News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on A majority of Americans support raising the top tax rate to 70 percent. Parent comment

Re:A majority of Americans support raising the top tax rate ... by tivert on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @04:33PM (#18925534)
> Why should someone be punished for making more money?

Taxes are not a punishment, though they may be a disincentive. Taxes are also not a payment in exchange for services.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:A majority of Americans support raising the top tax rate ... by grimjack00 on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @05:30PM (#18926149)
Taxes may not be meant to be a punishment, but they are certainly presented as such in certain cases.

"Those one-percenters make too much; make them pay their fair share!" "Smoking is bad; raise taxes on tobacco products"

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:A majority of Americans support raising the top tax rate ... by tivert on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @06:23PM (#18926611)
> Taxes may not be meant to be a punishment, but they are certainly presented as such in certain cases.

> "Those one-percenters make too much; make them pay their fair share!" "Smoking is bad; raise taxes on tobacco products"

That first pseudoquote is not presenting taxes as a punishment. It's presenting them as a fulfillment of social responsibility to "pay a fair share." The second one is presenting them as a disincentive for a harmful behavior.

[ Parent | on HN ]