The country has the right to say, it is your money but you have to pay tax for the good of the country and what it needs. It does that now, it's called taxation, and on ordinary people on whom the burden disproportionately falls because they don't have access to smart ass financial advisers and all the lurks and schemes that allow the rich and corporations to pay comparatively little compared to everyday working people. The figures of growing indeed obscene wealth inequality since the age of right wing economics post 1980s cannot be denied. The decline of the middle class as a result of this outcome cannot be denied. It will not be dealt with as long as the debate is couched in terms of 'envy' and individual freedom attacks. How bad does it have to get - trillionaires, multi trillionaires, social and economic collapse, rampant domestic terrorism - before it is recognised as a systemic economic issue? I suspect it will.

No one is suggesting taxing you at 90% unless you're very wealthy. Jeff Bezos can pay 90% income tax and I would still take home millions per year more than he needs to be secure and comfortable. That tax rate is just a recognition that he's been ridiculously lucky (and no, not ridiculously clever), and that concentration of wealth in the hands of a few is both wrong and dangerous.

@mordant I don't disagree with you, for the most part.

@mordant It's not even really that I disagree with you about 90% tax. I'm just not sure about it. After looking at the democratic socialist countries and their societies, you might be right. It might be best for society as a whole.

@Piece2YourPuzzle Yeah, Scandanavians for example tend to pay around 55% and yet most feel they get excellent value for it and they are consistently rated among the happiest people on earth. Of course, what those happiness studies tend to measure isn't so much happiness as contentment -- so I think it's a combination of not having to worry about retirement, healthcare, childcare, and some basic level of food, clothing and shelter -- AND having modest expectations of life.

Gates is one of the most philanthropic people in the country. Why should the government take it when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation does so much good in the world.

@jwd45244 I suggested you have the option of giving it away or being taxed. In fact, such donations are already tax-deductible, so that's already the case.

@jwd45244 They do good in the world, but I have researched a little shady activity into the Gates Foundation. If I have the time I will try to find it again.

That was probably an act just for you and staff. When out of sight he probably revelled in Rolls Royces, caviar, and the best call girls in town.

@Countrycuz666 I will, thank you for the sugestion.

@Renickulous when Idiots go in a mission!!!! he, he, he, he, ha.

@Countrycuz666 Australians have their own currency. It's called a dollar, but it's not the same as the U.S. dollar. You are comparing apples to oranges.
A typical casual restaraunt visit is 13.75 in the U.S.
That's about 2 hours work at minimum wage.
A typical casual restaraunt visit in Australia appears to ve about 17 (couldn't find a hard stat).
Australian minimum wage is about 17 dollars.
In other words, it takes about half as much time for an Australian to buy a meal.

@Countrycuz666 Standard cost USD23.50 for a rump steak with sides at Sizzlers, of course you can find cheaper deals. Given the choice of cheap restaurant meals and the ability of the majority of the population to afford to live, sorry I'll take people's welfare any day and as Don pointed out it is actually more affordable for most people.

@Countrycuz666 have you ever heard of cherry picking? It's what you're doing with your numbers. That and bad anecdotal evidence make for a poor argument.

@Countrycuz666 "I have spoken to Aussies who" was the anecdotal bit. I went online and found rescources to generate my quote of $17, from a variety of sources suggesting a 15-20 range.

And again, pulling up individual references that back up your point is cherry picking. You need to look at all restaraunts in order to establish an accurate average, not just the lowest of the bunch. At the very least, you use a random, preferably large, sampling.

Australian food prices are about 25% higher than U.S. overall, but as I showed above, they can easily afford it due to higher wages. In fact, the biggest contributing factors for Australia's higher prices are cultural (a preference for higher quality), and geographic (low pop density, high transportation costs, etc).

@DonThiebaut Actually the minimum wage for anyone aged 20 or older in Australia is Aud18.29 (USD $14.22) per hour + an extra 25% if casual. Plus everyone working or not has Medicare.

@Kimba The source I had had said a yearly salary, which gave a rough $17/hr when converted, but that's even better! ?

@Countrycuz666 "By living wages, I mean more than a bare subsistence level - I mean the wages of a decent living." -Franklin Roosevelt, who signed the Fair Labor Standard Act that created the minimum wage. Which, by the way, was equivalent to about $11/hr in modern currency. It was intended, from the beginning, to support a decent lifestyle.

And again, getting second hand info, in passing from friends, is anecdotal, and is therefore very unreliable info. As I already said, I was comparing restaurant costs listed under 'casual dining', for both Australia and the U.S.

@Countrycuz666 Jenna Tavern; Soup, small steak and salad bar for 2 USD 56.68. More expensive than most but their food is good, pick your piece of meat and they cook it to order, Standard prices menu attached with USD conversion. Your mates must like to bend the elbow.