16-08-2004 12:26									#241
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quote: Originally posted by Agathon Complaining about fairness in taxation assumes that this is what matters most, when it is obviously the efficiency of tax policy that matters more.

Efficient for who, and why?

	16-08-2004 12:39									#242
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Aggie's talking about what I was saying - collecting the money the government needs in such a way as to disrupt society and the economy as little as possible.

	16-08-2004 13:26									#243
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I'm sorry Sky. Reading everything is a bit of a chore.

quote: Efficient for who, and why?

More efficient for everyone. Consider two tax schemes. One taxes everyone at the same amount, the other is progressive and grants a tax break to the poor.

We might consider the first to be "fair", but what if doing it effects the economy to the extent that it costs more as a proportion of total earnings than the latter. On the other hand, if we tax some people too much (either rich or poor) it might provide an incentive for them to work less, which is inefficient.

Perhaps getting the rich to pay for everything might result in everyone else working harder and improving the economy so that everyone ends up better off.

Fairness on its own can't really determine a good policy.

	16-08-2004 15:05									#244
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quote: Originally posted by Ramo quote: Hurting the poor doesn't make something coercive (or more coercive). Yes it does.

Socialist Libertarians, god bless their souls..

	16-08-2004 18:35									#245
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quote: Originally posted by Ramo They [sin taxes] take away money from the poor, which can't go to food.

I would be worried if poor people are buying alcohol and tobacco when they should be buying food.

	16-08-2004 20:23									#246
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quote: Originally posted by Agathon More efficient for everyone.

I'm just skeptical when you say 'for everyone' but unfair.

quote: Originally posted by Agathon Consider two tax schemes. One taxes everyone at the same amount, the other is progressive and grants a tax break to the poor.

But of course I know that you support progressive tax.

quote: Originally posted by Agathon We might consider the first to be "fair", but what if doing it effects the economy to the extent that it costs more as a proportion of total earnings than the latter. On the other hand, if we tax some people too much (either rich or poor) it might provide an incentive for them to work less, which is inefficient.

Do you know how much you have to tax someone to make them work less? People work less when they start getting up into the higher incomes, not usually the lower incomes.