moved to Belgium to avoid the tax increase on the top level. What you're saying is right, but the rich will run and relocate if this should ever become legislation, at least in these times. There's a post here on DU about uberwealthy buying land in New Zealand for airstrips to land their private planes that can hold up to 30 people or so. Also super ships large enough for rich people have 'homes' in are around, thus to escape any adverse conditions on land for a long, long time. They are way, way ahead of us, have the resources to plan and take action. The progressive tax system worked in the past, but in the last 35 years rich are very used to $.
A grandfather paid probably 90% taxes pre WWII, his sons 70% and they lived well, provided jobs that were unionized with benefits and gave back to society through philanthropy. There was no complaining about the government, Uncle Sam or DC. That kind of attitude was unthinkable and bordering on treason in their view.
There were no mansions, yachts or ostentation. They were smart, hard working, educated in free public schools and affordable colleges, 2 on the GI Bill. Education and discipline were emphasized, a good sense humor was appreciated. They were thankful for the opportunities and resources the US provided and loved their country which they or their ancestors defended in wars from the Revolution to Korea.
Ronald 'Dutch' Reagan began in 1981 the era of eliminating the strong US middle class, the government safety net, and liberal social democracy in favor of anti-govt. and pro-business policies, large tax breaks for the rich, supply side, voodoo-trickle down neoliberal economics, neoconservative foreign policy and (not) free trade that has ended the Golden Age in America when many, not all had a chance at a decent middle class life between 1935-1985. It was the largest middle class the world has ever seen. In 2013 for the first time the US fell behind Canada for the largest middle class. Canada is no. 1, the US is no. 2.
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