I'm posting this because the thought was new to me, and perhaps it will be new to some of you, too. It's from a piece in the January 27 issue of The Nation, by Professor Gar Alperovitz of the University of Maryland:<p>"Most Western European nations tax wealth — in Sweden, the highest annual rate is three percent; at the low end of the scale is Switzerland, with a tax of only one third of a percent. The United States, however, for the most part only taxes the kind of wealth most people own — their home. Moreover, we tax the total value of the home even though most people actually own only a part of the house — i.e., their net property value after subtracting the mortgage amount they owe. We simply do not directly tax ownership of the kind of wealth which is concentrated in the hands of the plutocracy: stocks and bonds.:m: Peace.

Taxation of publicly quoted shares in 30 OECD countries -- 2001 (http://www.aktiespararna.se/files/skattefolder_eng.pdf)

I'm not inclined to advocate taxing the rich just for the purpose of making them poorer. That's too much like breaking into their houses and letting looters loose inside just to make them poorer.

I'm inclined to advocate eliminating all taxes on individual and corporate income and wealth and replacing them with a single consumption tax: the more you use, the more you pay. The richer you are, the more able your are to afford consumption, the more taxes you pay.

Income generation activities and wealth building shouldn't be taxed but encouraged.

Consumption should be discouraged after a point.

My growing inclination as the years pass.

Mr. G,

I'm inclined to advocate eliminating all taxes on individual and corporate income and wealth and replacing them with a single consumption tax: the more you use, the more you pay.

Did you ever think that some people may not have enough money to pay any tax???

I would recommend one flat income tax with a large deduction. For an individual, the deduction would be equal to the average amount of money an individual pays per year for rent/mortgage, food, electricity, and other necessities. In other words, money that is needed for basic necessities should not be taxed.

Tom

The incentive to work harder is to obtain a greater reward. If the extra effort has reduced reward then the incentive for greater effort is stiffled.

Most people strive to be rich but most also are jealous of the rich.

Prosoothus:
Did you ever think that some people may not have enough money to pay any tax???
If their lack of money results from their inability to earn income due to, for example, physical or mental handicap, the appeal to the generosity of others is always an available option.

If their lack of money results from their inability to earn income and build wealth due to, say, lack of motivation or self-discipline, then too bad. The fact of a person's existance does not automatically oligate another to assume responsibility for it.

Mr G. :

If their lack of money results from their inability to earn income due to, for example, physical or mental handicap, the appeal to the generosity of others is always an available option.

If their lack of money results from their inability to earn income and build wealth due to, say, lack of motivation or self-discipline, then too bad.

What about bad luck? A lot of people are unemployed thanks to Bushy. You can't claim that their unemployment is the result of their lack of motivation or self-discipline. If every man (and women) was an island, then you might be right. Unfortunately, most people are simply pieces to a puzzle, and a lot of times it's not the individuals fault if he/she doesn't fit into the puzzle.

Tom

Humans continue to get better at manipulating their environment. I believe that before this century is out, we will be so adept at creating whatever we want with so little personal effort, that we will no longer feel any need to compete with each other. Wealth and careers will be archaic, alien abstracts.

Already, if you're a lucky white boy like me, you can do what you love, get plenty of money for doing it, and spend most of your time as you choose. After all the primitive status nonsense is cast off in society, resources are renewable, and human manual labor unnecessary (except for pure enjoyment of "work") we're going too be so damn happy, all of us, we'll probably jump right out of our skins. Literally.:D

But until then, we're still wrestling with who's king of the hill this week. :o I'm starting not to care. I think I'll just tune in, turn on, and jump up:D

hypewaders,

You forgot to add the :m: to the end of your post. :)

What about bad luck? A lot of people are unemployed thanks to Bushy. You can't claim that their unemployment is the result of their lack of motivation or self-discipline.
You must be a socialist who thinks that Nature should abolish change so that every living thing always has it cushy and never has to adapt to new conditions and situations because the universe exists to do it all for you.

"You must be a socialist"
Actually I was daydreaming of a future after politics. I don't mean to alarm you, but you could be a subconscious socialist, since you are offering that socialism is the omega point of politics.

"Nature should abolish change..."
We are part of nature and we are both all about change.

"every living thing always has it cushy"
I wish it were so- I hate the thought of the suffering in all animals including humans.

"...never has to adapt to new conditions and situations because the universe exists to do it all for you
We exist because we adapt. But even in your words I glimpse the dream- YES! The universe IS our oyster! OK prosooth, since you insist here ya go: :m:

Tune in, Turn on... and Upload.

Ohay. Sure. Whatever you say. :rolleyes:

Proof positive that Nature values reproduction over intelligence. ;)

And I was trying to explain to you that Nature better look out, 'cause

HERE WE COME!:D

Hmm. I see your sperm counts are down.

Please accept my sympathies. :p

It's alright- my crate from HomeClone should arrive soon.

Ah. Planning for a new wombmate?

No, I'd just like to stick around for a few extra centuries, see what there is to do and learn.