While I kind of see your point re: we all must contribute to the maintenance of order in our shared society, I disagree that it should be a percentage of the income generated by one's labour i.e
if I work really hard and make more money, I somehow owe a larger "debt" to society than if I was slothful and barely worked at all. Seems backwards and not especially fair/equal to me.
As well, income taxes have been one of the key driving factors behind the vast expansion of the state. Consumption taxes tend to reach a limit more quickly than income taxes (i.e. if a consumption tax gets too high the people won't buy as much stuff or go to the black market), constraining the state's ability to raise revenue in the process.
Here's the problem with a consumption tax: We all consume, and the basic necessities are a much higher proportion of my income. Yes, you work harder or smarter and you make more money, but a consumption tax is relatively inconsequential. For us middle classers, an extra 12 to 15% when we dare spend our money is daunting. Still, you argue that one can avoid a consumption tax simply by not consuming as much. Sure, but the point isn't how we can avoid tax, rather it is how can we apportion contributions to society fairly.
As much as I am a fiscal conservative, more libertarian in many aspects, I realize that not everyone can make as much money as others no matter how hard they work. Simply put, some people are smarter than others, some are "privileged" with decent parents who teach honest values, and some are born with great grand dad's wealth. Income tax isn't the only tax I prefer over a consumption tax. If you are living off interest or capital gains that should be taxed appropriately as well. After we all contribute (communistically) according to our means we should be free to blow our cash on a Ferrari without worrying about GST PST and some morally bankrupt luxury tax.
If I have to be taxed I'd prefer it to be once, proportionally fair, and for things we all need. Imagine a government that didn't sponsor arts festivals and welfare bums. It'd be heaven here on earth.
There is a reason there was no income tax before the world wars and, incredibly, society existed for over a hundred years with that structure. Taxing people on what they earn by the principle of it is unjust and immoral. What gives the government the right to a share of what you earn just because you earned it? And then certainly such a big piece. Also the stepped income tax brackets are also stupid. Rich people already pay more based off a percentage, why add more percentage other than to bring down people who make more? How is that just or fair? Taxing things like land makes sense because the land is part of the nation. The real problem either way you slice it is government has become such a bloated parasite it needs to be greatly reduced then learn to function while taking less of our money.
While I kind of see your point re: we all must contribute to the maintenance of order in our shared society, I disagree that it should be a percentage of the income generated by one's labour i.e if I work really hard and make more money, I somehow owe a larger "debt" to society than if I was slothful and barely worked at all. Seems backwards and not especially fair/equal to me.
As well, income taxes have been one of the key driving factors behind the vast expansion of the state. Consumption taxes tend to reach a limit more quickly than income taxes (i.e. if a consumption tax gets too high the people won't buy as much stuff or go to the black market), constraining the state's ability to raise revenue in the process.
Here's the problem with a consumption tax: We all consume, and the basic necessities are a much higher proportion of my income. Yes, you work harder or smarter and you make more money, but a consumption tax is relatively inconsequential. For us middle classers, an extra 12 to 15% when we dare spend our money is daunting. Still, you argue that one can avoid a consumption tax simply by not consuming as much. Sure, but the point isn't how we can avoid tax, rather it is how can we apportion contributions to society fairly.
As much as I am a fiscal conservative, more libertarian in many aspects, I realize that not everyone can make as much money as others no matter how hard they work. Simply put, some people are smarter than others, some are "privileged" with decent parents who teach honest values, and some are born with great grand dad's wealth. Income tax isn't the only tax I prefer over a consumption tax. If you are living off interest or capital gains that should be taxed appropriately as well. After we all contribute (communistically) according to our means we should be free to blow our cash on a Ferrari without worrying about GST PST and some morally bankrupt luxury tax.
If I have to be taxed I'd prefer it to be once, proportionally fair, and for things we all need. Imagine a government that didn't sponsor arts festivals and welfare bums. It'd be heaven here on earth.
There is a reason there was no income tax before the world wars and, incredibly, society existed for over a hundred years with that structure. Taxing people on what they earn by the principle of it is unjust and immoral. What gives the government the right to a share of what you earn just because you earned it? And then certainly such a big piece. Also the stepped income tax brackets are also stupid. Rich people already pay more based off a percentage, why add more percentage other than to bring down people who make more? How is that just or fair? Taxing things like land makes sense because the land is part of the nation. The real problem either way you slice it is government has become such a bloated parasite it needs to be greatly reduced then learn to function while taking less of our money.