1. What in heaven's name are you whining about? You made better decisions and worked harder than your S-I-L, and you have a MUCH better life as a result. You sound so bitter and angry about the "unfairness" of it all, but her life sucks and yours seems fine.
I am not whining. I am stating a simple, objective, moral absolute... it is morally wrong and therefore unfair to take by force that which was earned by one able bodied person and give it to another able bodied person simply because the second person decided partying and unemployment were more fun than responsibility and work.
2. Progressive taxation is not about "rewarding" those who do less, and "punishing" those who do more. Taxation is about collecting money to run a country, not about punishment.
You are naive. Progressive taxation is very much about trying to "level the table".
If you want to raise revenue then a simple sales tax is the most efficient way there is of doing that. Much less administrative cost and fewer ways or motives to attempt evasion.
3. It's fair because those who have gotten more out of the system (you and me, as opposed to your SIL) have more reason to keep things running smoothly.
Things will run just as smoothly for me if my taxes are "fair" compared to her. She suckers off the system you and I feed. She makes NO CONTRIBUTION to the welfare of us all. That is not "fair".
Think about it: if our infrastructure or army came crashing down tomorrow, you and I have a lot to lose, because we've made good decisions and have a good thing going.
Where did I say I had a problem with supporting infrastructure, police, military, and other services that benefit us all, ie "common welfare".
My problem is with transfer payments to people who are capable of contributing but instead receive "entitlements"... as if someone is "entitled" to something they did not earn.
Your SIL has little to lose, according to you: she's broke and a burnout. What does she care if China invades tomorrow?
No. She has far more to lose. In the event that a catastrophe like you propose occurred, moral and productive people would band together for their mutual benefit. She would starve.
4. It's also fair because you and I have more ability to contribute.
That doesn't make it fair. Not in the least. In fact, that is precisely why it is NOT fair. I have more ability not because I was "lucky"... but because of values and effort.
When I was in grad school with kids, I couldn't do that...those last 20 cents would have meant the difference in gas in the car and food on the table.
Which is why something like the "Fair Tax" is fair while the progressive income tax is not.
5. Your sister-in-law probably thinks it's all unfair too, and she got a raw deal. I'd tell her that life's not fair, and she made bad decisions and now she has to live with them.
She absolutely does. She doesn't see her life as the sum of her choices.
But I still don't understand why YOU don't think things are "fair."
In the simplest possible terms... because stealing is wrong. It is wrong to take from someone who owns something to keep or to give it to someone else who didn't earn it. I am not talking at this point about those who have some physical or mental incapacity that prevents them from providing for themselves. I am talking about people who make poor choices then expect those who make good choices to give them what they need and even want.
You made better decisions and have a better life. Why u mad bro?
I'm no more "mad" than you. I thought we were having an objective conversation about the ideals of society and economics?
FWIW, if there were no programs like this for my SIL... we would probably take her own as a charity case and make sure she had at least what she needed as long as she would straighten up. This is why charity is vastly superior to entitlements. Charities can demand good behavior. Gov't programs either can't or won't.
