undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdahdum8y ago0 comments

Vast majority of the wealthy pay every dime of their taxes, because one of the few things that wealth can't buy is protection from the IRS.

Now of course they do everything they can to avoid taxes, but very few evade them. I'm not so wealthy, but if I can legally avoid paying a tax, I will. That's more available for my retirement, charitable causes, and my family. I don't expect more from the wealthy than I do of myself.

0 comments

Dylan168078y ago

That comment is talking about tax avoidance. They are going out of their way to not pay these taxes, but they'd give away the same money or more if nobody tried to "make them"? I wouldn't hold my breath.

> I don't expect more from the wealthy than I do of myself.

When you're not wealthy, you have strong needs for that extra money. So I definitely do expect more from the wealthy, in terms of dollar amount. In terms of impact on their life I'm asking for very little.

stcredzero8y ago

They are going out of their way to not pay these taxes, but they'd give away the same money or more if nobody tried to "make them"?

To force them, out of resentment, as if they are immoral villains or monsters. Do you take well to being treated as an immoral villain?

I wouldn't hold my breath.

This is exactly how successful museums operate. What would be so outlandish about changing the culture, such that intentional community trusts become the prominent way of showing a legacy? Hell, we already are basically doing this for wildlife. Why not do this for human beings?

dahdumOP8y ago

If you're that wealthy I don't think it's really going out of your way to avoid taxes. More like your CPA / tax lawyer says 'Found a way to save you $X in taxes. It'll cost a fraction of that to setup. Shall I go ahead and do that?'.

Treating them as immoral villains and trying to take their wealth away will just make them hold onto it that much tighter. I'm just upper middle, but I feel the strain knowing CA is constantly trying to raise my taxes to cover increasing deficits / unfunded pensions.

Dylan168078y ago

It's not treating someone as a villain to say "hey, we know you give to charity, but in aggregate people don't give enough to charity to run an entire country, so we're going to tax you among everyone".

And I don't think that's a false statement either.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

Dylan168078y ago

> I don't expect more from the wealthy than I do of myself.

stcredzero8y ago

They are going out of their way to not pay these taxes, but they'd give away the same money or more if nobody tried to "make them"?

To force them, out of resentment, as if they are immoral villains or monsters. Do you take well to being treated as an immoral villain?

I wouldn't hold my breath.

dahdumOP8y ago

Dylan168078y ago

And I don't think that's a false statement either.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse