Comment on VCs are starting to partner with private equity to buy up call centers, accounting firms and other "mature companies" to replace their operations with AI

• Vinstaal0@feddit.nl ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Every country needs a more fair tax structure. Sadly a lot of people don’t seem to get that here in NL (among other countries). Even the left doesn’t really want to fix it. since increasing social security for the lower class makes it so the middle class pay a lot more taxes percentage wise.

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  • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    In the US we do that to some extent but not for the wealthy. Somehow we ended up with upper middle class paying the highest rate, then tax rates dropping as you get wealthy. It’s fair that I pay a higher rate than someone with less income, but very much not fair that I pay a higher tax rate than wealthy people

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    • Vinstaal0@feddit.nl ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Is that actual rates? Or is the looking at different kind of taxes? I was talking about income tax + social security if you get it.

      People with massive company structures can always pay less tax. Or at least less at this point in time. The only way to change rhis if every country works together to fix it

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      • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Effective rates

        1. The ladder of progressive rates ends too early, so actual income tax rates do not go up after something like half a million income. That’s a lot for most of us but does not begin to cover the wealthy
        2. Many tax cuts over the last few decades were specific to other types of income, generally available to the wealthy

        For example if you were like Elon Musk, the richest person in the world (sometimes) who gets little to no salary and is paid mainly with stock options, you’d pay at most 37% on your salary, same as any basic millionaire but the bulk of your income would count as long term capital gains and taxed at 20%, lowering your effective rate. Even better, you could take loans against your stock and never “realize” the gains so never pay taxes on it.

        There are many other tricks you can pull to count your income as other that income and taxed at a lower rate. Last time we had that debate, Warren Buffet, another of the richest men in the world wrote an opinion piece in support of changes that he could take advantage such that he paid a lower effective tax rate than his secretary. Nice try but quickly disappeared under a flood of propaganda from other rich people

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• doodledup@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  So there is levels to greediness? You can call for higher taxes to have your conscience clear so you can be greedy elsewhere.

  Everyone is greedy. Nobody wants less income if it affects their quality of life.

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  • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    True, but there’s no reason that can’t coexist with a sense of fairness, and witha long term greater good

    Of course I don’t want to pay more taxes. However I realize I’ve been more successful than some, and a more progressive tax scheme is fair. I realize I have vices and don’t mind if there is a discouragement, as long as it applies to everyone fairly. I realize my success is based on a successful society and understand it is only fair to leave society in at least as good condition as I found it. Most importantly I have kids so I’m all for building a better future for them …. And understand that includes the society they will live in, the environment they will live in

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