3 ms·

You are describing philanthropy, which is definitely not "basically a tax".

• vorpalhex 6y ago
  Philanthropy is someone wealthy paying for 1000 teachers to get the vaccine and not getting anything in return. Philanthropy may or may not have covenants attached and the philanthropist will have different levels of control: "You must give these vaccines first to the teachers of my local elementary school" or "these must go to teachers in low income areas", etc. That the rich person receives the vaccine for their money, ie a material consideration, makes this not philanthrophy by definition - it's a sale. Or, put another way, me buying an overpriced handmade christmas ornament from Etsy isn't philanthropy either, even if I'm choosing to really overpay.
  • Pfhreak 6y ago
    Ok, sure. In neither case is it basically a tax. Also, philanthropy often gives you stuff. The WWF gives me a nice stuffed animal and thank you card, for instance. And plenty of wealthy donors mysteriously get their kids into colleges.
    • vorpalhex 6y ago
      If you donate to the WWF, you can't demand they give you a stuffed animal and sue them if they fail to. Yes, you can respond to a gift with a gift - that doesn't make it a sale. Taxes are taking wealth for government functions, whether it's against an individual, a company, etc. When you buy a pack of cigarettes (in the US) you're being taxed - the same goes for gasoline. Overcharging for the vaccine intentionally and using that to give out free vaccine doses is by definition a tax, in the same way that any consumption tax is a tax.