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Should Billionaires be taxed at an extra high rate to even out our income discrepancy? Mike Bloomberg has reportedly donated over 10 billion dollars to causes that have done more to close down coal mines and promote climate change issues. He has also been a key figure in fighting the NRA. That money would not have gone to those cause had they gone to the government. With the exception of trump most rich people donate large sums to charities. Just wondering what you think?

rogueflyer 8 Feb 23
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1

Absolutely, positively YES! The rich always manage to find the loopholes and avoid paying their fair share. Start with fixing that, atleast to some degree. Why do we have a President that will not share tax returns? He stated at one point that avoiding paying taxes was a GOOD thing, an accomplishment. And to some degree, yes, maybe? Until you realize that people who actually work are paying more than him and then you realize what a big sham it all is. There should be breaks, loopholes, to help build up to a certain level of wealth, but once you achieve a certain level, taxes should just keep getting progressively higher. No escaping it at a certain point. For billionaires, rates should be up there and loopholes few - wealth tax, is it? I agree with implementing this tax on billionaires. Though never to crazy ranges of 90%. Above a certain net worth, maybe billionaire, yeah you should definitely be subjected to an annual wealth tax, the actual percentage rate would have to be very low as it should be levied yearly.

As far as it being used to evenout income disparity, I think a very good use of the funds would be putting plans in place to pay reparations for slavery. Exactly what the best details of a plan, I don't know, but I do believe it should include assistance for higher education expenses and increased social services for people who are most in need. Maybe part of the solution is just studying what people think is a fair solution today. Eventually money would go to fund all below a certain poverty level and definitely expand social services to all who need it, but start with acknowledgement and reparations. It's easy for critics to completely dismiss the idea of reparations as way passed it's time, but I disagree. I think people need to listen better and I think it needs to be made clear at the highest levels that now is the time to look at the past and learn from it. Atone.

Edit: I just started reading an article on this and one idea mentioned is " some of the most powerful families in the country would certainly deploy their vast resources against a wealth tax" so that means it's a GOOD idea. The rate quoted seemed too high. 2% then 3% at a billion. Article doesn't mention estimated revenue this would generate. Other European nations have done away with wealth tax - but I don't know if that is a sign it wasn't working or it was. Knowing how the world works, that probably means it WAS working.

Edit 2: estimates between 800B and 1.6T over the next decade depending on percentages used. Also it is based on an estimate of wealth of richest Americans

Edit 3: This idea does indeed have some drawbacks. It might be best to only be levied for a short period of time, not long term.

1

The wealthy class like Bloomberg uses charitable donations to buy influence. They would never consider just paying taxes like we pedestrians do. They want to get their name on something. They want personal credit for doing the responsible things the rest of us do all the time.

2

In Eisenhower's presidency they were taxed at 90%, and it certainly didn't run them out of existence!

That sounds unbelievable! 90%?!

@Cutiebeauty

Not 90% of the entire income. 90% over a certain amount, something like 4 million, which was a heck of a lot back in the 50s.

1

I think billionaires should be highly taxed or required to donate the same amount to government-designated charities and causes. That should remedy many current inequalities and much destruction of the earth.

2

They do it for taxes, if they were taxed appropriately social security could be paid back for the money republicans took for their tax breaks, health care would be more available etc. All done by their paid for lackeys in Congress. In the 50's when they were taxed appropriately we had a strong vibrant middle class and pore people faired better than today

bobwjr Level 10 Feb 23, 2020
1

Taxing the wealthy an extra high rate does nothing for the average citizen.. They don't get an increase in their income.. And all that extra tax money would just be wasted by the government...

It doesn't have to be wasted. We used to use it to heavily subsidize higher education and we used to have a strong social safety net, and we used to actually take in enough revenue that we didn't need to build up an enormous deficit which is going to overwhelm us someday.

It also prevents individuals from becoming so rich that they can wield enormous power and influence through their wealth, such as Mike Bloomberg.

All of that is good for the average citizen.

@RoboGraham "used to " refers to the past.. I live in the present and in the present, government wastes taxpayers money... To heavily tax billionaires to prevent power would also reduce incentives to work as hard resulting in a loss of jobs... It seems like a simple solution to tax the rich but there would be many unintended consequences... And who would want to live in a country where the more you make, the more you pay?

@Cutiebeauty

Who would want to live in a country where those who have the most don't contribute the most.

If it worked in the past, which it did, it can work now. The time period of the most rapid economic growth the country has ever seen was the same time period when taxes were the highest. It didn't result in loss of jobs. People didn't work less hard. It resulted in a large vibrant middle class and much less poverty, homelessness, crime, and misery than we have now.

@RoboGraham having the most does not obligate donations although many wealthy do so voluntarily... It's an individual decision to donate and shouldn't be dictated by the government through outrageous taxation.. If anything, there should be a flat rate tax of about 20% for all... No deductions or any other way out.. No loopholes..

@Cutiebeauty

It always amazes me when regular people stand against their own interests in support of billionaires.

@RoboGraham I'm not regular people.. I'm independently wealthy...

@Cutiebeauty

Is that right?

You're rolling in the doe?

@RoboGraham I was receiving a trust fund until recently.. I turned 30 this year and everything was officially signed over to me... So yes, I'm rolling in dough... But I donate to many charities every month..

@Cutiebeauty

You're a lucky duck.

@RoboGraham considering my whole family had to die for me to be wealthy isn't all that lucky... My mom and dad were murdered by a drunk driver when I was ten.. My grandparents adopted me then they passed away as well.. So, not so lucky...

@Cutiebeauty

Well that's horrible.

Still, it's fortunate that the trust was available to you.

@RoboGraham I barely touch it.. I live a simple life.. I donate more than I spend on myself actually...

@Cutiebeauty

That's nice of you. Generosity is a virtue.

@OwlInASack in order for high taxation to work, you say two things must occur :

  1. National unity..
    While trump is president, that's an impossibility and for decades after he's ousted from office.. Even if a democrat is elected, the damage is already done...

  2. A fair economy...
    The economy has never been "fair ". You either succeed or not.. It's based on individual business decisions and not everyone can succeed in a capitalist economy...

So these two conditions are impossible right now and for a long time down the road...

As for Switzerland et al, that's a totally different environment.. What works there doesn't automatically mean it will work here.. It's not that simple...

1

Punishing the rich, the anger against the rich, blaming the rich for your miseries, pitting one class against another to seek the highest office in the land must stop at once. This is not the spirit of America.

2

Tax them.

2

Relying on them to donate to charity out of the kindness of their hearts is inadequate. One does not become a billionaire by being generous and I doubt they bother to give to charities for reasons other than positive PR and the tax breaks that charitable donations provide.

Many struggling people have no charity to help them but could benefit from government programs and there is no way that they would voluntarily give enough to actually even out wealth inequality

As long as Americans have to pawn their dignity anytime they get catastrophically ill and hit up their friends and neighbors with begging for help thru fundraisers for their medical bills, there is something seriously wrong with our current system of depending on the rich to provide charity for others when and if they feel like it, instead of paying their fair share of taxes so we have an adequate safety net for all. Same thing with the lack of housing for the homeless. It is a shameful embarrassment for our country, but then again, most of the rich have neither shame or real patriotism. Their loyalty is only to money and their own class...

@TomMcGiverin The key there Tom is "pay their fair share". Cut the loop holes written in to the tax laws.

@OwlInASack You're are absolutely right. That's why CPAs get $350 an hour.

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