Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men(the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers, he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes SO the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men.. the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share?"
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing(100% saving). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3(33% savings).
The seventh now paid $5 insted of $7(28% savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $50 instead of $59 (15% savings). Each of the six was better off than before.
And the first four continued to drink for free. But once ouside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20,' declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $9!"
"Yea, that's right!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $9!"
"Yeah, that's right, "exclaimed the fifth man. " I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got nine times more than I!"
"That's true!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $9 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!" "Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor."
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that is how our tax system works. The people who pay the hightest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
-------------------- This is only my opinion and/or experience with Lyme Disease. I am not a medical professional. Posts: 587 | From usa | Registered: Dec 2000
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
More likely scenario..
The rich man buys the bar with his pocket change and posts a "no masses allowed in" sign.
The masses learn how to make beer, then drink it in their homeless shelters until they can afford to rent or own houses again.
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Instead of spending the money on beer they donate it to the Lyme Research!! HA!
I know that is not the point.
But, hey...I have discalula from lyme brain
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
dear my buddy sky-
disagreement, when expressed with civility, is a healthy and admirable thing.
in that spirit may i say that i don't agree that there is any such malady as that you name "moneyism."
i began working when i was 8 years old, delivering newspapers. I held my first full-time day job when i was 16. I was able to work those hours because i had completed my high school course work years ahead of schedule.
For decades longer, until Lyme disabled me so completely I could no longer function, I worked full-time.
In every place of employment I have ever worked I have been promoted to management, because I work hard, care about my work, and am always willing to go the extra mile and then some.
I've been around long enough, sky,to know that all of what i just said describes not just my attitude towards work, but that of the vast majority of the laboring folks in the middle-class.
that we have been so thoroughly robbed by the monied ruling elite (a non-partisan mafia, by the way) is not due to our failure to "work hard and play by the rules."
Responsibility lies with the Supreme Court for subverting the peoples' will in 2000 and appointing a president intent upon strip-mining the country to benefit a few.
Finally, 8 dreadful years later, the majority of of us have finally had our say.
(pickles closes this book, she's done.)
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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