Hi Bill:
Just for the hell of it, lets ramble with a different perspective.
There are two points that are relevant here-
1) It is not the percentage of the total tax that is paid by what economic
class that is telling, it is the percentage of the individuals wealth that
is taxed, I believe that you will find that the wealthy can take advantage
of planning, tax breaks, loopholes, write offs etc. and pay far less
proportionately of their wealth than 'income' earners at any economic level.
Allowing them to amass more surplus which then compounds.
2) As John Dillinger reputedly stated when asked why he robbed banks- "Cause
that's where they keep the money". Taxes should be on wealth (read surplus),
they are applied tn great disproportion to the surplus of a Rockefeller vs
an average Joe working man. The continuing concentration of the wealth of
any nation in fewer and fewer hands is illustrative of how we are being
drawn into a new aristocracy - money Kings and Queens. Careful what you wish
for is an old adage- your forefathers fought for independance from what was
perceived in the 'new' world as an oppressive aristocracy that concentrated
power in too few hands, according to bloodlines not merit- how different is
the monetary aristocracy that has grown to replace it?
Capitalism has at its roots a great egalitarian quality = the reward for
excellence, but generations of building family reserves works against the
equality of all citizens to start with a clean slate. The newborn child of
the industrial revolution is slowly building an aristocracy it replaced. A
lord is a lord is a lord -- the self interest of humans creates this cycle
and there will be another revolution when the disparity becomes considered
insurmountable by the masses the masters will face their wrath.
Gord
----- Original Message -----
From: <NSURIT@xxxxxxx>
> In a message dated 10/29/04 1:57:43 PM Central Daylight Time,
> jrk_om@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
>> Not entirely clear if you understood Bill was proposing that everyone
>> paid
>> a
>> comparable percentage of their income
>
>
> That is not at all what I was proposing. I do feel that everyone should
> pay
> something (many don't today) and that a graduated tax is probably what is
> fairer, however 50% of the population paying less than 5% of the income
> tax load
> is not fair, just as the top 10% paying nearly 70% of all income tax
> collected
> is not fair. So, I'd add some tax on the lower end and decrease the rate
> at
> the upper end.
>
> I would not have responded to this had what I said not be misrepresented.
>
> Olympus content: I'm still having an absolute blast with my e-1. Have
> probably captured 160 images in the last two days while walking through
> the patio,
> look at the moon, waiting for a meeting . . .
>
> Bill Barber
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