Tell me why the rich should not be charged a higher tax rate than the middle class or those in poverty?

Answer 1

Because the rich pay the lawmakers to prevent them from raising the taxes of the rich. First the question is inaccurate...the pretense is wrong...tax rates are much higher on the wealthy!

Oh a zillion reasons why they shouldn't pay more...only one that I've ever heard why they should: Because they have it....and I think there can be no dumber a reason...or nonsensical a justification. Although I guess if your a thief it makes more sense to steal from the rich...but it doesn't make it right - or ore right than stealing form someone else does it?

Some reasons why they shouldn't have to pay a higher rate:

Shouldn't people pay taxes based on the amount they rely on the services those taxes provide? Need and use based...like just about everything else.

Define rich - oops rather arbitrary answer I'll bet....more than you have, but less than you want and feel you deserve....so why take it from the ones that may have that? (case in pint...they did that a decade or so ago when they started something called the Alternative Minimum Tax...to make sure wealthy pay at least 20% each year...and now that the law is slowly catching more people...it is considered the biggest problem...because that line of whose rich and who isn't is catching too many!)

If using any at all, the rich use LESS public services...for example, their children may go to private schools, (or receive any special needs by private enterprises). As to security..on a local level once again, the wealthy provide much for themselves and much to take the burden off of the public systems that may well then be redeployed in the less affluent socio economic areas. Security provided on a global level...from those darn Commies: Well those other political systems/countries - they need a good worker...a good experienced coal miner is useful to them....they really don't need Donald Trump to show them how to build luxury apartments. The protection the tax pays is really for the miner!

They provide for their own care, for themselves and family...like medical, elderly, etc., and in doing so frequently advance the science/services for everyone.

Especially true with elderly and retirement. the wealthy do not rely on the government to provide for their care and pay for them to live. They live on their savings and prior effort (retirement plans, etc) - and frequently support others in doing so.

They actually pay others to do what they want, allowing others to make a living (the "rich" are the employers, the investors, the supporters of the endeavors of the not as rich). Many many taxes, like sales taxes, are based on the amount of spent ow value owned. Its reasonable to say someone earning say 300K a year and spending the entire 150K or so they have left after income/payroll taxes...generates much more tax than someone who makes say 50K and spends the remaining 40K after income tax on things...especially since the things the lower earner spends them on are probably food and nessescities that aren't taxed at all, and may even supported by higher earner taxes (by government subsidies) and don't do much extra for the economy (like buying a boat, taking vacations, spa treatments, lawn service, etc does). And of course, the middle and lower class don't have that ongoing tax expense of paying for just owning things: like a boat, a the pool at the nicer house, etc. And who pays more in registration/plate, etc fees many places...the guy driving a 15 year old Chevy pick up...or the guy in the new Lexus? Why...the road and services are the same for both...and you may argue the older car uses more of those Natural Resources (or emergency services) that we all need.

Most really rich have a great amount of their worth tied up in businesses through stock or ownership of corporations, ownership of property, etc. Theses entities pay tax at the corporate rate on their earnings (35%, much higher than people), before passing after taxed profits on to the owners, who then pay a tax on that income again. That company they own/invest in employees lots of people and pays lots of suppliers. Remember that not only do the wealthy pay more tax because their income is higher, or they own more...but they pay more income tax as a percentage of what they make because the percentage of tax payable is bracketed and goes up as the income goes up. (Example: Not exact but sort of realistic: Make 50K pay say 5K in tax = 10%. Make 300K, pay 100 in tax = 30% - it's not just amount of tax but rate as well ---> the person making 6 times the wage pays 20 times the tax...!!!!)

Statistically, 95% of all income taxes are paid by the top 3% of the people. Virtually 50% of the people (that is the lower 50% of income earners), pay not only no tax, but a large percentage of them actually get money back from the Gov't in the form of earned income credits, child care, etc.

SO AS SHOWN IN THE LAST SEVERAL HERE...THE PRETENSE OF THE QUESTION ITSELF IS WRONG...THE RICH ALREADY PAY MANY, MANY TIMES THE AMOUNT, AND MUCH HIGHER RATES OF TAX, THAN MIDDLE CLASS OR OTHERS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER REASONS. And since i suspect you were asking the question intending to fight for fairness...now that you see how unfair taxes are to those that have income/assets...hope your nobleness in wanting to fight for the rights of those treated unfairly continues....