Bill gates on tax.

[5thHorseman]

He doesn't believe that he, or others like him pay enough.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25...31920.html

[Tiberius]

I think most people pay too much. Bill Gates would do much more good with his money if he keeps donating it to charity rather than giving it to the government. Last I checked, charities don't go to war and try not to spend ridiculous amounts of money for no reason.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Others as rich as Bill Gates? How of them are there in the US?

[Doubting Thomas]

I'd wish that nobody would have to pay higher taxes, but with our fucked up government and crappy economy, I think they should shell out a few bucks and help their country out. If the economy does collapse, do they think their money is going to be worth anything?

[kılıç_mehmet]

One should pay tax according to one's income, that much is true.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

One should pay tax according to one's income, that much is true.

Indeed.

Plus, aren't Muslims OBLIGED by Quranic admonition to give a fixed percentage of their income to the poor? (2.5% I think)

[kılıç_mehmet]

One should pay tax according to one's income, that much is true.

Indeed.

Plus, aren't Muslims OBLIGED by Quranic admonition to give a fixed percentage of their income to the poor? (2.5% I think)

Well, religious "taxes" are not collected by the government.
People here pay their usual taxes, and we're taxed so much on everything, I'd say if we were to pay zakat, we'd have to cut off ounces of our own flesh to give to the poor.
Only the rather more wealthy and more devout individuals do so.
Those in rural areas give it out from their own agricultural yields, rather than in hard currency.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

One should pay tax according to one's income, that much is true.

Indeed.

Plus, aren't Muslims OBLIGED by Quranic admonition to give a fixed percentage of their income to the poor? (2.5% I think)

Well, religious "taxes" are not collected by the government.
People here pay their usual taxes, and we're taxed so much on everything, I'd say if we were to pay zakat, we'd have to cut off ounces of our own flesh to give to the poor.
Only the rather more wealthy and more devout individuals do so.
Those in rural areas give it out from their own agricultural yields, rather than in hard currency.

I looked it up. The answer seems to be "not necessarily"

Although Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (I'd forgotten) it is not absolute:

From from Wikipedia:

Zakat

Zakat or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_Islam

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

Yeah. We all pay too much taxes.
Fuck infrastructure, education, defense, police, firemen, scientific research, clean water, clean air, basic guarenteed freedoms, human rights, edible food, and so on...

As long as I get to keep that 15% of my income from my revanue sources, that's real freedom.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Although Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (I'd forgotten) it is not absolute:

Well, the pillar thing is valid for sunni islam.
As is the pilgrimage. However, most moslems never actually visit the holy lands, not that they don't want to, but mainly because the Saudi Government is such a fucking thief.