Public Heel, you say "Taxes should be "targeted" in one very important way: the rich should have to pay a higher percentage of income than the poor. The most important secondary accomplishment of taxes should be a REdistribution of wealth downward."
I fail to see how decreasing the wealth of the creators of wealth and redistributing it to the consumers of wealth is economically beneficial. The communists already tried that -- it didn't work. Besides, right here at home the consumers have been consuming throughout this downturn and it hasn't prevented our deteriorating fundamentals!
I don't think creating false wealth for the poorer classes solves anything. "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." The way to wealth is to work for it, save what you earn, and reinvest it wisely. If one works for it, then gives it back in taxes, one has nothing left to reinvest in new business, creating new jobs, creating more opportunities for the poor to earn their living and take their own shot at wealth-building. JMO.
Newly
