pich people paying more taxes

Pro

-----Progressive Taxation-----

Since my opponent has vaguely stated her support of the flat tax, because they should keep most of what they earn, I will thus support a more progressive tax.

The Progressive tax is the best tax system when it comes to improving income inequality, maintaining fairness, and improving the economy as well as the government's account because of these reasons:

1) Most Proportional and Fair Tax System

The progressive tax takes in account what the payer's income and economic status is. The middle class and the poorer classes are taxed less heavily. Since, the less well-off spend much of their income, lower taxes for them stimulate the economy. [1] [2]

The wealthy do not spend much of their income by the economic law of the average propensity to consume. [2] However, my opponent's main argument is that "they should not pay more because they work to earn their money."

However, we as taxpayers made them rich. A wealthy person does not, and I swear, never gets rich by themselves. The rich utilize the vast American infrastructure paid for by past taxpayers to get rich. [3] The rich use the infrastructure especially. [4] The programs I list are just a few of the programs and assets we have received from our wise investments through our taxes:

• § Highway System
• § Medical Establishment
• § Federal Reserve
• § Treasury Department
• § Education System
• § GI Bill
• § Education System and Resources
• § Airline System
• § Space System
• § Social Security
• § Clean Air and Water programs
• § Medicare and Medicaid
• § Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• § Judicial System

With more revenue with a progressive tax system, the government can facilitate a better, stronger future with effective government.

2) Reduces Income Inequality

Nations with progressive tax systems, and the benefits increase even more the more progressive the tax system, have numerous societal benefits from the resulting of less income inequality. Some of the societal benefits include a lower homicide rates at all income levels, a healthier populace, less mental health issues, less violence, less obesity, and more particpation in civic events. [5] [6] [9]

3) Leads to Broad Prosperity

Because in a progressive tax system the rich have a heavier obligation to pay, the less well off can have lower tax rates. This can lead to economic growth. Plus, with more consumption, and with small businesses being to compete more with big business in a progressive tax system, businesses have a chance at success, and profits are long term oriented, because downsizing is less efficient with an effective progressive tax system.

• § Level playing field for Businesses
• § Stronger, more vibrant Consumer Base
• § Ethical Business

4) Improves Economy and Opportunity

If the rich do not pay their fair share so that our infrastructure of this great nation is poor, the people of the next generation will have less of an opportunity to climb the economic ladder. The rich should make sure that people of the next generation can become successful too. [7]

Giving businesses more money doesn't solve much. DEMAND is what drives economic growth, as well as investing. A progressive tax improves both, by improving demand, improving opportunity, and more people will be more likely to invest in small business. Plus, the Progressive tax is good economics compared to the flat tax, [9] and even Adam Smith, the founder of Capitalism, supported a progressive tax. [8] Lower taxes on the rich doesn't come out with a stronger economy, the opposite actually may be true. [10] If my opponent is considering saying "high taxes = bad economy", I have to ask, how do you explain the strong economy of the 1950s when there was a 90% tax rate at the top? It clearly didn't discourage investment.

5) Tax Revenue for Government

I think that George Lakoff said it best:

"Taxes are our dues — we pay our dues to be Americans and enjoy the benefits of American society. Taxes are what we pay to live in a civilized society that is democratic, offers opportunity, and has a huge infrastructure available to all citizens. This incredible infrastructure has been paid for by previous taxpayers. Roads and highways, the Internet, the broadcast airwaves, our public education system, our power grid — every day we all use this vast infrastructure. Our dues maintain it." [11]

Conclusion:

• Rich get Rich from Public Infrastructure
• Rich have obligation to pay just some of their money back to nation
• Progressive tax is therefore moral and ethical
• Gives Businesses a better opportunity to compete
• Progressive tax leads to less income inequality and therefore a stronger, healthier nation
• Government Can facilitate a Better future, with a Progressive Tax

Flat Tax

With a flat tax, competition is even more uneven between small and big business. The rich get tax cuts, which is ineffective and immoral. The less well-off get tax raises. Many assets in our infrastructure would be cut, and this would be the equivalent of cutting an arm off instead of getting a paper cut. The Progressive Tax is clearly the better tax system.

VOTE PRO

Analogy of the Flat Tax/ Trickle-Down Economic Theory (In pictures!):

Sources:

[1] http://conceptualmath.org...

[2] http://www.investopedia.com...

[3] http://www.cbsnews.com...

[4] Lakoff, George. Don't Think Of An Elephant!. 1st ed. Chelsea Green, 2004. p. 25-26. Print.

[5] http://www.thedaonline.com...

[6] http://www.epi.org...

[7] http://www.dailykos.com...

[8] http://articles.cnn.com...

[9] http://www.huffingtonpost.com...

[10] http://www.nytimes.com...

[11] http://governmentisgood.com...

*I tried seeing if my round could knock out my opponent compared to her single sentence argument.