Source: Composite by G_marius based on Department of Energy’s and Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s images
Often used as snub against those who believe we should tax the rich more, take their second homes, and get the wealthy to contribute more to public life, the "politics of envy" is making its way back into contemporary political discourse. In our age of growing inequality and the growing chasm between rich and poor around the world, there is a resurgent belief in the need for a redistribution of wealth. Recently, Ed Milliband's proposed mansion tax on homes worth over £2million was blasted by Myleene Klass who told him: "you can't just point at things and tax them". Furthermore, Angelina Jolie has said this proposed mansion tax by the Labour Leader "could put me off" buying a home in the UK. The intervention of Klass and Jolie illustrates something of the backlash against the so-called "politics of envy".
However, some say that is not so much the politics of envy but rather just a statement of values in society and a belief that those who benefit more from society should have a legal obligation to contribute more to society. So are those who want to redistribute wealth in society motivated by justice, or by envy?
Are the new proposals for taxing wealth, such taxes on mansions, marking the return of the politics of envy or simply an expression of social values and justice? Vote and share your views about these political proposals.
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1651 xp
475 posts
Actually in Democracies it should be up to the people (and not an elite) to decide what to do with taxes or any other matter that will affect their lives. Wealthy people are not above others. Interestingly enough, they are usually the ones who make or influence the rules, so they always manage to get away with their part. I am also amaze by people who claim they are creators of wealth so they should be paying less taxes... They are not... Without their workers (paid way less than them) they could do nothing. With wealth usually comes a growing ego and a sense of being better and above others. I will argue that most of wealthy people are actually slowing down the economy by pumping most of the money for themselves. We live a period in which rich people became more rich, despite of economical crisis and poor more poor. Once again, poor people and middle class pay the price... I am sick and tired to ear wealthy people complain about their taxes. Even if they made their fortune by themselves, it doesn't allow them to complain. They are so spoiled they can't even realize it....
1360 xp
344 posts
It's not up to you to decide 'democratically' decide what certain groups do with their disposable income and who gets to be taxed more in proportion (as well as volume). The real issue is not a philosophical one but fairly practical one: governments need to rein in their spend before they can talk about 'social justice' and get off the back of the real creators of wealth and prosperity (ie private investment). On the 'justice' of the flat tax rate, suggest you check out Milton Friedman discourse on negative income tax combined with flat tax rate.
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