Re: Are progressive taxes misconceived? message dated "Sat, 22 Jul 2000 16:34:06 -0400."

[Sourav K. Mandal]

"Pierre Lemieux <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>" wrote:

> Your hypothesis is intriguing, but I would think that a better way to
> explian why rich tax protestors are rare is simply that the opportunity
> cost of their time is high and, so, the cost of collective action is much
> higher for them. (It is true, though, that their expected benefits might be
> higher since, indeed, they are more likely to have an influence.)

The proper reference for comparison would be: what percentage of 
politically active rich people are against progressive taxes, 
vis-a-vis the same fraction for poor and middle class people?

> Moreover, some wealthy individuals do support libertarian organizations,
> which is a way to be a tax protestor at a lower cost (for them). 

Like above, are a higher percentage of rich folks libertarian than 
among middle class and poor people?  I would guess so, but I would 
also say a higher percentage of rich people are left/liberal than 
among the general population -- chalk it up to overeducation.

> A standard anomaly: people like Bill Gates, who supports all the PC causes 
> espoused by the tyrant who persecutes him!

Ralph Ellison (CEO of Oracle) must really hate his guts.  Did Ralph 
Ellison whine about Gates and Microsoft on behalf of the anti-trust 
suit, like the Netscape and Sun people?

Sourav Mandal



Sourav K. Mandal

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
http://web.mit.edu/smandal/www/

"In enforcing a truth we need severity rather than
efflorescence of language. We must be simple, 
precise, terse."

  -- Edgar Allan Poe, 
"The Poetic Principle"




Sourav K. Mandal

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
http://web.mit.edu/smandal/www/

"In enforcing a truth we need severity rather than
efflorescence of language. We must be simple, 
precise, terse."

  -- Edgar Allan Poe, 
 "The Poetic Principle"

Re: Are progressive taxes misconceived?

[Pierre Lemieux]

At 15:37 00-07-22, you wrote:

>From my limited experience, most tax
protesters/activists are middle 
class (I have not numbers to support this observation).  I do not

see too many of the wealthy step up to bat against high tax rates. 

Do they accept money in government coffers as currency for the 
influential, i.e. limousine liberalism at its worst?
Your hypothesis is intriguing, but I would think that a better way
to explian why rich tax protestors are rare is simply that the
opportunity cost of their time is high and, so, the cost of collective
action is much higher for them. (It is true, though, that their expected
benefits might be higher since, indeed, they are more likely to have an
influence.)

Moreover, some wealthy individuals do support libertarian organizations,
which is a way to be a tax protestor at a lower cost (for them). A
standard anomaly: people like Bill Gates, who supports all the PC causes
espoused by the tyrant who persecutes him!



PIERRE LEMIEUX 
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Fax: 1(819)585-4423 

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Are progressive taxes misconceived?

[Sourav K. Mandal]

Let us set aside the ethical issues concerning progressive taxation, 
and consider the policy-driven objectives.  Progressive taxes are 
meant as a way not to punish the rich, per se, but force them to aid 
people in the lower tax brackets.  I am wondering, does it have in 
fact the opposite effect?

Certainly, citizenry on the lower end of the market spectrum benefit 
significantly in a financial sense with progressive taxation.  
However, are they losing their political clout?  Since the rich 
contribute more per capita to the government chest, do they have 
more influence on (or simply more interest in) public policy and 
legislation than they would if there were a flat tax, or a flat fee?

>From my limited experience, most tax protesters/activists are middle 
class (I have not numbers to support this observation).  I do not 
see too many of the wealthy step up to bat against high tax rates.  
Do they accept money in government coffers as currency for the 
influential, i.e. limousine liberalism at its worst?

Sourav Mandal



Sourav K. Mandal

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
http://web.mit.edu/smandal/www/

"In enforcing a truth we need severity rather than
efflorescence of language. We must be simple, 
precise, terse."

  -- Edgar Allan Poe, 
 "The Poetic Principle"






Sourav K. Mandal

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
http://web.mit.edu/smandal/www/

"In enforcing a truth we need severity rather than
efflorescence of language. We must be simple, 
precise, terse."

  -- Edgar Allan Poe, 
 "The Poetic Principle"