Stephen King tells rich people upset over tax increases: ‘Tough s**t’

[gore0bsessed]

Perhaps you can look into the living standards in North Korea or the former USSR. They were not exactly up to par now, were they?

There is a reason that Iron Curtain countries failed and they ALL adopted some form of capitalism in the end... Don't you think that's a little strange that these utopias all turned their backs on their former systems and adopted the immoral capitalist system?



No... YOU are saying that there is a difference in the value of lives based on a socio-economic scale; not me.

.. And make no mistake, while luck plays a part in everyone's destiny, hard work and smarts have much more to do with it than anything else.

All you're doing in making that statement is providing an excuse, that's it.

There are plenty of extremely poor people, many in the third world, that work harder then we can even imagine. They can work and work until the hand on their skin falls off and there is nothing left but bone, but they'll never get anywhere because they weren't lucky enough to be born in a country that can offer the luxuries we in the west take for granted.
Having "smarts" again is just being lucky to have been born with a good intellect. We didn't have a say in how our brains were developed and and how we were made.
Luck plays a much larger role then you're willing to admit.

 

[mentalfloss]

There are plenty of extremely poor people, many in the third world, that work harder then we can even imagine. They can work and work until the hand on their skin falls off and there is nothing left but bone, but they'll never get anywhere because they weren't lucky enough to be born in a country that can offer the luxuries we in the west take for granted.
Having "smarts" again is just being lucky to have been born with a good intellect. We didn't have a say in how our brains were developed and and how we were made.
Luck plays a much larger role then you're willing to admit.

Cap actually believes that everyone is rewarded for a good job. The American Dream lives on forever.

 

[Niflmir]

It should go without saying that people should be held accountable for doing their taxes.

The system here in the Netherlands is much more convenient than that. You need to give your tax number (equivalent of a SIN) to your employer, and they register your income with the tax office and tax you accordingly. You don't need to file anything unless you want to claim a reimbursement or have an alternate source of income. In those cases, you only apply for the particular things you need. At the end of this year I will file exactly 1 page: a partial tax reimbursement because I ride a bicycle to work.

More on topic, I notice that this thread has really gotten off topic. Stephen King is saying that rich people should pay more taxes, not that corporations should pay more taxes. Corporate tax rates are a separate concern, and that's when the whole race to the bottom happens so that countries can compete on incorporation status. It also goes without saying that companies cannot do this when there are no free trade agreements in place...

The whole idea that the rich should pay more is that they benefit disproportionately from living in society, and the marginal tax increase means much less to them. A rich Canadian/American is not going to move to China because the taxes are lower, if they are, well that is fine then. Society would no longer be under an obligation to deal with them.

 

[mentalfloss]

More on topic, I notice that this thread has really gotten off topic. Stephen King is saying that rich people should pay more taxes, not that corporations should pay more taxes.

Cap was claiming that business owners who are typically rich will bail out once their taxes are raised.

The whole idea that the rich should pay more is that they benefit disproportionately from living in society, and the marginal tax increase means much less to them. A rich Canadian/American is not going to move to China because the taxes are lower, if they are, well that is fine then. Society would no longer be under an obligation to deal with them.

I agree. People talk a lot about taxes, but they don't really move unless it is something obscene.

 

[Niflmir]

Cap was claiming that business owners who are typically rich will bail out once their taxes are raised.

I agree. People talk a lot about taxes, but they don't really move unless it is something obscene.

Here in the Netherlands again, a highly skilled immigrant (whose skills are rare in the Netherlands) qualifies for a ruling that excludes 30% gross income from income tax calculations. Dutch citizens do not qualify, because they are trying to attract people to the Netherlands that might not end up staying there permanently. After 10 years, the person is no longer eligible.

The Dutch lesson is: someone is not going to move away from the place they call home just to avoid paying a marginal amount of taxes. Nobody cares so little about their family and friends to do that.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Strange I seem to remember Stephen King bitching about taxes a few years ago. But then if I were in his position, knowing that my family was basically covered for generations to come I wouldn't be too worried either.

 

[Niflmir]

Strange I seem to remember Stephen King bitching about taxes a few years ago. But then if I were in his position, knowing that my family was basically covered for generations to come I wouldn't be too worried either.

Someone changing their mind is a sure sign that:

1. They are a human being.
2. They have been looking into the issue.

I have always wondered why people view not changing one's mind as some sort of virtue. I always thought stubbornness was a character flaw.

 

[earth_as_one]

King should really consider moving to France where one of the political factions is looking at incorporating a 100% wealth tax over a certain threshold.. If King likes 30% in the States, he'll absolutely love the French proposal 3 times more.

Are you implying Stephen King is French or that Americans who believe wealthy people should pay more taxes aren't real Americans?

A better case exists for suggesting wealthy Americans who disagree with King should consider moving offshore. Some of them will be closer to their factories.

Yes it does. You want King to address something other than what he was talking about.
Makes perfect sense to me.

You don't think people with high incomes should pay higher rates of taxes, that seems to be your point. Which has some logic to it.

