Made a group of Liberals leave the bar last knight

[UCFhonors]

I was at a UCF bar last knight, of course. This little lady brings around banana nut muffins, strange but awesome at the same time.

Anyways, I mention I'm a Libertarian in the course of conversation. About 15 mins later she asks me to join her table. I do. 3 dudes 2 chicks all in their 50s. They ask what's my favorite political topic. I say taxes.

"DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THE RICH ARENT PAYING THIER FAIR SHARE?", 3 say in unison. I grin.

I politely respond, "I don't believe in discrimination."

A bunch of "what and how questions" followed. I walked the' through, as an economics expert, how people make more money as they get more work experience. More experience means you're older. A higher tax rate based on experience and age is discrimination. (Note I took this approach bc they were older than most patrons). "I don't believe older people should pay more than younger people, for anything including taxes. That's discrimination and that's wrong."

They couldn't respond intellengently. Just a bunch hoopla about billionaires like Trump.

I stuck to my point that dricrimation is wrong. Charging people different amounts is wrong. Finally one guy slams his fist on the table and said, "I had enough!" They all got up. And left.

I won.

 

[barrister1602]

I was at a UCF bar last knight, of course. This little lady brings around banana nut muffins, strange but awesome at the same time.

Anyways, I mention I'm a Libertarian in the course of conversation. About 15 mins later she asks me to join her table. I do. 3 dudes 2 chicks all in their 50s. They ask what's my favorite political topic. I say taxes.

"DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THE RICH ARENT PAYING THIER FAIR SHARE?", 3 say in unison. I grin.

I politely respond, "I don't believe in discrimination."

A bunch of "what and how questions" followed. I walked the' through, as an economics expert, how people make more money as they get more work experience. More experience means you're older. A higher tax rate based on experience and age is discrimination. (Note I took this approach bc they were older than most patrons). "I don't believe older people should pay more than younger people, for anything including taxes. That's discrimination and that's wrong."

They couldn't respond intellengently. Just a bunch hoopla about billionaires like Trump.

I stuck to my point that dricrimation is wrong. Charging people different amounts is wrong. Finally one guy slams his fist on the table and said, "I had enough!" They all got up. And left.

I won.

Whats wierd is that I agree 100% with you politically yet still find you to be a complete chit level troll.

 

[KNIGHTTIME^]

The whole "fair share" thing is just a political line for the dummies. Look at the standard effective tax rate across income levels. As you pass each income level the effective tax rate increases. Fact! Nearly 50% pay NO federal income tax and how is that "fair"? If the leeches of society want a socialist economy, they better get ready to pay too because that is how it works in those countries. They also better get used to the US losing its standing as a global power.

 

[knightsagainstblmandzog]

Nearly 50% pay NO federal income tax and how is that "fair"? If the leeches of society want a socialist economy, they better get ready to pay too because that is how it works in those countries.

I say invert the federal income tax and have the bottom 50 percent pay most of the taxes. The lower you make the higher the percentage. I'd support heavily taxing low income communities too. BLM will be off the streets working three jobs in no time. The welfare queens can't cheat the government if they're paying it back with higher taxes.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

Not surprising. Liberals can't debate. They just throw hissy fits, name call and run away. Look no further than this place.

 

[Great2BAKnight2]

I agree with your principle argument that taxes are an issue, but I disagree with your approach.

Income is more of a bell curve with peak earning years between 55-64 and then drop off as earners enter retirement. I guess you could say it's discriminatory towards those in their prime earning years.

My issue with the "tax the rich" argument is that past observations show no correlation between top marginal tax rate and tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. We've cut the top tax rate from 91% in the 1950s down to as low as 28% in the late 80s, but we've still brought in around 17% of GDP (17.3% mean and 17.2% median per OMB historical tables - no outliers skewing the data). Raising the top marginal rate has no effect on overall tax revenue, so what's the point? It's pandering to the uneducated masses to get elected/re-elected and deflecting the Government's inability to govern onto the rich because "they just don't pay enough."

 

[UCFhonors]

I agree with your principle argument that taxes are an issue, but I disagree with your approach.

Income is more of a bell curve with peak earning years between 55-64 and then drop off as earners enter retirement. I guess you could say it's discriminatory towards those in their prime earning years.

My issue with the "tax the rich" argument is that past observations show no correlation between top marginal tax rate and tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. We've cut the top tax rate from 91% in the 1950s down to as low as 28% in the late 80s, but we've still brought in around 17% of GDP (17.3% mean and 17.2% median per OMB historical tables - no outliers skewing the data). Raising the top marginal rate has no effect on overall tax revenue, so what's the point? It's pandering to the uneducated masses to get elected/re-elected and deflecting the Government's inability to govern onto the rich because "they just don't pay enough."

One bite at a time is my approach. I enjoy spitting off that regardless of the tax rate, the income will be ~20% of GDP. (You say 17% which still makes the point).

This conversation latest for about 30 minutes. They still didn't get it. As an economics expert, I want to dive right into the numbers. But some can't get beyond the concept and using numbers would only confuse them further.

Anyways, direct taxation is theft. I hope you realize that.