By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Squilliam on 04 October 2010
Edit Thread
raptors11 said:
Squilliam said:

It depends on ones perspective.

Socialism / Capitalism are not diametrically opposed ideas. We know that unrestrained socialism would never work and we know that unrestrained capitalism doesn't work either. Both have been tried.

Anyway the real question seems to be one of taxation. Do you support a progressive tax system? That seems to be the bulk of what is really being discussed because that is the primary method in recent times of spreading the wealth around. I support progressive taxation because those whom are taxed more heavily are the ones whom benefit disproportionately more from the government and its services.

 

 

 

Wait a minute, could you please explain how the wealthy benefit more from government services?

As far as I see it the wealthy drive the same roads, have the same police/fire departments, (in Canada at least) have the same access to health care, etc. So where exactly do the wealthy get the extra services?

In fact we get less as I've seen. My grandpa worked hard his entire life and owned his own small business that he passed down to my dad. He payed into the Canada pension plan every year as well. And when he retired guess what? He wasn't eligible to recieve his well deserved pension because he made too much money through his life that he didn't "need" it. So basically my grandpa got robbed of his pension but if he had made LESS money through his career he would have gotten it.

My point is the wealthy pay way more in taxes and get screwed over on things like pensions and we get no more services to show for it.

It depends on what you call 'wealthy'. Are you talking about the top 1% whom regularly pull in 1M or more a year or the wider fraction whom are on 100k or more?

You also have to remember the wealthy benefit from the government by:

  • Intellectual property laws.
  • Regulation (which makes it difficut to enter the market thus reduces competition)
  • Trademarks etc which restrain competion.
  • Police forces which protect their wealth as they have things which are worth stealing.
  • Education/Health makes their workers a lot more productive.
  • Welfare which prevents desperate and starving people resort to crime.
  • Overall financial stability, I.E. They recognise the land ownership and the prevent wealth destroying inflation.
  • Enforcement of contracts and other obligations, financial and otherwise.
  • Construction of infrastructure etc.

Sure everyone would be poorer without the above, but the more financial resources one has, the more they would lose without it. Im sure I forgot a few things.





Tease.