I get a kick out the economist saying that a flat tax would be “deeply unfair”.
I had quite a time debating a philosophy professor in college. He insisted that the only fair approach to taxation would be to pick winners and losers and make some choices about who should pay more and who should pay less and under what circumstances some people might qualify for deductions. A sharp progressive schedule would be the only fair method.
I said: How about we treat everyone the same?
He said: Madness! That wouldn’t be fair at all!
Articolo 53
Tutti sono tenuti a concorrere alle spese pubbliche in ragione della loro capacità contributiva.
Il sistema tributario è informato a criteri di progressività
http://www.senato.it/documenti/repository/istituzione/costituzione_inglese.pdf
Art. 53
Every person shall contribute to public expenditure in accordance with their capability.
The tax system shall be progressive.
It doesn't say how progressive, so how about 23% for under a billion euros and 23.0001% above a billion.
Berlusconi may be yet another imperfect male politician, but I will forever remember him gratefully for calling out Moslems for what they are, after 9/11.
“’The flat tax at 15 percent would cost €95 billion, and at 20 percent €57 billion,’ Renzi said on Friday.”
Don’t you love how these politicians only think what it is going to cost government???
I am Italian, if you have questions, please do ask.
One thing to be noted is that our Constitution was written in the immediate aftermath of WW2 and was largely a compromise between the Catholic faction and the Communist faction of the antifascist resistance (Fascist Italy had surrendered in 1943, and we had been occupied by the Germans for two years).
I think the Italian right needs new blood but what are you gonna do!
The 5 Star Movement appears to be the socialists main competition at the moment though, they are leading in the polls with socialist Matteo “Reek” Renzi in 2nd and Silvio and friends in third.