[geeks] Re: [rescue] Computerfests (was: first real server hardware)

[Andrew Weiss]

On Apr 18, 2004, at 9:23 AM, Lionel Peterson wrote:
> Abusive tax rate? High-earners leave, putting a bigger burden on those 
> at the lower end of the spectrum.
>
I'd love to see a mass exodus of suits.  If enough of the super-wealthy 
left, maybe we could whip the rest of this country into shape in our 
image.  Also let them go to countries where they are more loved... 
(other than the US... I don't see any except the UK and they aren't 
MORE loved there.)
I believe in rewarding upper-earning people who work hard by allowing 
them to live without ever having to worry about feeding themselves 
every paycheck.  They can buy a nice car or two (nice = 320,000 super 
car), a great house or two, and if they're generous, maybe we can have 
some sort of charitable contribution adjustment.  Otherwise ... believe 
what you want about people with large amounts of capital being required 
to stimulate spending... I call hogwash.  Nobody should be richer than 
god so to speak (i.e. Lawrence Ellison, Bill Gates, various movie and 
sports stars, and Warren Buffet to name a few [and I like Warren 
Buffet])
>
>> In fact... the government should figure out those two
>> numbers... and you shouldn't even have to file.  They
>> could never pester you for more money either.
>
> What about severe medical expenses?
>
> What about financial losses?
>
Tough love.  My idea isn't all sickly sweet.  It just tends to be less 
sweet toward those who still have lots of money after taxes.  In a more 
complete plan there is no such thing as severe medical expenses... 
(socialized medicine).  There's also no such thing as a severe 
financial loss.  Natural disasters and accidents are what insurance is 
for.  Financial losses through bank transactions and the stock market 
are the fault of the fool playing the game and have nothing to do with 
the persons direct income check and how much is withheld in taxes.

Andrew