If that were the case, then the dividens should be paid proportionally to the "collective" taxpayer... the ones who paid the most taxes... the wealthy.
You totally don't get it and probably never will. Wealth isn't created equally and will never be. Do yourself a favor and read up on Venezuela.
Agreed. But that wasn't the claim (Equally != Collectively). It takes the whole society to produce both the demand and the capital for wealth creation.
> dividens should be paid proportionally to the "collective" taxpayer.
Although the IPhone example did refer to public financing; focusing on taxes here is missing the point, which also includes wealth without such an obviously direct link to government financing.
"The top one percent of income earners, who paid 38 percent of federal income taxes, faced an effective tax rate of 23 percent." [0]
"The richest 1% of the world’s population now owns 50% of its total wealth, according to a report by Credit Suisse." [1]
I was in the top 5% last year. I paid an effective tax rate of 28% federal, and almost 45% including state/local. Why should I give one flying fuck if the people that control 50% of the world's wealth pay a majority of taxes, if they pay a lower effective tax rate than I do?
This idea that the 1% pay more than their fair share because they pay a majority of taxes is some ridiculous double-speak. One single percent of people control 50% of the world's wealth. You want me to feel bad for them how?
You're right. I am. And the stats above were US focused. (The 50% of wealth stat holds[0]).
The point, though, was GP's sole contribution was a link pointing to an article that the top 1% pay nearly half of federal income taxes (actually 45.7%) as a counter-point to its parent claiming the rich don't pay their fair share.
Well, 23% federal is not their fair share, based on income and wealth accumulation.
As to me being in the global 1%, there is no doubt. But like I said, I paid a lot in taxes, and I champion basic income (see any previous comments of mine on the subject). I don't defend high earners as unfairly burdened, and I believe that poverty and lack of healthcare in this world is a political problem, not a money/resource problem, and the fact that so many kids in the US, let alone the world, go hungry at night is a travesty of epic proportions.
You totally don't get it and probably never will. Wealth isn't created equally and will never be. Do yourself a favor and read up on Venezuela.