Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. [View all]

[kentuck]

That is a quote attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes.

He also said, "A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in colour and content according to the circumstances and time in which it is used."

But if we look at taxes in today's context, we have to question whether or not we are paying enough for a "civilized society" or if our society is deteriorating from lack of attention? Is everyone paying his or her fair share of taxes?

I suppose it would all depend on what type of society we would want?

Personally, I see little value in wealth if it is not to make society better. I want the best roads, the best rapid transit, the best schools, the best jobs, the best workers, the best of everything. What other purpose could we possibly want with wealth, unless it would be for personal greed or aggrandizement? And would that be favorable or good for a society? In my opinion, that would be negative and bad for our society and something we should discourage as a democracy.

Therefore, it is bad for us as a society to put a limit on how much wealthy people should pay in taxes. It is detrimental to say the top limit should be 39%. It is anti-democratic for a society to favor the wealthy in such a way, in my humble opinion.