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Because many people in Western countries do not fully appreciate how well off they are in global terms. https://www.icalculator.info/netherlands/income-tax-rat

Because many people in Western countries do not fully appreciate how well off they are in global terms. https://www.icalculator.info/netherlands/income-tax-rates/2020.html https://www.icalculator.info/netherlands/income-tax-rates/20... 37.35% Income from €0.00 to €68,507.00 49.5% Income from €68,507.01 and above Therefore if you are (for instance) paying 40+% effective tax on your income in the Netherlands you're clearly earning north of €70k a year. To put that in context – “You Are The 1%: If You Make $35K/Year Income” https://www.diygenius.com/the-global-inequality-problem/ https://www.diygenius.com/the-global-inequality-problem/ So that other person is being dismissive (though dismissive is the wrong word) of the poster because generally at these sorts of rates you're earning greater than 99% of the people on the planet. If you're earning greater than 99% of the people on the planet and you simultaneously think there's an injustice being done to you by the tax man then I would humbly submit that you could do with a reality check. And we're not just talking about in comparison to the so-called global south here, there are many many people in the EU and around greater Europe who would be thrilled to be earning north of €70k a year.

yunohn 5y ago
Income is usually relative to the person’s location. It’s not very useful to compare my situation to that of a person in the global south. Income correlates closely to cost of living. I fully appreciate that I make more money than “a lot of the world”. But I don’t think it’s wrong to ask that corporations and high-net-worth individuals, also pay their fair share and not just leave the burden to people like me.
- tluyben2 5y ago
  That is more the issue, well for me anyway; taxes are fine and the height is not really relevant but I do not want to be holding the bag here. If someone who earns a billion pays 5% why would I pay 40%? That is my only real complaint about taxes and I hear this from wealthy people: why would they if their friends do not? It is tax, not charity: except yes it is a lot of charity but it is anonymous so you cannot get charity kudos. So those who can avoid and you have a problem. Not sure how big the problem is in money, but I think many people would have a better feeling about forking over 40% if they knew the billionair around the corner is paying 60.
Grustaf 5y ago
You can pay tax at a high rate and still be well off, there is no contradiction. In fact the highest tax rates tend to be in the most comfortable countries, in Northern Europe. Nobody is saying "I would rather move to Sudan and lower my tax rate".

yunohn 5y ago

Income is usually relative to the person’s location. It’s not very useful to compare my situation to that of a person in the global south. Income correlates closely to cost of living. I fully appreciate that I make more money than “a lot of the world”. But I don’t think it’s wrong to ask that corporations and high-net-worth individuals, also pay their fair share and not just leave the burden to people like me.

tluyben2 5y ago
That is more the issue, well for me anyway; taxes are fine and the height is not really relevant but I do not want to be holding the bag here. If someone who earns a billion pays 5% why would I pay 40%? That is my only real complaint about taxes and I hear this from wealthy people: why would they if their friends do not? It is tax, not charity: except yes it is a lot of charity but it is anonymous so you cannot get charity kudos. So those who can avoid and you have a problem. Not sure how big the problem is in money, but I think many people would have a better feeling about forking over 40% if they knew the billionair around the corner is paying 60.

Grustaf 5y ago

You can pay tax at a high rate and still be well off, there is no contradiction. In fact the highest tax rates tend to be in the most comfortable countries, in Northern Europe. Nobody is saying "I would rather move to Sudan and lower my tax rate".