Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyC
The enormously wealthy have a much greater ability to influence the taxation policy (and any policy really) of a nation, . . .
|
That is probably true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyC
. . . and it's not an accident that it's currently built to benefit them the most.
|
I don't know if that is true.
Somewhere around 40 to 45 percent of American households simply do not pay (because they do not owe) any federal income tax. Surely they are benefitting quite handsomely from the current tax code, and they are, in this respect, benefiting much more than I am.
The lower-earning class benefits "more" than others under the current tax code as well. The earned income tax credit, for example, is no use to the "enormously wealthy." The deduction for mortgage interest is limited, which somewhat equalizes the benefit amongst the classes. The deduction for student loan interest is of absolutely no benefit to even the "barely" wealthy. And so on.
Sure, the wealthy have their tax benefits, and they probably have more opportunities to find and use tax dodges than others do. But I just don't know if it is accurate to say that they benefit the "most."
[As an aside, I appreciate the respectful discussion that we've had on this matter.]