Should rich people pay more tax?

@diamania (7011)
Netherlands
May 22, 2009 6:53am CST
I think they should pay relatively more tax as they are the ones with the metaphorical 'big shoulders' if they pay more tax it means the poor people can pay less tax and thus scrape along.
4 people like this
17 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 May 09
You do of course realize that more than 50% of the tax burden is already paid by the top 10% of earners right? I am all for people paying their fair share, but, we should be very carefull not to make class warfare a policy.
2 people like this
• United States
23 May 09
X, I agree that everyone should pay their fare share. But, that should start at the top, if the vice president of the United States was paying less percentage wise in taxes than you or me, then we have a huge problem. That is where we are at right now X, those with the means find ways to avoid paying taxes. I feel we need a very simple flat tax for everyone, no matter how much you make, with NO deductions, or tax breaks. And, anyone moving money over seas would be charged with tax evastion.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
Yeah, it's insane how people succeed in deducting tax. I even think countries should further limit the amount of refugees to only political refugees and any other groups shouldn't be granted access to the country. Simple as that.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
Yes I do realize that but the fact that 10% already pays 50% means that they can possibly add even more to the total, meaning that the poor are able to pay less tax and thus be able to develop further and thus develop the country. It's like a circle... :) I'd be glad if you'd react. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
23 May 09
I think that the rich will always pay more in taxes. I personaly feel that we move to a flat tax structure, but still the rich will pay more in real dollars. The rich to have advantages that many other Americans who make less do not, and currently they worry to much about taxes because they hire people to make sure they pay as little as possible. Our tax policy needs to change, it is sad that a single male in his 20's with no house or children pays more percentage wise then our mulit-millionaire former vice president.
2 people like this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
I can't agree more ( or less, whatever the saying should be :)). It happens in other countries as well that the poor get a too heavy load to endure whilst the word endure alone would already be exaggeration. ;)
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
The last sentence was of course addressed to 'richer' and rich people. My bad.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
22 May 09
I don't think that rich people should pay a greater percentage of taxes than the rest of us do. Just because they are smarter and work smarter I don't think they should be taxed at a higher rate. Poor people already pay a smaller percentage of their taxes. The rich people are the ones that give most to charities and fun a lot of social programs. If they are taxed too much those charities and programs will dry up and we will be the losers.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
22 May 09
Here they pay a tax to be able to drive those cars. They have to pay a sales tax.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
I see but still the government could set up an environmental tax don't you think?
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
We shouldn't crush them under a too heavy load. Think about it using a different view an environmental one for instance. Most rich people drive environmental unfriendly cars meaning that they have high pollution rates and we can tax them on that. We shouldn't just tax them without reason.
1 person likes this
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
22 May 09
What I honestly believe is that they should not pay more taxes on what they take home, but what has to happen is that they should not be able to write everything off as a business expense such as dining out, cars and gas just to name a few. I know plenty of business owners that write off things that your typical person can not and that is where I think it is unfair. For instance I can take out my whole family have them order the most expensive thing on the menu and then write it off. If there is no proof of it being a tax write off then it should not be allowed. We all need our cars to get back and fourth from work but we can not write it off because we do not own a business and this is another write off that I think is full of crap. Therefore it would should larger profits and more taxes.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 May 09
haha sleep deprevation that should read "therefore it would create larger profits without the write offs and would make them responsible for more taxes. You do realize that made total sense to me while I was typing it lol
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
24 May 09
You and sense?? Don't even try to make me laugh :DDDD Haha :) Your comments are seriously great and you even have humor :D I like it. cheers.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
Most of those write offs are totally nonsense and unfair indeed. I don't understand your last sentence though. Could you please correct that?:) Thanks for your comment, it's quality. :)
• United States
24 May 09
I think the "fair tax" or consumption tax is the only really fair way to tax everyone. It's not fair that the rich and middle class keep having to pay for people who pay no tax, but receive all the government benefits. It's not fair that people who work hard and achieve have to pay for people who are do nothings. The government needs to stop punishing achievers. The only fair tax is the "fair tax."
1 person likes this
• United States
24 May 09
I do believe people who are incapable of doing for themselves should be helped. However, I believe that help should come first from their family and the church and afterward the government. While many in the church are very generous, some people seem to think their tax dollars are enough.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
24 May 09
Lazy people indeed shouldn't get too much benefit. But people who aren't capable of working should be cared for, do you agree?
