The Head Tax
I'm talking with my parents about the tax rates Obama and McCain are proposing. At the highest tax brackets McCain is offering a 4.4% tax cut and Obama is offering an 11.5% tax increase. And I'm playing devil's advocate.
Why should rich people pay a higher percentage than poor people? Why are we talking about "percentages" at all? Forget the "flat tax" - why should taxes be tied to income at all? Why not a head tax? Everyone drives on the same roads, has the option of sending their kids to the same public schools, and gets protected by the same armies regardless what their income is. Why doesn't the country just "go dutch"? Federal expenditures were $2.73 trillion last year divided by 300 million people equals just ~$9000 per person. Why hasn't anyone suggested that everyone in America has to pay $9000 regardless of how much money they made?
(This isn't a rhetorical question. There are lots of reasons why we don't do that. But before you start talking about what tax brackets are appropriate you should figure out why you're talking about percentages at all.)
Update: More thoughts here.
Why should rich people pay a higher percentage than poor people? Why are we talking about "percentages" at all? Forget the "flat tax" - why should taxes be tied to income at all? Why not a head tax? Everyone drives on the same roads, has the option of sending their kids to the same public schools, and gets protected by the same armies regardless what their income is. Why doesn't the country just "go dutch"? Federal expenditures were $2.73 trillion last year divided by 300 million people equals just ~$9000 per person. Why hasn't anyone suggested that everyone in America has to pay $9000 regardless of how much money they made?
(This isn't a rhetorical question. There are lots of reasons why we don't do that. But before you start talking about what tax brackets are appropriate you should figure out why you're talking about percentages at all.)
Update: More thoughts here.