So What *Is* A Fair Share?
Now that Democrats have officially put the idea of tax increases on the table…and it has to be a big table, that’s how many taxes they want to raise…it’s fair to separate rhetoric from a proper policy discussion.
Let’s start with the most basic, and most parroted-without-thinking phrase: make the rich pay their fair share.
From a discussion standpoint, it’s a slanted statement…because it presumes “the rich” (however that is defined) don’t already pay their “fair share”. But they use it because it’s easy to get people to go along.
That’s because no one really thinks they are rich…so sure, tax someone else; can’t be me. And we instinctively want fairness in all things, so why shouldn’t everyone pay their “fair share”.
Here’s my current response to that argument…when I’m told someone needs to pay their fair share, I’m going to ask for a number. What *is* the fair share we’re talking about? I mean, there has to be a number, right? If you’re saying some folks aren’t paying their fair share…then how much specifically would constitute a fair share?
Guessing you really won’t get a good answer on that, because quantifying it would eliminate the rhetorical flourish that comes from saying “make the rich pay their fair share”…just like, as we’ve talked about before, you don’t often hear what constitutes “rich”, because if that was to be defined, the proposal would be a whole lot less popular.
Pretty simple, really…what’s rich…and what’s a fair share? Define that, and we’ll know you’re serious and not just spouting left-wing talking points.
