Quote:
Originally Posted by pylon
I've always been on the fence about tax the wealthy more. Basically it penalizes success. I get the haves can contribute more. But without the success of a huge portion of the haves, the have-nots have nobody to work for.
Taxing the rich always just seems like petty jealousy to me.
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Being rich in a country with sharp income disparities has its downsides. The poor have a way of getting their pound of flesh from the wealthy if they feel they aren't getting a fair shake, mainly through crime and the destruction of public facilities and spaces. Canada is a safe place today where the children of the wealthy can take public transit, go to a mall, or leave their cars parked without fear. That's not the case in a lot of countries where the rich live in gated communities, have to pay large sums for private education, and travel with bodyguards.
A progressive tax isn't about jealousy. It's a recognition that when you take a little from people who already have very little there are likely to be worse consequences for society as a whole than if you take a little from people who already have a lot.