I think the debate over taxes needs a drastic paradigm shift. A shift back to where it once was rooted.
As the debate rages over whether or not, and for whom, to extend the "Bush tax cuts" (I even hate the term and what it suggests) the arguments all revolve around the relative effectiveness of the differing policies. Democrats believe it's too costly to extend the current rates for the wealthy. Republicans believe it is the path to job creation. (For the record, the Republicans are right. But I digress from the purpose of this post.)
Take a few steps back and consider the nature of progressive taxation. Why isn't the discussion about the morality of simply taking people's property (money) from them? If you or I took a person's money against their will, even if we did something 'good' with it, it would be theft. Legalities aside, from where does the government derive the moral authority to pillage? Who gets to say when someone else has enough? Does anyone consider the effect on the families from whom the money is extorted?
People are envious creatures, and they tend to resent those they envy. The biggest problem with the 16th Amendment is that it permits politicians to exploit this too common character flaw. Voters are offered all kinds of goodies that should not be the role of government. And all at the expense of the rich.
If our politicians would consider the morality of taxation, rather than just the math, perhaps they would take only what is needed instead of what they can get.
Which in the long run would be the best math too.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for leaving your comments. Feel free to be forthright and blunt. I have no problem with disagreement. Please do refrain from using any profanity, bigotry or name calling. All comments are moderated, which means I have to approve them before they will be posted. ANONYMOUS comments will not be published. I put my name on my opinions for all to judge, I will only publish comments likewise submitted.
I'm adding 2 addenda to my comments policy.
1) The invitation to leave comments about my posts is not to be construed as an invitation to endless, pointless debate. I do have a life away from this computer, and don't wish to spend what time I do have lingering on one topic. There's too much going on. Sincere questions will be answered. Questions designed to simply be the starting point for argument may be considered rhetorical.
2) This is MY blog. I have recently discovered the inability of some to remain on topic. I reserve the right to deem comments too stupid to use up my space.