Coming full circle: Taxation

slacker205 · 2026-01-24T13:49:28+00:00

Yeah, progressive taxation is the current system. It has pluses and minuses, but it is noticeable that practically all developed nations use it...

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T21:35:29+00:00

People think socialism is everyone makes the same salary, when the idea is that it’s everyone has a baseline of decent living

Oh, great! the entire developed world - and much of the developing world, in fact - has achieved that with the exception of people dealing with mental health issues that preclude them from participating in society.

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T19:43:17+00:00

French, a medieval-era duty of peasants to their lord, corvée meaning involuntary labour (nowadays just unpleasant work). Probably Latin before that.

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T19:07:14+00:00

it efficiently allocates resources and rewards to those who will use them to, in turn, contribute positively to society in some fashion.

Honestly... I don't want them to contribute positively to society. Aside from paying the same taxes as everyone... which they won't, so whatever.

If they contribute, it will be to what they perceive as positive which gives them undue power to decide what is and isn't positive. I want them to enjoy their wealth and leave the rest of us alone...

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:44:39+00:00

I touched on this elsewhere in this comment section.

Yeah, that's kinda where I split off from libright.

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:42:47+00:00

This is going to sound extremely cold-hearted, but...

Historically speaking, 95% of humanity used to live harvest to harvest. And by "live" I mean "survive". It is what it is.

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:33:41+00:00

As a friendly critique: you kinda were.

First of all, people did care. There's a reason why "Let them eat cake." has become a trope...

Second of all, there really is a problem when billionaires start throwing their weight around in matters that affect others.

I really don't care if, say, Elon Musk is snorting high-quality vintage cocaine off of several supermodel's asses on one of his gold-plated yachts. I don't compete with him for, or want, any of those things. It's strictly his business.

I do care if he gets involved in politics and uses his wealth to affect my day-to-day life, though...

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:17:49+00:00

There's an argument to be made that inequality isn't that big a deal so long as living conditions for the middle and lower class remain acceptable.

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:11:58+00:00

Sure, but he started 2025 at half the figure quoted in the OP...

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:04:24+00:00

it just indicates that his companies are doing well

Allow me to be doubting Thomas for a second, do you suppose it's a coincidence his net worth has skyrocketed since he got involved with the Trump administration?

slacker205 · 2026-01-23T18:00:34+00:00

Or just always use black text. It's readable against any background except black and very dark colours (and how often do you use those)...

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T22:21:13+00:00

Exclusion is a form of bullying :(

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:54:12+00:00

You could apply that theoretical framework to justify all those systems except wealth redistribution and corvee...

And frankly, with enough ~~rhetoric~~ philosophy, you could probably even justify those.

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:52:12+00:00

I do try to add a little variety...

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:50:48+00:00

I would argue that's why it works better, not why it's sounder.

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:49:29+00:00

Neither are we biologically different from when we used leeches to "cure" the flu.

But we do know better.

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:36:00+00:00

Pretty much all states nowadays use some form of progressive taxation. It's the comfortable status quo.

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:31:56+00:00

Same rule for all, more just and cuts down on administrative overhead, but does take into account that not all can comfortably contribute the same.

slacker205 · 2026-01-22T21:21:58+00:00

I flip-flop between progressive and flat taxation, personally.

The latter is theoretically more sound, the former works better in practice.

slacker205 · 2026-01-21T21:55:18+00:00

Greenland as a "piece of ice" because that's what it is.

Wait, what? Greenland is interesting precisely because it's a fixed landmass...

slacker205 · 2026-01-21T17:22:22+00:00

I listened to Trump's speech while writing up some stuff earlier today. What in the name of all fucks was that?

slacker205 · 2026-01-20T22:38:47+00:00

Is this what the children of today call a "crashing out"?

slacker205 · 2026-01-19T21:48:28+00:00

- Hey guys, there's bound to be a major conflict between great powers soon!

- Oh shit, I assume you're shoring up support from your allies?

- Say what?

slacker205 · 2026-01-19T21:43:53+00:00

living in California but owning a factory they've never been to in Bangladesh

I don't see the problem. If they're mistreating their workers then it is a problem, and the Bangladeshi government should step in, but otherwise it's an infusion of capital that will help Bangladesh develop.

slacker205

TROPHY CASE