It's not a question of a tax on the rich vs. a tax on the poor, it's a tax on savers to benefit borrowers and spenders. You're forcing the responsible to subsidize the irresponsible. Donald Trump loves low interest rates for example, because he uses debt for everything. My grandmother by contrast, would always be sure to have a rainy day fund with plenty of cash. Having lived through the Great Depression, she knew it was prudent to always keep some cash on hand and not have everything tied up in illiquid assets.