I want to know why

[SalixIncendium]

I think you are asking for proof that a very rich man wants to be richer because of something that he is afraid of. Haha. I love you! Do you want proof?

I asked for exactly what I wanted...

How many ultra rich people have you spoken to in order to determine they're afraid?

 

[savagewind]

I’m not convinced that comes in directly when discussing tax policy or even when talking about us individually paying less tax. Most people truly struggling to pay for the basics won’t be paying much tax by definition anyway. There is legitimate fear around individual income and costs but I don’t think that’s a relevant factor here.

Even if fear was a factor for some people wanting to pay less tax that wouldn’t mean it has to be the factor for everyone. Rich people are just people with more money, they’re driven by the same basic emotions and irrational responses as everyone else. Wanting more stuff, regardless of what stuff you already have, is perfectly normal.

I think I mean people who have so much money that it isn't about "stuff" anymore. It is all about how much money. It's nonsense how much money some people have and then they work hard NOT to pay out. By the way, for some people, any tax is a burden.

 

[savagewind]

I asked for exactly what I wanted...

Fear is not something people confess to and it seems to me that such people do not even think much. How will they know they are afraid?

 

[savagewind]

By the way, for some people, any tax is a burden.

OMG! How do I know THAT? There is always city tax and state tax. There is even a car tax.

 

[Stevicus]

I'm just pointing out that unless you've done some fact checking, the premise of your thread is based on nothing more than assumption.

I don't see that it's really that far off-base. Any informed observer of political rhetoric and campaign issues would note that taxes and tax cuts have traditionally been a major issue in every election.

 

[corynski]

.....the ultra rich wish to pay less taxes. What are they afraid of?

I think it's all about MORE. Some people like more, so they want more.......more of everything. More is security, more is a big bank account, more is power.... more is proof you are better than someone with LESS. More might mean you are smarter, or more sly and contriving, or whatever. More means you can eat more, have better clothes and a better place to live, to travel or hire other people to do your dirty work. More is....... more is what it's all about.

 

[savagewind]

I don't see that it's really that far off-base. Any informed observer of political rhetoric and campaign issues would note that taxes and tax cuts have traditionally been a major issue in every election.

I think he was referring to the fear quotient I mentioned. He says that I should prove that some people amass great amounts of money because they fear something. He is right! I have no proof. But, it's funny!

 

[savagewind]

I think it's all about MORE. Some people like more, so they want more.......more of everything. More is security, more is a big bank account, more is power.... more is proof you are better than someone with LESS. More might mean you are smarter, or more sly and contriving, or whatever. More means you can eat more, have better clothes and a better place to live, to travel or hire other people to do your dirty work. More is....... more is what it's all about.

Good! They fear less. Very good.

 

[savagewind]

I mean, they fear having less.

But, of course, they fear being without not as much as the average person.

How do I know? OMG! I don't.

 

[savagewind]

I don't even know how to say it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Fear is not something people confess to and it seems to me that such people do not even think much. How will they know they are afraid?

Your refusal to answer the yes or no question I posed twice solidifies by conclusion. Thank you.

 

[savagewind]

Your refusal to answer the yes or no question I posed twice solidifies by conclusion. Thank you.

I think I did answer it. I said I have no proof.

Thank you. You might be frustrated and I am sorry about that. But, I haven't had so much fun for a long time.

#29, if you will.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I don't see that it's really that far off-base. Any informed observer of political rhetoric and campaign issues would note that taxes and tax cuts have traditionally been a major issue in every election.

I wasn't questioning the tax issue.

 

[savagewind]

I wasn't questioning the tax issue.

Are you always so serious?

 

[Stevicus]

I think I mean people who have so much money that it isn't about "stuff" anymore. It is all about how much money. It's nonsense how much money some people have and then they work hard NOT to pay out. By the way, for some people, any tax is a burden.

It depends on what it is. Wealthy people seem to worry more about taxes since they have more than enough money to pay for housing, transportation, utilities, food, country club memberships, etc. They don't complain about the prices, only the taxes. In contrast, working people have to shell out larger chunks of their income on basic expenses, which amount to more than what they pay in taxes.

As an example, the price of a gallon of gas in Arizona is approximately $2.30, of which 37¢ is taxes. The other $1.93 goes to the private sector. I wouldn't mind paying 37¢ a gallon, but it's the other $1.93 that seems excessive. Similarly, people pay far less for their property taxes than they pay for their monthly mortgage (or even their utility bills or food costs). So the private sector is making out like bandits, while the government only gets a few pennies by comparison.

 

[Stevicus]

I wasn't questioning the tax issue.

So, it was the fear issue you were addressing? I think the fear in society is pretty self-evident as well. Who are the ones living in gated communities, with private security and high-tech alarm systems? Who are the ones afraid of the outside world so much that they insist the US government send its military all over the place? Who are the ones paying for political ads and other rhetoric designed to express and stoke fear? Who are the ones sponsoring the media who propagate this fear throughout society?

You question whether people are afraid? The average citizen in society also feels fear, but most of it is contrived and imaginary fears put into them by others who are more powerful (and obviously more fearful).

 

[SalixIncendium]

You question whether people are afraid?

Nope. I was questioning the OP on how she knew the ultra rich are afraid.

 

[HonestJoe]

I think I mean people who have so much money that it isn't about "stuff" anymore. It is all about how much money. It's nonsense how much money some people have and then they work hard NOT to pay out.

Money is still “stuff” and everyone will work to avoid paying out more money. The core point here is that “rich people” aren’t some alien species or foreign enemy. They’re just normal people who happen to be in different circumstances.

By the way, for some people, any tax is a burden.

Tax is a burden to most people. That’s why decent systems are proportional and (economically) progressive.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Are you always so serious?

No.

 

[David T]

.....the ultra rich wish to pay less taxes. What are they afraid of?

They are afraid, because the fear made them who they are. Not all wealthy fear just most.