Seattle to vote on implementing income tax on just the wealthy

[dacoolist]

This thread is juicy ASF, tbh, I am digging these cities just absolutely digging graves for themselves - good luck passing that shit

[Pterodactylus]

Yup, and the richest guy in my area makes 1-3 billion a year. 91% tax rate leaves him with only 90-270 million. Boo hoo.

Well, in reality, people dodged taxes in the 1950s too and none of those top earns paid 91%.

[Iamanerd]

Some are use to high taxes I guess. And that 2.25% is on top of all the other income tax they pay.

Except they don't have a state income tax in WA. So they only pay federal.

[Gestopft]

Sure, tax the wealthy, see how they will pack up and leave with their money elsewhere. That's how you destroy an economy.

Yes, businesses are just going to leave behind millions of customers in profitable locations. Totally makes sense.

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Except they don't have a state income tax in WA. So they only pay federal.

WA is also the only state (afaik) where a state income tax is technically illegal.

[kasuke06]

In a representative republic, a vote conveys exactly that: morality and justice. If the wealthy disagree, they can leave and take their lack of concern for their fellow man with them.

But if they leave, then what you may say? I'll tell you what: quintuple the federal income tax for those in the top 20% of of earners nationwide. And if they choose to leave the US and give up their citizenship, require those who do so to surrender 50% of their net worth to the US Treasury or face federal prison.

So "give us more money than you actually make or we'll steal it from you by force!" Since quintupling the rates on the upper half of tax brackets puts them above 120% of their earnings. Good to see that degree in feminism studies didn't hurt your grades in math.

Also, countries without extradition. like everyone's favorite rapist filmmaker, polanski.

[Milchshake]

Nice to see the payoff of elections of a socialist and more progressives to the city council. Hopefully we move towards a state-wide income tax. If WA had something similar to Oregon's income tax, the state would have 2.5x the revenue of the current mostly sales tax approach. Which is so inconsistent with economic booms or busts. Could fund things like education without the legislature dragging their heels for 2 years.

From some on the scene reporting:

That messaging may play into fear-mongering from Republicans who oppose the tax. Washington State Republican Party Chair Susan Hutchison spoke to reporters after the council's vote, claiming the city's real intent is to tax all income earners, not just the rich. She also called on the wealthy to practice "civil disobedience" and refuse to pay the tax. As she spoke, she was drown out by bystanders chanting "tax the rich."

[Omega10]

The republicans in Washington State might want to not push businesses to leave Seattle. Seattle taxes are paying for a lot of their benefits. While out of state republicans will cheer if a lot of businesses flee Seattle, in state Washington residents would take quite a financial hit themselves if this happened.

On a practical note, Seattle is having trouble in space and transportation deficiencies due to too much recent growth. Trimming back the growth a bit could be considered a perk of this tax hike rather than a downside. And getting people not so loyal to Seattle to leave the area has its advantages as well. If a 2.5% tax is the difference between someone staying and bolting the city, then it might be good for everyone involved if they moved to somewhere they liked better.

[Tikaru]

So, Seattle wants people with money to GTFO?

[Milchshake]

The republicans in Washington State might want to not push businesses to leave Seattle. Seattle taxes are paying for a lot of their benefits. While out of state republicans will cheer if a lot of businesses flee Seattle, in state Washington residents would take quite a financial hit themselves if this happened.

On a practical note, Seattle is having trouble in space and transportation deficiencies due to too much recent growth. Trimming back the growth a bit could be considered a perk of this tax hike rather than a downside. And getting people not so loyal to Seattle to leave the area has its advantages as well. If a 2.5% tax is the difference between someone staying and bolting the city, then it might be good for everyone involved if they moved to somewhere they liked better.

Dont forget the voters just approved about $50 billion to keep funding mass transit. $27 billion of which was new taxes.

On the flip side, people that don't like it can move to Ferry County for the lowest tax burden in the state. Just have to deal with the lower scoring schools and highest unemployment.

[Omega10]

So, Seattle wants people with money to GTFO?

No, they are trying to raise the money needed to keep up with the infrastructure demands caused by the huge growth that has been happening. Would you prefer that the taxes be levied only against middle class people rather than the rich? Those are the two choices.

[Tikaru]

No, they are trying to raise the money needed to keep up with the infrastructure demands caused by the huge growth that has been happening. Would you prefer that the taxes be levied only against middle class people rather than the rich? Those are the two choices.

Why is it only one or the other? Why not just a slight increase for all?

[Omega10]

Why is it only one or the other? Why not just a slight increase for all?

Because when you include sales taxes and such, the middle class is already paying a higher rate than the rich. This evens the score a little.

So back at you: if this were a 2% tax levied against all income, instead of 2.5% levied against high income, you would be ok with the tax?

[Vash The Stampede]

This is the result of wealth inequality. When you keep the minimum wage low, then you have people who can't pay taxes. But yet you still need to pay for things like schooling and fixing roads, then it just makes sense to tax the wealthy exclusively.

[Blur4stuff]

Because if someone with 50 million has 49 million instead, they still get to lead a pretty damn good life.

[Omega10]

This is the result of wealth inequality. When you keep the minimum wage low, then you have people who can't pay taxes. But yet you still need to pay for things like schooling and fixing roads, then it just makes sense to tax the wealthy exclusively.

The reality of Seattle is actually worse than what you talk about here. Middle class people are fleeing Seattle because growth is so high that rents and housing prices are just too much for them to afford. This has two effects on Seattle: first of all, they live outside the city, so they would not pay any city taxes anyways. And second of all, since they live further away, for many quite far away, transportation needs are increased. These are the people that Seattle businesses need to do their work.

[Stelio Kontos]

I say let all the California transplants that have been crowding the area move to Seattle and pay this tax. They are an important factor in why rents and house prices have gone up so high in the I-5 corridor.

They're already used to bloated, inefficient bureaucracy and over-taxation, so it wouldn't hurt them.

[Omega10]

I say let all the California transplants that have been crowding the area move to Seattle and pay this tax. They are an important factor in why rents and house prices have gone up so high in the I-5 corridor.

They're already used to bloated, inefficient bureaucracy and over-taxation, so it wouldn't hurt them.

I don't think a tax has been ever been implemented that uses the length of residency to determine the tax rate. It is an interesting idea, but I have never heard anyone propose it as a serious idea. The way that many states implement these kinds of taxes is to heavily tax businesses that cater to tourists or new incoming residents. Washington does utilize a few of these types of taxes as part of their income generation.

[Baelic]

We have a history of helping out a lot of people all over the world.

Not really. If too many higher income people leave, the city suffers. Because sometimes, they also take business with them.

Key phrase being too many

And yes, you (US) help others, as shown by both the Humanitarian Aid and Wars that you bring to perpetuate the cycle. But you haven't really taken care of your own all that well, have you?

[PosPosPos]

Good on them.

I wonder how many centuries will it take for Republicans to realize that they are poorer as a whole compared to Democrats precisely because they only care about hoarding and pandering to the rich instead of contributing to society.

[Seranthor]

Good on them.

I wonder how many centuries will it take for Republicans to realize that they are poorer as a whole compared to Democrats precisely because they only care about hoarding and pandering to the rich instead of contributing to society.

They might realize it about the same time the masses wake up and realize that the Democrats only care about them when its vote harvesting time, and even then its iffy. We could have had Hillary for President, IF she had given a fuck about places like PA, MI, WI and FL, instead she took those folks for granted, and look who we ended up with.