Some of the rich are so because they are greedy and dishonest... but not all. Doctors, lawyers, small businessmen.. (well except lawyers, of course) You know, people who have educated themselves and/or worked hard..... just because they've been financially successful doesn't necessarily mean they are greedy.
Back in the 1960's when the Beatles wrote the song "Tax Man" the top tax rate in Great Britain was 19 shillings and sixpence on the Pound. That was a tax rate of 97.5%.
Why not just kill all the rich people and permanently eliminate their blight on society? Then you could pay all the taxes.
Figuratively*, of course, that IS NObama's plan... * could be "literally"... He's said he wants to "eliminate Social Security within 10 years"... how might he do that? Cull the aged?
Laws and taxes have at least one thing in common or in the words of the late Leona Helmsley "Only the little people pay taxes" Long live the pooch!
Taxes have been 50 % in my country (Belgium) for ages. People don't mind. Country has 300 billion euro debt VS 330 billion euro GDP. That's a tad high. But then again there is more then 400 billion euro in saving accounts alone. People get by ok. The idea of rich people running for the hills when taxes are high is false. Public services have to be top notch and tax controll loose and the rich won't be running towards Vietnam any time soon.
Yeah, people got by in Soviet Russia and people get by in Africa too. If "getting by" is your hurdle, then everyone is getting by. The standard of living in Belgium is far below the standard of living in the United States and even Britain. Anyone productive leaves Belgium, so Belgians grow up in crap and think it's awesome. You're free to think that - differences make the world go 'round. What's offensive is the fact that you think you have a right to use government to rob the productive.