Wouldn't it be fair to break down these segments of society a little further though? For example:-
Poor - a large proportion of this catagory are poor because they are lazy, have no ambition etc.
Rich - a large proportion of this category are rich because they have worked their arses off for most of their lives, built up successful businesses that provide probably well over 75% of the job market.
Why should the 'rich' be penalised and the 'poor' be rewarded?!? I've never understood this?
I'm sure there are lots of people who would like to live in a society where everyone is totally equal but it just wouldn't work. With no incentive for those who have ambition, unemployment would skyrocket and the economy collapse very quickly.
Many above have given examples what's wrong with this. There are some lazy poor on benefits and few hardworking rich, but that's it.
The Philip Greens of this world who cash out large sums from a business, bleeding it dry and leaving it with a massive pensions whole. Or a direct experienced example where my father worked: original boss worked hard and looked after staff, son inherited, didn't do much and the staff only got a 4p per hour pay rise in 5 years sighting bad economic times.... same time where he got a new luxury car every 6 months and built a multimillion pound mansion
The rich have more options, the rest don't in reality have the luxury of been able to switch jobs to a better employer.
It's not the 99% begrudge rich been rich (well I don't), it's when they avoid tax and don't contribute back to what they have gained from society. Vodafone avoided a ~£9 billion tax bill and negotiated a far smaller settlement. Try doing that earning £16k a year... Think you'd have your collar felt lol. Probably why government it looking at self employment tax now as more people are using that loophole and tax revenues are down.
And before anyone says but businesses create jobs, true, but most would automate or get rid of jobs they don't need, they are for profit businesses after all (exactly this happening where I work). But using that logic shouldn't end consumers pay 0% tax; without them they would be no businesses in the first place.
No one who's sane want everyone to have exactly the same, but also you need to not buy into the bullshit that if you work really hard you can be a millionaire either; if everyone was a millionaire how much would a loaf of bread cost? Hence we have a range of wealth.
I just think people forget what the tax system is for and represents or is supposed to, and why it is seemingly ok to avoid tax if you're rich or a company.
It's not in the riches interest long term either; zero hours contracts, automaton etc, as eluded above, who's gonna buy the goods or services that makes businesses rich if the poor are bled dry to fund remaining services, housing etc? Or we looking at going back to indentured servitude?
Ps: trickle down economics has been proven to be false, even noble laureate economic peeps have said as much, it actually in long term has a slight trickle up effect.
Anyhow that's me done for this thread
