My argument was that we should separate the distribution aspects of the tax system from the revenue-generating aspects. > I want to distribute discouragement,

My argument was that we should separate the distribution aspects of the tax system from the revenue-generating aspects. > I want to distribute discouragement, i.e. everybody to be equally discouraged from taking a flight regardless of their income level. You could say the same thing about any other tax, such as tobacco tax. Why do we not levy the tobacco tax in proportion to income? > But for social justice, it's better to make it more painful for every person to fly, regardless of their income level. A rich person should have an equally large penalty, and what's equal is not the same nominal amount, but the same ratio. In relation to income levels, almost everything is cheaper when you are rich, and the way we deal with it is to redistribute income to level the playing field for everything, not just flights.