[machman]

Well, once they start not producing income, where does that leave you? You must start taking their wealth through a "wealth tax" or eventually through inheritance taxes. Of course the entire premise is that its "not fair" that they have it to begin with.

But going back to taxes, becoming rich and taking care of yourself are things that make people want to work harder. If you take away they benefit of hard work through higher income, less and less people will if fact become "rich", and place that burden on the rest of the "non-rich".

[jethropalerobber]

Well, once they start not producing income, where does that leave you? ...If you take away they benefit of hard work through higher income, less and less people will if fact become "rich", and place that burden on the rest of the "non-rich".

i see what you're saying, i just happen to think it's a myth.
when did a rich person ever stop producing income for themselves so that they wouldn't have to pay income tax? ridiculous. and does a high rate of income tax really "take away the benefit" of higher income? that would certainly be true if the tax rate was so high that someone who made a million dollars didn't get to take home any more than the one who made 30K. but that's just not the case. everyone would rather make a million and pay half than make 30K and pay nothing, so there is no disincentive that i can see.