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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1360 xp
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How do you figure those who earn more pay less of their income in proportion? The tax rate is clearly staggered. Tax evasion is another thing altogether though somewhat understandable when you consider the unfairness of certain tax systems. The system is clearly tyrannical as it is imposed by force and results in inequality of all individuals against the law. Also note that the top rstes are never been set in any scientific fashion but rather through political reasoning. Over a couple of generations, progressive taxation has gone from being small -decimals or single unit percentage rate- to extortionist 75% in France. As for its role in wealth distribution every known supporter (and your own sentence) state this is the specific purpose of progressive taxes.
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