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Voters Outnumber Taxpayers

DarcPrynce writes about the problem with taxing the rich more. There are problems with taxing the rich more than the poor, but just as democracy is the least worst political system we've invented, progressive taxation is the least worst tax system there is. We Western democracies tax the rich more for the very simple reason that voters outnumber taxpayers. All you need to vote is simple citizenship, age and residency requirements, and in some jurisdictions, not being in a prison. (Canadian prisoners are allowed to vote, and laws vary from state-to-state in the U.S.) No property requirements, no income-level requirements. So, taking the number of students, retired, unemployed or those between jobs, and those whose income is not high enough to pay taxes, and add that to the people who pay taxes, by definition, that number is larger than taxpayers. Also the number of "poor" taxpayers outnumber "rich" ones.

Another objection I would have is on the cost/benefit analysis. If it benefits the "poor" to tax the "rich" at a higher rate more than it hurts the "poor" (say, with government-funded health insurance, safe neighbourhoods, or, I don't know, roads and bridges), then the "poor" will vote for those who want to stick it to the "rich". Of course, it's all perception: a very small proportion of what the "poor" consider as "rich" consider themselves as rich. But still, when we see that our neighbour has a phat whip and is cold rockin' a big gold chain and a pinky ring worth about fifty, it's almost our duty as patriotic Canadians to tax him to death.

tag: voting
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