Flat tax rate with no deductions, and no minimum income level to pay taxes would be perfectly fair.
And when I say no deductions, I do mean no deductions.

Dividends, capital gains, income from employment, all taxed at the same rate. End of story. Make it like a GST calculation. How much income came in to your name? Take x% of that figure. Done. Whether you're an incorporated body, or a person.

Taxes are about making society function. The wealthier a person is, the more they can contribute to society. The poorest people should receive assistance. Flat taxes creates a cycle of poverty

Examples

1) Poor person makes $1000 a month. They pay $500 a month for rent and $400 a month for food. They have $100 for heating and clothing. A 20% increase in taxes would make them homeless.

2) Wealthy person makes 100,000 per month. Their home is paid off. They don't even look at their grocery bill. A 20% increase in taxes would affect their vacation plans.

The wealthy have to pay more, because the poor cannot. The poor need basic support and an education. That way they can educate themselves and become more productive members of society. At which point they can pay more taxes too.

 

[Walter]

Now just for the record, I support eliminating all corporate income taxes and instead just introduce co-determination legislation to ensure the money does in fact flow down.

You're on the right track; all income taxes need to be eliminated. The only fair way to tax people is a consumption tax.

 

[MHz]

The wealthy have to pay more, because the poor cannot. The poor need basic support and an education. That way they can educate themselves and become more productive members of society. At which point they can pay more taxes too.

You do reallize that we have unemployment because we have more workers than jobs. Getting more education just means you might get one of the jobs and another person is left without the job. A poor person cannot get a university education, somebody with accesss to miney ar friendly with the loan people are the ones that get the higher education chances. Not all of them are going to be employed in their chosen profession. That the rich don't consider it their obligation then leave 1% of the population with 1% of the money.

 

[Niflmir]

You're on the right track; all income taxes need to be eliminated. The only fair way to tax people is a consumption tax.

I'm actually a huge fan of consumption taxes, barring some things like food, basic clothing and shelter.

I also think that as opposed to going into a general slush fund, taxes should instead be spent only on related industries. Junk food taxes going into health care/exercise programs, for instance.

 

[earth_as_one]

You do reallize that we have unemployment because we have more workers than jobs. Getting more education just means you might get one of the jobs and another person is left without the job. A poor person cannot get a university education, somebody with accesss to miney ar friendly with the loan people are the ones that get the higher education chances. Not all of them are going to be employed in their chosen profession. That the rich don't consider it their obligation then leave 1% of the population with 1% of the money.

On the contrary, an educated workforce creates job opportunities.

I'm actually a huge fan of consumption taxes, barring some things like food, basic clothing and shelter.

I also think that as opposed to going into a general slush fund, taxes should instead be spent only on related industries. Junk food taxes going into health care/exercise programs, for instance.

I'd include education as its a way out of poverty.

I'd support consumption taxes. Also taxing any money or investments leaving the country.

 

[Walter]

I also think that as opposed to going into a general slush fund, taxes should instead be spent only on related industries. Junk food taxes going into health care/exercise programs, for instance.

That would be too regulated and every time there is more regulation there is more guvmint, and that's always bad.

Also taxing any money or investments leaving the country.

Protectionism has never improved an economy or generated wealth.

 

[Niflmir]

I'd include education as its a way out of poverty.

I'd support consumption taxes. Also taxing any money or investments leaving the country.

Yeah. I really should have mentioned education too. The devil is in the details, as always.

Although, paying for copyright enforcement from the taxes collected by the people who actually bought the copyrighted works seems a little ironic.

 

[earth_as_one]

That would be too regulated and every time there is more regulation there is more guvmint, and that's always bad.

Protectionism has never improved an economy or generated wealth.

Are all government regulations are all bad? How about the ones that stop children from buying guns, bullets and alcohol? Can anyone think of some more bad regulations from the Nanny state?

 

[MHz]

On the contrary, an educated workforce creates job opportunities.

How is that done? It creates a workforce that is capable, it does not create jobs by itself unless you are counting the teachers.

 

[Walter]

Are all government regulations are all bad? How about the ones that stop children from buying guns, bullets and alcohol? Can anyone think of some more bad regulations from the Nanny state?

Ah, yes... the old won't-someone-please-think-of-the-children strawman. I'm not advocating no regulations; I'm advocating as few as possible regulations.

 

[earth_as_one]

How is that done? It creates a workforce that is capable, it does not create jobs by itself unless you are counting the teachers.

Education leads to innovation. Innovation creates jobs. Apple would be an example of innovation creating jobs.

Ah, yes... the old won't-someone-please-think-of-the-children strawman. I'm not advocating no regulations; I'm advocating as few as possible regulations.

How about the ones that stops me from changing my car oil and dumping it in your yard?

What about the one which protect our food, penalize people for drunk driving, ...

Laws allow society to function in a fair and just manner... at least that's their intent.

 

[JLM]

You're on the right track; all income taxes need to be eliminated. The only fair way to tax people is a consumption tax.

One of your saner ideas, Walter. :lol:

 

[Locutus]

>implying Stephen King is socially or politically relevant.