Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Wealth Taxation Myth
Beyond the Cusp ^ | December 17. 2010 | B. Saunders

Posted on 12/17/2010 7:06:26 AM PST by bsaunders

We keep hearing the argument that we have to tax the rich. We hear how the rich have all this wealth and that because of their great amounts of wealth; they can afford to pay more taxes. But here is the problem; we tax income, not wealth. Here is an example that will hopefully clarify the situation. We have two families. The first family has five million dollars in savings accounts in numerous banks earning two per cent interest and no other income. This gives them an income of one hundred thousand dollars a year. Living on their family estate and owning their vehicles leaves them with a healthy amount of disposable income simply from the interest even after taxes. The other family both parents work making a combined income of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. They have a mortgage and car payments due every month. Obviously, they will pay more income tax than the first family and will also have to pay FICA and other salary related taxes that the first family escapes by living off interest on savings. The question then is which family is the wealthy family and are we taxing the truly rich and wealthy family or are we taxing the more productive family.

When the tired old class warfare chant is made about taxing the wealthy because they have all the money, the wealth, it is a false claim because we tax income, not wealth. Our tax system places the burden on those who earn money, not those who already have money. Think about this next time you hear the cry of tax the rich and realize that it is a call to tax the hard working, not the wealthy.

Beyond the Cusp


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: taxes; wealthy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: BenKenobi
Did I say I was for TAXING anyone? My comment was aimed at a person who was being sarcastic about the "po rich folks", as if they should be taxed higher than other people. I am all for a sales tax(sounds better than a consumption tax, to me anyway)and eliminating income taxes, and other payroll taxes, altogether. At least a person would then have a choice on whether to buy something or not.

Try reading and comprehending what others write, it may save you an a** chewing some day.

21 posted on 12/17/2010 11:11:28 AM PST by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RatRipper

Capital is not only a factor of production it is also the most mobile of all the factors of production. That’s taught in Global Econ at the graduate level. I took that class last semester it was awesome. Our Prof shot down every progressive marxist kid that though they knew a hoot about real world economics with cold hard facts and GAO data.


22 posted on 12/17/2010 6:05:42 PM PST by JD_UTDallas ("SRT stops those who stop at nothing")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: JD_UTDallas

Sounds like an awesome professor and class. All I had was two quarters of econ on my way to an accounting degree, then 25 years as a state bank examiner and 6 years on the banking side. I missed some of the good stuff along the way. The most mobile factor of production makes sense, though, and the highest corporate tax rates in the world is gonna scare some of it away. I hate commies . . . this was a great place until they came along.


23 posted on 12/17/2010 8:04:40 PM PST by RatRipper (I'll ride a turtle to work every day before I buy anything from Government Motors.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: MEGoody

I love how false Christians only believe what they want...


24 posted on 12/17/2010 9:19:33 PM PST by Tempest (Christian before conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: MEGoody

Is that from the Judas translation or the Goldman sachs bible?


25 posted on 12/17/2010 9:22:22 PM PST by Tempest (Christian before conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: paulycy

Wealth bigots??? Bwhahahaha!!! This thread is better than smoking crack.


26 posted on 12/17/2010 9:25:23 PM PST by Tempest (Christian before conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Tempest
Your tag line is misleading.

Just saying...

27 posted on 12/17/2010 9:36:44 PM PST by fml
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: fml

I hope it’s more accurate now.

Viva la Wall St. rape!


28 posted on 12/18/2010 1:03:02 AM PST by Tempest (I put money ahead of people)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: silverleaf
>First of all, I doubt that anyone smart enough to have amassed $5 million and needing to live on the interest, leaves it in the bank at 2% interest. It’s liberal demagogery that implies the rich stick their money in mattresses and keep it out of the economy. Second- an income of $100,000 does not provide a luxurious lifestyle for someone living on “the family estate” and paying all their own bills.

Get real. Property taxes alone would be tens of thousands of dollars- thats why so many rich democrats like Rangel, Pete Stark, Tom Daschle, falsely claim homestead exemption and skate on property taxes on their mansions in DC and Maryland<

Excellent points. In addition, let's pretend the person above did leave his money in the bank. Where does the OP think money to loan comes from, Obama? No, it comes from those people who deposit their wealth which is then available for others to use, instead of for government to fritter away on cash for the UN, or for studies of the mating habits of prairie dogs.

As an aside, if this wealthy person is elderly and his capital is incrementally reduced, his ability to produce income will be reduced, perhaps permanently.

29 posted on 12/18/2010 8:10:51 AM PST by Darnright (There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive. - Tacitus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Tempest
OMG this story is so sad I almost want to cry... Poor little rich people, life is so unfair.

If you work really hard and make some sacrifices you could be rich some day.

30 posted on 12/18/2010 8:17:41 AM PST by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson