more money you earn, the more taxes you have to pay per dollar made. Ever notice with overtime or a raise, the more taxes you have to pay for federal and state and social security out of your paycheck?

Every country needs money for development and to make progress. From where does a country gets money? from the people of course. Now it they don't pay taxes how will a work properly. now poor people have no power to give a country much. So from whom a money will come. So rich persons are asked to pay more and more taxes. To me it seams to be quite fair. If you earn more why not you pay more?

Well... I can see your point. But let me point out that as a rule, rich people have much more tax brakes. |Something that the regular person has no chance to have so in the end the story goes like this: really poor people, have government support and end up not that bad in the scheme of things. Rich people - yes I understand some worked hard for what they have , but also keep in mind that many didn't, but that's another story -, well, rich people not only are able to receive more income, and the more income one receives the more one will have to pay - that happens to regular people as well, no wonder they never have enough money - but also they have 1)more tax brakes - some quite unfair in my opinion 2) the possibility of having trained professionals doing their taxes which in turn find even more loopholes which will be used to save more in taxes 3) because ( example only ) $20.000 for someone that makes 200 thousand a year, is not exactly the same as $10.000 for someone who makes 30 thousand a year.

I think the taxes should be paid fairly by everyone - the same. I know, though, that the rich have ways of putting money into things that keep them from paying taxes on some of it. But, still, taxes should be the same for everyone.