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
9 Jun 09
The problem is that not everyone is Christian, so wouldn't the church find it weird to donate money or aid to people who are Islamic, Hindustan or people who don't believe in God at all? Just being curious.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
23 May 09
I think the poorer people should pay more in taxes, percentage wise, and as they start earning more, their percentage of payment goes down. Maybe that would give them an incentive to try to earn more and not have to depend on others or the government.
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
25 May 09
What is it about the American dream you don't like?
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
24 May 09
Most Average Poor Joe's are already having a hard time scraping along giving them an incentive by promising lower tax rates is unfair since they can't always aim higher... Your opinion looks a lot like the American dream of which I am no fan. I have respect for your opinion though. :) Happy mylotting
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
7 Jun 09
Because the conditions people live in can sometimes limit their amount of success they have. In other words, you can't blame someone completely for nothing having success.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
23 May 09
I don't think rich people should pay more tax. It takes away a lot of the motivation to earn more. Of course, some rich people didn't actually earn their money. But still, I'm not for tax increases on the rich. How about the government learn some money management techniques.
1 person likes this
@4ftfingers (1310)
22 May 09
Although I respect the wealthy for their self made fortune, more often than not their wealth would never have accumulated if it wasn't for the work put in by the less wealthy so I think that the rich have a duty to society to pay a higher share of taxes. However that's very general, on a more personal level if someone is perfectly capable of working but refuse to and would rather stay poor, recieving benefits but not giving back they deserve nothing.
1 person likes this
22 May 09
It is a big problem here in the UK aswel my friend. We have 'incapacity benefits' which is so broad that sometimes it will cover people with minore incapacities like a pain in the back. I think they are clamping Also, as we are both part of the EU there are certain loopholes that people can exploit. For example, I'm not sure if this happens in The Netherlands, but people can come to the UK from Polnd and other new EU member countries, and while here claim beenfits for children they have back in their home country. I am all for the free movement of citizens throughout the EU, but this is unacceptable. If the children require cash benefits, the home country should foot the bill, not us.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
I know of Polish construction workers who come here to steal our jobs whilst delivering crap quality at crap prices without decent communication. But I've never heard of them applying for money for their children in Poland. Quite frankly it's shocking to hear how people exploit such possibilities to their own advantage. Seriously I am thinking about voting for Geert Wilder's PVV ( Freedom Party) but he's not going to increase the social security for the people who are incapable of working and that's an important thing to me having some of my family members in that situation.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
I think we are on more or less the same frequency as to this subject. I'm happy that you agree on that people who are capable of working but refuse to should deserve nothing. But that's for example one of the biggest problems in our country, a lot of people refuse to work because social security is pretty royal here ( it doesn't mean you can go on vacation often, more often than not it's impossible to go on vacation) compared to other countries so people see my country as a country where you can get money from relaxing, and they send a part of the money to their home country. I am so against this... I mean the money should be spend on the people who want to work but simply can't because they are ill or because they don't have the right education and thus they should receive compensation for willing to be educated and go working again. :)
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
23 May 09
I'd like to see a national sales tax or consumption tax replace the income tax. That way we'd all be in control of how much we paid in taxes. I mean some things wouldn't be taxable such as food and clothing and other necessary items but the percentage could be higher on the more "luxury" type items and lower on the more basic things. This way the "rich" would still be paying the most in taxes because they'd obviously spend more on unnecessary items but they wouldn't have to pay taxes on capital gains or investment income so they'd have no need to try to hide their assets. Annie
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
23 May 09
Sounds like you're talking about the "Fair Tax". I think that's a wonderful idea.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
9 Jun 09
Sounds indeed fair as well but it's important not to implement such changes on autopilot since it is probably still no solution for the poor.
@gloreymay (882)
• Philippines
22 May 09
I think so... They are earning money from their business and it is also fro the money of people so they should pay their taxes and share money if they have anything to share to.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
Thanks for agreeing. Do you believe that something needs to change to the tax system and the spending policy of your country?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 May 09
Yes I think it would be better.
1 person likes this
@jeiay41 (674)
• United States
24 May 09
Rich people should pay more tax than lower class families like us. That's why we have a bad economy right now because poor people contribute tax and dont have enough money to buy stuff and those rich one keep a large amount of money that's why we have economic crisis. If they keep there money all year long, recycle of money become stagnant and we all get into trouble if we cant fix this thing immediately.
