[dwrowe]

This is such a tired take. Is it not possible to just believe that a person shouldn’t HAVE to pay more (percentage-wise) in taxes because they’re successful - while at the same time, be fine with the credits / deductions available to the less fortunate? I can’t be the unicorn here.

[falcolas]

Um, they aren’t paying more, percentage wise. That’s why everyone is upset. They’re paying more in gross volumes of money, but significantly less when compared to their actual income.

You should ask, whose life would be enriched more by having more of the money they’re paying in tax - the average income household paying 30% on their $40,000, or the millionaire paying 7% on their hundreds of millions of income?

[dwrowe]

My point was - I can be okay with them not paying more, and it isn’t because I think I’ll be a billionaire someday.

[falcolas]

By being on this site, it seems safe to assume that you’re in the top 10% of earners across the US. Perhaps it would be worth thinking of this from the point of view of the other 90% of the population? Folks for whom that tax money would greatly enrich their lives?

Also, let’s not forget that it’s not just the visible 30% that’s taken from your paycheck, but a matching 30% that’s paid by your employer on your behalf. So, by leveling the playing field, a median earner could be getting upwards of $20,000 more than they are today.

[RhysU]

What inflation do you expect when everyone suddenly goes from $40k to $60k? Money is relative.

[geggam]

Why is it tired?

The wealthy benefit from the social infrastructure they live in. Should they not pay for it ?

Think of the wear and tear the roads get from the Amazon delivery service alone.

[dwrowe]

The “temporarily embarrassed” take is tired. I can believe Jeff Bezos should pay the same tax rate as I do, regardless of his ability to pay more, without having my reasoning be because I assume I’ll be a billionaire someday.

Amazon still pays to register vehicles, so they’re paying for roads as much as anyone that uses them, right? I work from home, and pay as much for the roads as my neighbor who commutes. Is that fair? No - but I’m completely fine with it.

[ajsnigrutin]

Doesn't amazon pay road taxes for their trucks (or whatever they're called over there)?

[geggam]

The US road taxes doesnt cover the damage done.

Not to mention the US is huge, the actual cost of fixing the infrastructure would be staggering. It needs fixing too.

[alphabettsy]

Without thinking too much I’d agree, but I have a hard time saying someone making $25k/yr should pay 25% of their income compared to someone making $1mil/yr.

If the very wealthiest weren’t paying lower effective tax rates than the people making $200k/yr. that would be a start.

[dwrowe]

They're not paying 25% of their income in taxes - they're paying maybe 1-2% ? https://files.taxfoundation.org/20190719104737/TF_2018TaxDat...

[alphabettsy]

Parent was referencing flat tax. I’m aware that lower incomes do not pay anywhere near 25% on average.

[ajsnigrutin]

If by "the wealthiest" you mean millionares and billionaires, then you must also know that they have ways to move their money around to avoid those taxes. Some programmer with 200k wage, living in an ultra expensive city, doesn't.

[alphabettsy]

I absolutely know that. Imagine spending just a portion of what we spend on the drug war to combat tax evasion.

[dwrowe]

Tax avoidance is not the same as tax evasion - moving money into trusts or donor-advised funds, QOZs, etc - isn't evasion.