The economic "good old days"

[digitaldiscipline]

You know how all those fiscal and social conservatives want to return to the good old days, right after WWII, that their nostalgia has tinted sepia and recast as a time of goodness and innocence?

I am for it, at least as far as taxation and income distribution are concerned.





That's right, guys; you're pining for the days of an 80%+ differential tax rate on the highest income.

... and yet have been doing nothing but calling me and the folks with whom I agree a "socialist" and "wealth redistributor" because we've suggested something in the 40-50% range.

But don't just take my word for it. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/mar/01/us-taxation-public-finance

Comments

[normalcyispasse.livejournal.com]

Ayn Rand would hate you.

I, on the other hand, agree very much.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I enjoy her fantasy worlds, but wouldn't necessarily want to live in them.

(John Scalzi treats her as straight sci-fi rather than "serious" social commentary, and this makes sense to me.)

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

And that's just the nominal RATE of taxation, rather than what someone actually pays.

By the same token, I keep grumping whenever someone brings up "flat tax" as the solution to the world's problems. Mostly because I don't think it's right, but were it to go into effect, I'd make out like a fucking bandit. I'm unmarried with a moderately high household income, no dependents and I *rent*. So when ye aulde flat tax kicks in and all those deductions, credits, loopholes and "dodges" Go Away, if anyone's tax burden drops, it's mine.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Wolff pointed out that the rich get the most loopholes and can afford the best accountants.

and let's not even get into corporate tax breaks....

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized until recently that the US income tax brackets had been gone up so high. No matter why people complained about taxes then!