Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
Ok, I’ll bite. Why?
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Because being able to afford life isn't flat.
Progressive taxation is always a preferential model because there are "diminishing returns" in a sense the more money an individual makes.
Like, a loaf of bread is 3.99 regardless of whether you earn 20,000 a year or 200,000 a year. Both persons still need that bread (or heating, or gas for their car, or the 500 other things that have a median cost unless you are going out of your way to spend as much as possible on garbage).
Yes, luxury scaling comes into effect and there are always idiots willing to pay $2,000 for a steak, but from a basic living POV, 10% of your wage (or whatever the flat tax will be) has a much more pernicious effect on the 20k earner than the 200k earner.
Beyond that, if a flat tax is made so low that it isn't economically impactful on those who are poverty-stricken, then it runs the risk of being too low to service the needs of the population. Progressive taxation may take more thought, care, and foresight, but it's infinitely more flexible and fair across the entire income spectrum.