Public Wants Taxes that Hurt the Rich (UK-Guardian)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

Public wants taxes that hurt the rich
Credit crunch provokes backlash against bankers

Two-thirds of Britons want the rich to face punitive tax rates not seen since the 1980s, according to a new poll which suggests that the recession has hardened attitudes towards the wealthy.

Bankers are now seen second only to footballers as being overpaid, while seven in 10 think that ordinary workers should sit on remuneration committees setting executives' pay to ensure that high salaries are deserved.

The findings - in a poll for the think tank the Fabian Society, to be published this week - suggests that the credit crunch has provoked a backlash against the rich, with the public seeking retribution for alleged mistakes made by City figures.

The findings will encourage Labour MPs who want Gordon Brown to go further in next spring's budget and rebalance the tax system in favour of more modest earners. . .

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jan/04/fabian-society-poll-taxation-wealth

I wonder when the American people will finally get over the fantasy of "I don't want to tax millionaires at high rates, because they all worked hard for their money, and besides, I'm going to win the lottery."

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Ken Burch]

2. Good for them!

Time for Blairism to finally die out and the Labour Party to come back to life.

The Third Way was no way at all.

[Xipe Totec]

3. The only difference between bankers and wankers is a Dubya n/t

[Double T]

4. I favor NO CAP on Social Security contributions and SUPER HEAVY DUTY tax rates.......

on the filthy stinking rich; the bastards want to make ALL the money, then let the criminals pay ALL the taxes. My response to YOUR last statement: This propaganda is the RW media speak that is drummed into the minions heads; don't be an 'F'ing minion!!!

Checkout the link below for historical tax facts.

http://www.truthandpolitics.org/top-rates.php

[FogerRox]

17. Double T drops a VERY IMPORTANT LINK, thank you.

Heres a chart showing the same data.



Truly progressive taxes engage the working and middle classes in the economy.

[ShortnFiery]

5. Makes me proud to be 50% of British Ancestors.

:patriot: Can't fool them.

[Donnachaidh]

8. really? then explain Margaret Thatcher

Or Tony Blair?

:eyes:

[ShortnFiery]

9. No explanation. Maggie Thatcher was George W. Bush's kindred spirit - evil twin.

No nationality is perfect. :shrug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Actually, she was Ronald Reagan's evil twin

but yeah, she was a disaster, and New Labour hasn't undone half of what she instituted. This is a good start, though.

[Captain Hilts]

12. She was FAR smarter than Reagan or Bush. nt

[ShortnFiery]

13. Yes, I hated her political views, but loved how she could play "hard ball" with the boys.

Barbara Boxer is our liberal democratic "Iron Lady." :thumbsup:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. That's true--she had a degree in chemistry from Oxford and

trained as a barrister. No slouch in the brains department.

But nasty...

[Captain Hilts]

19. Made her name taking milk money from school kids. Ugh!

[FormerDittoHead]

6. Sorry took so long to post this. I was too busy feeling sorry for the rich.

I always thought it was an absurd twist of logic that one should be made to feel sorry for rich people, or feel that somehow life was harder on them because of their wealth.

[Democrats_win]

7. Today We are All British Citizens.

Tax the rich and their dead relatives.

[Control-Z]

10. Yep.

Now we need to do the same.

On edit: I've had some obscenely wealthy friends over the years. I'd always felt an obligation to remain humble about my means - and to respect their "hard" work. It was all bullshit. It is all bullshit. I've always worked harder, given more to my family and friends, and really cared about my fellow man, more than all of them combined. It is the truth. I don't give a fuck if a single one of them takes in a smaller monthly interest income, has a slower growing net worth, or pays a boatload in taxes. It wouldn't hurt them, harm them, or change anything other than the number of zeros on a financial statement. It wouldn't change a thing about their daily indulgences or their vulgar way of life. And I use the word "life" in the broadest sense.

sorry: rant off

[stevedeshazer]

14. Hell yes!

That fantasy is dying fast.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. Ah yea

I have been there before all this started to go down hill. I always felt the wealthy aren't paying their fair share. The rich help each other you know what I mean. I scratch your back and you scratch mine. How do you think Madoff got away with so much. The wealthy feed on each other and don't give a damn about middle america or the working poor. This country has got to make up their mind. Are business who are here and owned by american businesses want to support their own citizens to make things good for the country.

[lelgt60]

16. Taxes don't hurt the rich...

What is needed is some kind of wealth tax, or at least a progressive sales tax on luxury items.

I know that this may hurt businesses which cater to the rich (like builders of expensive boats), but I think in the end it is OK to redistribute wealth in this relatively minor way.

On edit, I mean income taxes don't hurt the rich

[bvar22]

20. I don't want to hurt The Rich....

I just want them to pay their fair share.

They benefit the most from living in America.
They should pay a proportionate share of the cost.

"It's my money; I earned it!"
How many times have we heard that one?

The next time you hear it, try this simple question:
Did you earn it on your own?

Can anyone earn a penny without the printing of our currency, public roads, rural electrification, government subsidized telephone wiring, satellite communications, police protection, military protection, the criminal justice system, fire and paramedic protection, an educated and immunized workforce, protection against plagues, public-funded loans, protection from business fraud and unfair business practices, the protection of patents and copyrights, research and development, collection and analysis of data, preventative economic policies by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Energy Management Agency, public libraries, agricultural and biological services, the National Weather Service, and public job training?"


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8053254