[net.politics] On Progressive Taxes

bdp (12/03/82)

    From rabbit!morley Thu Dec  2 08:49:16 1982
    Subject: About progressive taxes

    I suggest that we all propose a tax that takes ALL the money from the
    productive individuals in the country and distribute it to
    the non-productive individuals.  That will solve the problem of
    progressive taxing, since no-one will have a need to be productive,
    since they will be rewarded by confiscation of the fruits of their labors.

    Come to think of it, we already do that.

It is true that such a tax exists.  It comes in the form of tax write-offs
which only the rich can take advantage of.  Through it, the productive
lower and middle class support the non-productive upper class.

Of course, the only folks who are more non-productive are those starving
in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  The very strong implication from
rabbit!morley's sarcastic tone is that no money should be wasted on these
non-productive people.  This thought seethes with the rancid odor of
anti-altruism.  Thus it is no surprise to see him end his comment with:

    Where is John Galt when you need him?

Fortunately, Ayn Rand is dead.


Bruce Parker
BTL Pissthataway

morley (12/03/82)

	
	    From rabbit!morley Thu Dec  2 08:49:16 1982
	    Subject: About progressive taxes
	
	    I suggest that we all propose a tax that takes ALL the money from the
	    productive individuals in the country and distribute it to
	    the non-productive individuals.  That will solve the problem of
	    progressive taxing, since no-one will have a need to be productive,
	    since they will be rewarded by confiscation of the fruits of their labors.
	
	    Come to think of it, we already do that.
	
	It is true that such a tax exists.  It comes in the form of tax write-offs
	which only the rich can take advantage of.  Through it, the productive
	lower and middle class support the non-productive upper class.
	
	Of course, the only folks who are more non-productive are those starving
	in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

I don't see Honduras, Asia, or Africa using the US system of income taxes,
and neither do you.

	The very strong implication from
	rabbit!morley's sarcastic tone is that no money should be wasted on these
	non-productive people.  

Maybe, if people who did produce had some money to direct to productive uses,
there would be better education and more jobs, thus more productive people,
and less unfortunate people.

	This thought seethes with the rancid odor of
	anti-altruism.  Thus it is no surprise to see him end his comment with:
	
	    Where is John Galt when you need him?
	
	Fortunately, Ayn Rand is dead.
	
Unfortunately, so is the American economy, as is shown by the
lack of inventment in productive enterprises, and the still rising
inventment in money market funds and other items that generate inflation
and paper gain rather than products.  Perhaps if the money could be
saved where it did some good (and didn't have to excape a completely
confiscitory system) there would be some investment in basic industry
and research, and we would stop sinking.

	
	Bruce Parker
	BTL Pissthataway

Morris Morley, rabbit!morley