Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 12:54:00 PM (view original):
We can do it however you want.   Still doesn't change the fact that circumstances dictate everything.    Wanna put a millionaire in his mom's basement?  OK, I don't think he would NEED more money.   But, if he's spending all his time trying to MAKE more money, he values the dollar more than I do.    Do you disagree?

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 12:56:00 PM (view original):
Your argument falls apart when you try to determine the value of a dollar.

Do you want to argue that a welfare mother of three needs 20k more than Bill Gates?    Agreed.  However, I don't think our tax system should be tailored to suit needs.   Our tax system is designed to fund the government so they can provide the services that it's citizens require.   ALL of it's citizens.   It only seems right that anyone with income helps foot that bill. 

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:07:00 PM (view original):

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

Posted by burnsy483 on 6/13/2014 1:09:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:07:00 PM (view original):

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

I know to only speak about specific people and not about a general group of people and basing my ideas on tendencies and probabilities and averages.  So I would never tell any specific person how they value their money, because that IS dumb.

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:19:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 6/13/2014 1:09:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:07:00 PM (view original):

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

I know to only speak about specific people and not about a general group of people and basing my ideas on tendencies and probabilities and averages.  So I would never tell any specific person how they value their money, because that IS dumb.

But you are willing to tell a specific income bracket that they should be taxed more because they'll miss it less?

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:19:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 6/13/2014 1:09:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:07:00 PM (view original):

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

I know to only speak about specific people and not about a general group of people and basing my ideas on tendencies and probabilities and averages.  So I would never tell any specific person how they value their money, because that IS dumb.

But you are willing to tell a specific income bracket that they should be taxed more because they'll miss it less?

Posted by bad_luck on 6/13/2014 1:32:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:19:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 6/13/2014 1:09:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:07:00 PM (view original):

OK, I will.  But only if you stop telling us how other people value their money.     Because that's dumb.

I know to only speak about specific people and not about a general group of people and basing my ideas on tendencies and probabilities and averages.  So I would never tell any specific person how they value their money, because that IS dumb.

But you are willing to tell a specific income bracket that they should be taxed more because they'll miss it less?

You're still missing the point.

It's about how everyone values their money relative to the money they already have. This rule applies to just about anything: money, chocolate bars, shoes, square footage of your house, cars, etc.

Going from 0 to 1 unit is the biggest gain in value/utility/pleasure/whatever. Followed by 1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc. Each step is slightly smaller and, when you go far enough, the curve flattens out.

There is a point where making more money, eating more chocolate bars, having a bigger house, or more shoes, or another car provides zero value to you.

Regarding specific people and things, that curve will look different. For example, tec might get positive utility from 17 pairs of shoes while burnsy only needs four pairs, but both will get to a point where owning more shoes does them no good.

If I made $1 billion this year, it's likely that making another $100,000 won't noticeably change anything.

Posted by burnsy483 on 6/13/2014 12:09:00 PM (view original):
OK.  I can understand the idea of a dollar more on $40K as a 23 year old single guy in Kentucky, paying $650 a month in rent, partying it up, may not have as much value as later in life, when he makes $80K, but is married with a mortgage and saving money for his children's college tuition.  I understand that.  So let's say, for argument's sake, that the average guy who makes $40K has the same value on his next dollar than the average guy who makes $80K, or $150K, or $300K.  I don't agree with it, but I'll concede that for the sake of argument.

Now that said, someone who makes $25K is likely living paycheck-to-paycheck regardless of where he lives.  He values his next dollar more than income levels above him.  He needs to survive, he needs shelter, food, clothing.  

Someone who makes $1M is likely saving money, living comfortably, money probably isn't an issue for him.  If he's not, he's the exception rather than the rule.

Can you concede that the person making $1M values his next dollar less than the person making $25K? The lower class guy is concerned about paying rent, getting food.  The guy making a million will likely be going on a vacation within the next couple years.  One person needs most of his salary, another would likely be just as happy as he is now with a cut in his paycheck.

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/13/2014 1:41:00 PM (view original):
I don't think our tax system should be tailored to suit needs.   Our tax system is designed to fund the government so they can provide the services that it's citizens require.   ALL of it's citizens.   It only seems right that anyone with income helps foot that bill equally with regards to their income.

Unless, of course, we decide that paying more allows you more access.   Maybe poor people can only use roads between 3 AM and 5 AM.    Response time for police protection is 1 week.   You know, stuff like that.