I encounter this way too often. Am I just too sympathetic to the struggles of the poor? Am I wrong? A flat tax is dumb.

I don't know anybody who promotes a truly flat tax. Even I, at one point, wouldn't go beyond a two-tier system of income without tax and then taxed at a certain percent (I still flirt with the idea occasionally).

The data is divided, at best. Countries like Estonia have had considerable success with the flat tax, and in places like the U.S. I do think that the wealthy pay a disproportionate amount into the public purse. Speaking of revenue, too, Russia is often regarded as the poster child for the flat-tax as revenue from their flat income tax rose fairly consistently, although the reasons behind this re disputed.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on February 16, 2015, 06:07:27 PM

in places like the U.S. I do think that the wealthy pay a disproportionate amount into the public purse.

What's the alternative though, raising the taxes on the middle and lower classes?

Nope, just not spending as much (yes, I know how politically difficult that is).

I'd never advocate raising taxes on the less well-off just to finance reductions on the most well-off. It's either a proper tax cut, or bust.

I think proponents of a true flat tax would not be supporting it for income.