News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Ontario announces that it will begin a basic income trial in 2016. Parent comment

Re:Ontario announces that it will begin a basic income trial... by solipsism on Sunday March 13, 2016 @01:15AM (#11276472)
By that logic it's also regressive to give rich people free access to roads, free access to public K-12 education, etc. Money is fungible, and if progressivity in an income tax pays for the "free" resource, it's disingenuous to call it regressive. It becomes a matter of practicality. Do you want both an IRS and a Department of Basic Income Administration?

Also, by definition a flat tax is neither progressive nor regressive. , so I'm pretty confused about what you're talking about. Note, flat doesn't mean fair by everyone's definition.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ontario announces that it will begin a basic income trial... by seabee on Sunday March 13, 2016 @05:15AM (#11276936)
It's regressive because of the marginal utility of money. The difference between earning 0 and 10K (getting to pay rent and groceries) is more important than the difference between earning 100K and 110K (better luxuries), yet a flat tax assigns it the same value.
[ Parent | on HN ]