[ExI] I see pitchforks.

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: extropy-chat <extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org> On Behalf Of John Clark
Sent: Monday, July 8, 2019 4:04 AM
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Subject: Re: [ExI] I see pitchforks.

 

 

On Sun, Jul 7, 2019 at 6:13 PM <spike at rainier66.com <mailto:spike at rainier66.com> > wrote 

 

>> Could you imagine how complicated tax returns would become if we had to estimate our total net worth? 

 

>…If the wealth tax didn't kick in until it reached the billion dollar range then that wouldn't be much of a problem for the average taxpayer…

 

Ja, but how would you determine if you are an average taxpayer?  Couldn’t those who are in the billion dollar range just claim to be an average taxpayer?  How would they get to be identified as not average taxpayers?  Alternative: those average taxpayers who think they might be approaching non-average status would dump their wealth into gold, BitCoin, things which cannot be declared (if you have any brains) or whose value is arbitrary.

 

>…And billionaires already have accountants, lots of them, that's one reason they pay so little taxes…

 

Sure but the accountants don’t know about the gold and BitCoin.  If you hold that stuff you need to keep it secret.

 

 

>> The gold and BitCoin people would be dancing.  You can’t declare those.

 

>…Why not?   John K Clark

 

Because people will come to your house and break in to steal it.  If you hold BitCoin and a lot of people know, they will steal your children to get it from you.

 

Also, keep in mind, the notion of a billion dollars is arbitrary:

 

https://www.greatamericancoincompany.com/products/100-trillion-zimbabwe-banknotes-2008-aa-series-uncirculated?variant=8907776196665 <https://www.greatamericancoincompany.com/products/100-trillion-zimbabwe-banknotes-2008-aa-series-uncirculated?variant=8907776196665&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInfL11bWl4wIVA6rsCh1nXQKiEAQYASABEgIFpfD_BwE> &gclid=EAIaIQobChMInfL11bWl4wIVA6rsCh1nXQKiEAQYASABEgIFpfD_BwE

 

If you present the notion of taxing billionehhhs, just remind the voters that income tax started out only taxing those who made over 100k a year, which was only this guy and a few others:

 

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1411 <https://www.google.com/search?biw=1411&bih=980&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=cUQjXYTEH5HB-gTPiY2wBA&q=monopoly+guy+gif&oq=monopoly+guy+gif&gs_l=img.3..0j0i5i30.3572.5043..6549...0.0..0.65.504.9......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i8i7i30.UWTwzjotENo#imgrc=pIwRNXsYkkxd7M:> &bih=980&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=cUQjXYTEH5HB-gTPiY2wBA&q=monopoly+guy+gif&oq=monopoly+guy+gif&gs_l=img.3..0j0i5i30.3572.5043..6549...0.0..0.65.504.9......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i8i7i30.UWTwzjotENo#imgrc=pIwRNXsYkkxd7M:

 

and a few others such as Montgomery Burns, but soon it included nearly everyone.

 

Then we are left with trying to estimate our current net worth.  OK… how?  And what if… the government disputes your estimate?  Do they get to arbitrarily estimate your net worth?  How?  Do you want the government having the arbitrary power to estimate your tax bill, when you have little or no recourse?

 

>… I see pitchforks.

 

The young proletariat google for the definition of the term “pitchfork” which they have never actually seen nor have a clue where one might be found.

 

When they find it, they wonder what good this object would be for facing a standing army with rifles, a well-regulated militia (with rifles) and most of the citizenry (with rifles) who recognize there is no objective way to estimate one’s net worth.

 

John, do you know of one?  How?

 

spike

 

 

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