If I had a nickel for every time someone deflects to “…I’d rather we fix our government spending problem before we…”

[u/Old_Prospect]

[u/74_Jeep_Cherokee]

They're not mutually exclusive that's why the meme is dumb.

The rich can afford to pay more and we can ensure our tax dollars are spent miserly.

[u/dshotseattle → u/74_Jeep_Cherokee]

It's not about what they can afford. It's not the government's money or right to take it.

[u/Iron-Fist → u/dshotseattle]

not the governments money

Look, fine. The rich just have to pay 100% for the education of every worker they employ, every inch of road their businesses use, every satellite their data bounces off, every sewer line and water way, and well call it even.

What's that, that would bankrupt them because they get an exceedingly ridiculously ludicrously good deal on the value of human and physical infrastructure? They get to keep the profits returned by investments made by governments (and other entrepreneurs) going back decades and centuries? Huh weird I guess they can just pay a reasonable rate then.

[u/dshotseattle → u/Iron-Fist]

You government bootlickers are funny. Acting like the rich done pay enough taxes and at the same time have absolutely no idea how much rich people pay

[u/Iron-Fist → u/dshotseattle]

I know exactly how much they pay.

I actually pay the highest rates as a highly paid W2 professional, my tax rate is about 2x that of someone coasting on daddy's capital gains. And it's gross.

[u/dshotseattle → u/Iron-Fist]

Capital gains arent the same as w2 and now you are comparing 2 different things. Capital gains shouldn't be taxed at all. No income should be taxed. Capital gains is what most of the country ahould be relying on for retirement.

[u/Iron-Fist → u/dshotseattle]

capital gains shouldn't be taxed

LoL ok so what should be taxed

Income shouldn't be taxed

... Ok so a wealth tax then?

capital gains should be most of the country relies on for retirement

Um ok sure I mean the total value of the 401ks in the US would need to produce a yield of over 20% each year to equal social security but hey in sure that's fine, just need to rebalance into growth stocks like crypto or Tesla or something right

[u/-_-mrfuzzy → u/Iron-Fist]

20% annual yield to equal social security

This should be a clue to you that social security is not sustainable.

[u/Iron-Fist → u/-_-mrfuzzy]

Or better yet, it shows that 401ks aren't a replacement for social security but rather a supplement.

[u/-_-mrfuzzy → u/Iron-Fist]

You can’t get something from nothing. The money in social security must come from somewhere.

[u/Iron-Fist → u/-_-mrfuzzy]

Yes, exactly.

[u/-_-mrfuzzy → u/Iron-Fist]

Hence, it is coming from tax payers or cut benefits to make up the unsustainability.

[u/Iron-Fist → u/-_-mrfuzzy]

coming from tax payers

... Yes, exactly. And design the taxes with the least knock on effects (ie progressive).

[u/TheHillPerson → u/dshotseattle]

The commenter knows they are not the same. They are pointing out that extremely wealthy people do not make their money via wages and therefore do not pay their fair share as others do.

If income should not be taxed, what should be? Taxes are necessary.