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> I don't understand how anyone in good conscience can vote against this tax Then you have intellectual blinders on. There’s good reasons to have broad based t
by rayiner 8mo ago
> I don't understand how anyone in good conscience can vote against this tax
Then you have intellectual blinders on. There’s good reasons to have broad based taxes instead of singling out rich people. In Sweden, for example, the top tax bracket kicks in at 1.5x the median income. In Germany, the second highest 42% bracket kicks in around 70,000 euros and the top 45% bracket kicks in at 277,000 euros.
None of the countries that American liberals admire in terms of having a robust welfare state adopt a policy of “soak the rich.” The have policies based on solidarity where everyone in the top half or third take on a heavy tax burden.
- SecretDreams 8mo agoThe income disparity between Germany and California is gargantuan as you approach the top percentiles. In the 1%, average income in Germany is 272k usd. In California, it's north of 1mil usd. At 0.1%, it's 1.1 mil usd in Germany and 3.2+ mil in California. The distributions between high and low income earners are much flatter in Germany because it is harder to abuse the system to get to such salaries. No so in America. Hence Germany also does not need such aggressive taxation schemes as what's proposed (they also have way more flat taxes as well).
- rayiner 8mo agoYou’re comparing to California, but we’re talking about this proposed Washington tax. California’s tax schedule is actually much more like Germany’s than this proposed Washington income tax. In California, the big jump comes at $72,000, where the 9.3% rate kicks in. The $742,000 rate is only a little higher, at 12.3%. That’s similar to Germany where 42% kicks in at 70,000 euros (top 15%) and the top rate is only a little higher at 45%.
- SecretDreams 8mo agoCalifornia and WA are similar in income distributions to what I quoted. Seattle is more extreme. Very affluent at the top. Can't comment how total tax in Germany might compare to the current discussion.
- rayiner 8mo ago> California and WA are similar in income distributions to what I quoted Yes, but Washington’s proposed income tax is extremely skewed, while California’s is pretty flat.
- SecretDreams 8mo agoWould you prefer WA keep their current proposal but also just add extra percentages/tiers for lower incomes? Would it help keep affluent people from leaving if they knew lower income people are suffering a bit too?
- keybored 8mo agoThose are numbers. They are not reasons. Modern social democracies are just a capitalist compromise. They are still capitalist dominated. Hence why these Euro social democracies have rich people. Bourgeoisie blinders are on.