too rich?

[downbeatplumb]

The country needs more money.

The rich have an amount of money that would solve the problem and still leave them with more than they could ever spend.

So why not tax the rich more?

There was a famous bank robber (whose name I forget) who was asked why he robbed banks, he replied.
"Because that's where the money is!"

Looking it up on wikipedia it was Willie Sutton and it's an urban myth..Shame.

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

[Mister Agenda]

Maybe we should tax the rich more. That doesn't mean they're too rich, unless you're planning on taxing them enough to correct that.

[downbeatplumb]

Maybe we should tax the rich more. That doesn't mean they're too rich, unless you're planning on taxing them enough to correct that.

Tax the rich coz they, by definition, are the ones with the money.

[TaraJo]

There was a famous bank robber (whose name I forget) who was asked why he robbed banks, he replied.
"Because that's where the money is!"

Part of the problem is that so may wealthy people and corporations have the same mentality. The difference is, instead of robbing banks, they rob the government. How much of our money goes to oil subsidies, even while the companies are making record profits? How much do you think defense conractors influenced the government into instigating those wars in the middle east and continued to influence them to draw those wars out as long as they can? How many peope own prisons and lobby representatives to 'get tough on crime?' Look at how gun manufacturers are trying to influence the government to give them more money to arm guards at schools.

And, no, not all rich people or corporations are like this, but the great majority are and we aren't holding them accounable. If we really want to reduce government spending, we could start by cutting back on the size of our military, making an effort to lock less people up and cut off oil subsidies until they do something to deserve it ($3.06 a gallon isn't earning it). Why is it, when we're looking at cutting government spending, we always start from the bottom and work our way up? Why not start at the top and work our way down?

[jonb]

Would you please clarify in what sense you meant the word 'tax'?

tax   /tæks/ Show Spelled[taks]
noun
1. a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.
2. a burdensome charge, obligation, duty, or demand.
verb (used with object)
3. (of a government)
a. to demand a tax from (a person, business, etc.).
b. to demand a tax in consideration of the possession or occurrence of (income, goods, sales, etc.), usually in proportion to the value of money involved.
4. to lay a burden on; make serious demands on: to tax one's resources.
5. to take to task; censure; reprove; accuse: to tax one with laziness.
6. Informal . to charge: What did he tax you for that?
7. Archaic . to estimate or determine the amount or value of.

You see in even in the above definitions, that the word tax is not solely defined as pertaining to a government.

[downbeatplumb]

Your right of course.
Some business people see the fact that its business as an excuse to act immorally.
How often have you heard the expression. "its only business" to justify some foul act.

[Something completely different]

The taxes payed on a car owned by a buisness are gerneraly lower here than the taxes payed on a privatly owned car.
And the taxes payed on a buisness owned truck are lower than the taxes payed on a buisness owned car.
Therefor many buisnesses here remove rear mirrors from cars and block out the rear window, this way, because the driver now longer has the capacety to look at the driving situation right behind him, the buisness can list that car as a "truck" and pay the same taxes on it as on a truck.
Also a high percentage of all expensive sports cars in Germany are not privatly owned, but owned by buisnesses, because under German law, if a driver of a buisness owned car drives over the speed limit, there are no legal consequences, only the buisness is informed and has to pay a fine.

Both of these loopholes in German traffic law are known to have caused accidents, and it is well known that buisness owners have intervened when suggestions for reform were made in parlament.

How is this behavior non criminal?
It is beyond all doubt that wealth can and will lead to criminal behavior if there is no transparecy.

[Mister Agenda]

Would you please clarify in what sense you meant the word 'tax'?

tax   /tæks/ Show Spelled[taks]
noun
1. a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.
2. a burdensome charge, obligation, duty, or demand.
verb (used with object)
3. (of a government)
a. to demand a tax from (a person, business, etc.).
b. to demand a tax in consideration of the possession or occurrence of (income, goods, sales, etc.), usually in proportion to the value of money involved.
4. to lay a burden on; make serious demands on: to tax one's resources.
5. to take to task; censure; reprove; accuse: to tax one with laziness.
6. Informal . to charge: What did he tax you for that?
7. Archaic . to estimate or determine the amount or value of.

You see in even in the above definitions, that the word tax is not solely defined as pertaining to a government.

No, it isn't. Is there some reason you won't come out and say in what sense you DID mean it? All I see from you so far is that it wasn't the first one. Maybe the definition I provided doesn't cover the sense you used, I'm not married to this particular definition, I just want to know what you meant.

[frankiej]

How often have you heard the expression. "its only business" to justify some foul act.

Every time I watch a mafia film... right before they whack someone.

[Ryantology]

You should read about the Giving Pledge more. A lot of the people who have signed it are pledging to give away 99% of their wealth.

I know of it and I admit that these are legitimately generous and good people. But, the pledge's founder sums up my thoughts:

Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. The dollars these people drop into a collection plate or give to United Way mean forgone movies, dinners out, or other personal pleasures. In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99% pledge.

No billionaire should not be on that list.