Why $10m? Why did you set it at that rate? Would I prefer for it to come from the poor and middle-class? Hmmm, I'll take this as a rhetorical question instead of a strawman one. I'm not a CPA or tax expert, but how much income tax does the poor actually pay? As far as I know, I think there is a progressive tax rate right now, at least it seems that I start paying at a higher rate as my income goes above certain points, and when I didn't make much of anything all my money taken out for taxes was returned to me. Don't the wealthiest Americans already pay for the large majority of the taxes right now? I'm not sure on the numbers, but I believe that In 2014, the top 1 percent of taxpayers accounted for more income taxes paid than the bottom 90 percent combined.Marty [Mori Chu] wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:18 amI am, of course, talking about marginal tax rates. I don't want to tax all of the rich guy's income at 70-90%, only the dollars above a high threshold, say $10m. I look at it this way: tax revenue has to come from somebody. Why would you prefer for it to come from the poor and middle-class? Why not have more of it come from the wealthiest Americans who can amply afford it?In2ition wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:53 pm70% is crazytown, let alone 80-90%. And what do you consider rich? Over 100K? 200K? 100 Mil? 100 bil? I'm just not in favor of holding a gun to the head of someone else to take their money at a much higher rate and claim you are creating a better world. I'm just not sold on this idea.Marty [Mori Chu] wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:27 pmYes. I deeply desire heavily taxing the marginal earnings of the rich (80-90% at the highest rates). And I favor radical action to address climate change since it threatens the extinction of our species. But what about you?In2ition wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:51 pmAre you saying those are good ideas?Marty [Mori Chu] wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:38 pmWhat are some of her ideas that you dislike? Do you oppose her idea to marginally tax the richest Americans at a much higher rate such as 70%? Do you oppose her environmental policies such as a "Green New Deal"?
As far as radical action to address climate change, do you really think that the US is going to be able to control this around the world? Or do you think that the US should be the Earth's cleaners? What do you do to fix volcano eruptions or wildfires which contribute an amazing amount of carbon?
It probably will take radical action, but even batteries and the creation of solar panels create their own type of harm to the environment, from what I've heard. I certainly don't have the answers nor am I saying that we shouldn't be pursuing eventual solutions to these problems, but to claim you know exactly what is going to happen or how to fix it, seems odd to me. Count me as an global warming agnostic, and not a religious zealot yet. Creating a utopia on Earth is about as realistic as the Suns making the playoffs and winning the title this year, imo.
As for climate change, yes, I do think the US has a huge influence in the world. If we adopt policies and rules that help the environment, that has a big impact. Look at the Paris accords and how much impact that has had; now that we're pulling out of that thanks to Trump, that sends exactly the wrong message. I favor lots and lots of action and investment in climate improvements, clean energy, etc. because we're all literally going to die if we don't do it. I can't imagine literally anything more important.
Yes, I'm sure that the US has a sizable influence on the world, but it certainly doesn't influence everyone. I am not speaking for anyone else, but it doesn't seem right that US should be hamstrung and carry an unfair burden when it comes to environmental changes. Why can't everyone carry their share of responsibility? Like I've said before, I am in favor of finding and supporting clean energy or ways to clean the environment and make it better for our ancestors that come after us. Heck, I would love to work from home more and ride my bicycle to work. I would love to be off the grid and have my household to be total self sustainable. I grew up on a farm, we had a huge garden, farm animals, practiced soil conservation and hunted. I haven't noticed a big difference in weather patterns from when I was as kid in the 70's and 80's to now, other than I live in a totally different climate now, but I'm sure it's radically different. Even back then, they predicted that New York would be under water long ago, and the ocean level hasn't changed from my understanding. When I was much younger, this was a great fear of mine as I remember a huge blizzard we had and a major flooding that happened in my town, but as I've gotten older I've become a bit more skeptical of the fear mongering. Like I said, call me an agnostic on what feels like this religious movement.