That is likely true, but it has nothing to do with the regressivity of a tax. If you're unhappy with your income relative to what you can buy, do something to make yourself more productive and worth more in the market. When I hear someone bitch that they've been making minimum wage for 8 years, that says a lot less about their wage than it does about their motivation to improve themselves. We've tried the "give them a fish" for almost 50 years now and things are worse, not better. Can't afford to go to college or a trade school? Join the military...perhaps the best and most under-utilized educational institution in the world.
I lived on $190/month while I was in grad school and my high school friends were driving Corvettes. But, by investing in myself, my life style hop-scotched theirs after 5 years of grad school. Too many people make stupid decisions early in their life and then expect the rest of us to pay for that decision through our taxes. It's the wrong message to send to young kids.
“That is likely true, but it has nothing to do with the regressivity of a tax. If you’re unhappy with your income relative to what you can buy, do something to make yourself more productive and worth more in the market. When I hear someone bitch that they’ve been making minimum wage for 8 years, that says a lot less about their wage than it does about their motivation to improve themselves. We’ve tried the “give them a fish” for almost 50 years now and things are worse, not better.”
There will still be some people that, for whatever reason, are near the poverty line. Furthermore, this is not “giving” them anything, it is not taking as much away.
“Can’t afford to go to college or a trade school? Join the military...perhaps the best and most under-utilized educational institution in the world.”
It will remain under-utilized for quite a while, as it downsizes after the recent wars. They aren’t even letting existing personnel reenlist in most cases. They are only taking the cream of the crop as far as new recruits go.
“I lived on $190/month while I was in grad school and my high school friends were driving Corvettes. But, by investing in myself, my life style hop-scotched theirs after 5 years of grad school. Too many people make stupid decisions early in their life and then expect the rest of us to pay for that decision through our taxes. It’s the wrong message to send to young kids.”
Taking less money from people is not making you pay for anything.
Regardless, a Fair Tax like arrangement (consumption tax) is a far better idea than a flat income tax. Such a flat tax would still needing oversight from the IRS for one thing.