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Re:Gates says billionaires should pay 'significantly' more t... by mgoetzke on Tuesday February 20, 2018 @02:21AM (#16418417)
On your point about millionaires. I was once thinking along the same lines (that was my starting point), but I come to the conclusion that it is just not correct.

A millionaire almost definitely used way more government services than a middle-class person. Rich people become rich because of many things, but one large part of that is the government and infrastructural services provided for all people that gave them the money in the first place. A government is not a company with services rendered.

Adam Smith said "To ensure its wealth, the government would regulate trade and maintain a strong government control over the economy"

They provide services to level the playing field and keep companies and individuals from growing out of control.

Re:Gates says billionaires should pay 'significantly' more t... by combatentropy on Tuesday February 20, 2018 @02:51AM (#16418545)
> A millionaire almost definitely used way more government services than a middle-class person

Thank you for responding.

Can you give some examples? I'm having a hard time picturing it. And is it not at least partly paid for by (1) sales tax, (2) corporate tax, (3) the jobs and products they brought about?

And the milder example seems easier to think about, someone making $100,000 versus another making $50,000.

> A government is not a company with services rendered

Can you please go into this a bit more?