Oh, to Hammer Tax Until it’s Flat

In my last QoL piece I talked about lies and tax cuts. A side issue which I raised was about the moral legitimacy of progressive taxation. I posited that it was a form of theft. A few readers took issue and this generated a lively to and fro. I thought it worthwhile to explore the topic a little further. Here are a couple of quotes from the comments to illustrate the counter argument:

“But what is your argument against progressive taxation which is (I would say) almost universally accepted as a socially positive policy? It ensures that people who are most able, contribute more and the bad consequences of income inequality are moderated. Provided progressive taxation is not so high as to stifle entrepreneurship and career aspirations, it must be socially beneficial.”

And there was this: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,” can be construed as supporting a progressive system, which within bounds is not unreasonable.”

The point being made is…