If that happened, there would be a mass exodus of wealthy people and some country somewhere (probably Hong Kong, Singapore, China, most central and south American counteries) would happily welcome those people and the wealth that they bring. Also, more time and energy would be spent on hiding wealth (gold, bitcoin) than obtaining it. A wealth tax would really discourage work much more than an income tax. Why work or take risk if given enough time, the government will eventually take away all the compensation earned. I'm sure some country will try it though...maybe it's not too late to buy Bitcoin. There's some study that throughout US history, no matter what the tax rate, no more than some rate...I think it was 20% of GDP is collected. That means that at some point, higher tax rates lose their effect. Have to google it though, I don't recall the exact study.
yeah that sounds about right. I'm not real big on pay as you go. I like a system which first lets people make it unobstructed. Then after the kids are raised they can pay for it all. Oh well, pay me now or pay me later I guess it's all the same. It's just every penny meant a lot more when I was struggling and now I pay a lot more but it doesn't seem so bad.
I think what would make more sense is if everyone pays for their own education through long-term, perhaps subsidized low-interest rates to be paid back in the future (we already do this for college). Then allow the interest and principle repayments to be tax-deductible from future income. Provide a way for students to test out of school. Basically, if a student can pass the GED, they can skip high school and go straight to college. Provide a way for students to simply skip high school if they are not serious and go into a trade school route (many trades are still very profitable). Lots of ways to get a GED or go to community or other college later once / if student desires.
All those things are done by other people's kids my friend. At some point, someone else's kid is going to risk their life to protect you. It's in your selfish best interest that we have a pool of well educated people to do that. At some point you're going to need someone to insert a catheter for you, it's in your own selfish best interest to have a pool of well educated people who are eligible to get an RN degree to do that for you. If you ever start a business, it's in your own selfish interest to have a pool of educated employees. I could go on and on, but it's undeniable that everyone in our society benefits when everyone's kids have at least a basic, solid k-12 education. Even if they're somebody else's kids. Not to mention I don't know many 6 year olds who've made "poor life choices" because their parents can't afford to send them to school so they have to either go without or start indentured servitude at the ripe age of 6.
I can't deny that the quality one's parents have a huge impact, probably the greatest, on the success or failure of their children. Although there is a solution to bad parenting. Society is just too permissive towards it and we all end up paying for it. It's a choice. But while you seem to be obsessed with bedpans and catheters, you can't explain why one can't simply pay for those services someday with money that they have saved up. I can't use your same argument, walk into a grocery store, grab a few items and walk out of the store without paying claiming to the cashier that someday I'll be there for him! It's not like all those people you mention are working for charity. They get paid just like we do. I also never advocated living in an uneducated society. I pointed out with concern that we're around 29th in the world in math and science despite spending far more on education than any other country. But going back to property taxes, why should a person who lives in a $50k house have to pay more in property taxes than the person living in the $25k house? Considering your concern, won't on average, the $50k occupant consume a similar amount of catheters as the $25k occupant? Won't they drive, on average, a similar amount of miles (although that's also covered by a gas tax) or use a similar amount of libraries, parks, and emergency services?
Government by democrats are the biggest thieves. They raise taxes and feed the people who don't work to maintain the vote bank. A good government actually wants to reduce your taxes and lower the size of it. Current administration actually is doing both of the above. Looks like you are reading too much CNN. Rich or poor they were voted in by the people. It's the globalists who have bought the MSM and politicians and we were being forced choice of Clinton, Barry and Soros who were secretly talking about dismantling the US border totally for free flow of labor across nations. If you don't believe in democracy and voting by people through rules set by constitution, there is Syria and Middle East for you
The best government would be one so small and unnoticable that taxes and benefits would rank very low when it comes to locating, with economy/safety/climate ranking right up there.
My point has gone way over your head or your ignoring it. You are complaining about our society paying for educating everyone's kids, you don't think you should have to pay for your education if it's not for your own children. You're too short sighted to see that even for your own selfish interests its optimal for your neighbor's children, and everyone else's children, to have a solid K-12 education. Since you're probably willfully ignoring that point, I'll assume you must agree.