1 person likes this
@kewlme (163)
• Philippines
23 May 09
Yes, this should be the case since the more you earn then your tax is high. If they will pay more then this will be beneficial to those who have low salary. But the sad thing is I think this is not happening. Hope that someday they will realise that it is not only their benefit that they will think of, they should think of others too.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
I fully agree with you. I can't wait until everybody gets sick because they can't scrape along meaning that society has to pay for their stubborness not to make sure poor people and hard working people ( whose salary is sometimes very low although they work like beasts) have enough money and chances to earn money themselves.
• United States
24 May 09
They should but will they? No I think not they have the funds to write off a bunch of tax deductions and that is what makes their tax lower. But I think that taxes should be a set price for everyone that is reasonable say like 500.00 per family and 200.00 per single person. this is just a rough idea of what I was thinking. Take care and happy mylotting to you friend.
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
9 Jun 09
Paying 400 dollars a month on tax would make me and my mum, and I bet loads of others bankrupt so I doubt whether that's a good idea, or did I just interpret your idea incorrectly?
@karpatzio (106)
• Israel
23 May 09
The problem with that view (socialism) is that it is an incentive for people who don't make much to stay there. If you keep taxing the rich more and more what incentive do they have to make more money, they won't then who will keep up all the government programs that aren't working ie medicare, social security etc. And besides... relatively the income from "rich peoples tax" is minuscule compared to what the general public brings in, so why? because it makes you feel better?
1 person likes this
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
I dón't want to let rich people pay for me or anyone to feel better. I want that everybody in any country can scrape along with their money and that's mostly not really the case. And if this changes I don't care how much tax the rich pay ( unless I suddenly get rich myself.. :P) because my ideals are realised.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
22 May 09
How is taxing the rich more going to help the poor? That rich minority pays of a lot to the poor majority through wages. The less money in the pockets of the rich means less income to the poor. I like my annual bonus, thank you very much. I'd hate to see that decreased because my employer has to pay way more in taxes.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
Well, I believe that in my country for example too much people who are able to work but are just lazy get social security which they actually don't deserve. A country cannot economically improve when everybody sits at their sofa with a bag of crisps in their hand. And the people who would like to work but can't work suffer from those lazy people... thanks to them in my country the social security is kept way too low... so I believe they should increase it so either they let those lazy who are able to work do so.. or they would have to let rich people pay more tax... but what they are doing now is let poor people pay relatively more tax... which will lead to more debts and thus more costs... etc... I hope you understand what I mean, my english isn't too good at times. ;)
@kath_b (116)
• Philippines
22 May 09
yeah i think that they should pay more taxes especially if their income is much higher. Taxes are based on income right?? if rich people earn more than a million per month then they should absolutely pay more. however, i know that some big guys with big corporations sometimes fake it in their tax return and dont even pay even the half of the right tax that they should be paying. While we people with just small amount of salaries have taxes that are unbelievable. but hey, how can we complain anyway? in my country, i cant feel any return of the taxes to the people. the corrupt government benefits from it.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
22 May 09
How is the tax system in the Philippines then? Our tax system is progressive which means indeed it's income based bit still I believe rich people have to pay even more tax. They go on vacation like 2 or 3 times a year if not more. Give them a environmental tax. They have hummers, Ferraris and what not... anyway in my country I feel that they give too much to people that aren't born here... sometimes they don't even speak our language and don't contribute to our country and REFUSE to apply for work...and yet we spoil them? They'd better give more money to the sick and poor here.
@MrPKitty (102)
• United States
22 May 09
The problem is, there's income tax and capital gains tax and the average working Joe doesn't have a capital gains income. The tax on capital gains is much lower than the tax on actual income, not to mention the average Joe doesn't have thousands of dollars to invest/donate so he can't take the write offs for these things. These write offs often do more damage to the community. You can buy a run down building in downtown anywhere and then write off the cost for years without making any improvements to the building. Which means no business can rent it out, which means no one can be employed by that business, which means no sale tax can be collected by the city that building is in and so on. It's never about who pays how much, it's ripples in a pond, it reaches much farther than we realize.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
23 May 09
Those write offs should be limited as well indeed. It doesn't stimulate economy in fact it has an opposite effect as you mentioned. I'm glad those UK politicians now know they shouldn't declare things like dog food at the cost of just 4 pounds and that kind of bs. So to conclude my post, I can only agree on that one as well. Thanks for your contribution.