Do the wealthiest Americans have a "moral" obligation to pay higher taxes?
California Governor Jerry Brown thinks so. Under Prop. 30, the two-time Democratic governor is calling for a 3% tax hike on the state's richest 1% to help pay for the cash-strapped state's education system.
"It takes a refined theory to say to billionaires that it's easier to take three weeks of school away from kids in Los Angeles than it is to take 3% away from people who make hundreds of millions of dollars a year," said Brown.
Prop. 30 calls for a sales tax increase and staggered tax increases over seven years for individuals making $250,000 and families earning $500,000 or more.
To further promote Prop. 30 and appeal to religious voters, Brown cited the Bible. "Luke 12:48 says: 'For those of whom much has been given, much is required.' Those at the high end can brace themselves for seven years and lend school kids a helping hand. I appeal to their sense of loyalty and fairness," ( By Stacy Curtin | Daily Ticker – Friday, Oct 26, 2012 9:59 AM EDT)
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes! Instead of controlling spending a liberal elected official always (post the John F. Kennedy era) default to raising taxes. And Governor Brown even tries to use the word's of Jesus Christ to cajole, intimidate, confuse, whatever-it-takes, to get the masses to vote to penalize the wealthy, the acheivers.
Yes Jesus said 'For those of whom much has been given, much is required.', but no where does he claim that it is a government's place to force some one to give of their possessions to the powers-that-be so that they can use that for their desires, or for the desires of those who elect them to office. Governor Brown tries to make paying taxes a moral issue in that to not accept higher taxes is somehow immoral and unchristian. Christians wealthy or not are to be generous with what God has blessed them with. This is a voluntary thing based on their conscience and the prompting of God's Holy Spirit in their lives. To force generousity from people via Government coercion is in my opinion Immoral. Taxing one economic group and not another is discriminatory, unfair, and is nothing less than class warfare.
Our founders had no intentions of people being Taxed for things they could provide for themselves. If California is haveing trouble then increase taxes on all citizens to fund it or find a way to live within the revenues that come in. All Californians have access to public education so all Californians should pay.
Governor Brown also appealed to the loyalty and fairness of the Californians who would be affected by this tax increase. Loyalty? Really? He expects loyalty to a state that wants to confiscate even more of the property of those who have earned more than others (and yes the money you earn is your property). That would be like taking the person who mugged you and stole all your cash out to dinner as a thank you for being mugged. And fairness? Again really? Fair is everyone paying the same tax rate, not graduated rates. Would it be fair if someone who makes more than $250,000 has to pay twice as much at the gas pump as someone who does not, or have to pay three times as much for a refridgerator than someone else does for the same fridge. If that is unfair, then why should a wealthier citizen have to pay 3% more for public education than someone who is not as wealthy? Few things are more unfair than our taxations statutes (a wicked scheme?) in the United States and among her States themselves. So if Governor Brown wants to quote the Bible here is one for him to ponder.
"A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom." Proverbs 10:23
California Governor Jerry Brown thinks so. Under Prop. 30, the two-time Democratic governor is calling for a 3% tax hike on the state's richest 1% to help pay for the cash-strapped state's education system.
"It takes a refined theory to say to billionaires that it's easier to take three weeks of school away from kids in Los Angeles than it is to take 3% away from people who make hundreds of millions of dollars a year," said Brown.
Prop. 30 calls for a sales tax increase and staggered tax increases over seven years for individuals making $250,000 and families earning $500,000 or more.
To further promote Prop. 30 and appeal to religious voters, Brown cited the Bible. "Luke 12:48 says: 'For those of whom much has been given, much is required.' Those at the high end can brace themselves for seven years and lend school kids a helping hand. I appeal to their sense of loyalty and fairness," ( By Stacy Curtin | Daily Ticker – Friday, Oct 26, 2012 9:59 AM EDT)
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes! Instead of controlling spending a liberal elected official always (post the John F. Kennedy era) default to raising taxes. And Governor Brown even tries to use the word's of Jesus Christ to cajole, intimidate, confuse, whatever-it-takes, to get the masses to vote to penalize the wealthy, the acheivers.
Yes Jesus said 'For those of whom much has been given, much is required.', but no where does he claim that it is a government's place to force some one to give of their possessions to the powers-that-be so that they can use that for their desires, or for the desires of those who elect them to office. Governor Brown tries to make paying taxes a moral issue in that to not accept higher taxes is somehow immoral and unchristian. Christians wealthy or not are to be generous with what God has blessed them with. This is a voluntary thing based on their conscience and the prompting of God's Holy Spirit in their lives. To force generousity from people via Government coercion is in my opinion Immoral. Taxing one economic group and not another is discriminatory, unfair, and is nothing less than class warfare.
Our founders had no intentions of people being Taxed for things they could provide for themselves. If California is haveing trouble then increase taxes on all citizens to fund it or find a way to live within the revenues that come in. All Californians have access to public education so all Californians should pay.
Governor Brown also appealed to the loyalty and fairness of the Californians who would be affected by this tax increase. Loyalty? Really? He expects loyalty to a state that wants to confiscate even more of the property of those who have earned more than others (and yes the money you earn is your property). That would be like taking the person who mugged you and stole all your cash out to dinner as a thank you for being mugged. And fairness? Again really? Fair is everyone paying the same tax rate, not graduated rates. Would it be fair if someone who makes more than $250,000 has to pay twice as much at the gas pump as someone who does not, or have to pay three times as much for a refridgerator than someone else does for the same fridge. If that is unfair, then why should a wealthier citizen have to pay 3% more for public education than someone who is not as wealthy? Few things are more unfair than our taxations statutes (a wicked scheme?) in the United States and among her States themselves. So if Governor Brown wants to quote the Bible here is one for him to ponder.
"A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom." Proverbs 10:23