So, a recent measure to deal with the copious amounts of debt here in California, Proposition 30, by causing a mere 3% increase in taxes for the top 1% of californians. The money from the tax increase will go towards funding schools and relieving some of the stresses on our education system as a whole.
In a move that's sure to make Conservatives and Objectivists scream in agony and horror, Governor Brown recently went on interview to support the bill by stating, and I quote: "It takes a refined theory to say to billionaires that it's easier to take three weeks of school away from kids in Los Angeles than it is to take 3% away from people who make hundreds of millions of dollars a year," Brown then continued, hoping to court religious voters by quoting the Bible: "Luke 12:48 says: 'For those of whom much has been given, much is required.' Those at the high end can brace themselves for seven years and lend school kids a helping hand. I appeal to their sense of loyalty and fairness,"
Now, the most interesting tidbit, in my opinion, is Governor Brown's mention of income inequality here in the U.S.
"When I was governor last time, personal income was $165 billion and the top 1% earned 8% of it," said Brown of his first-term during the 1970s. "In recent times the top 1% has earned 22% of personal income, which is now $1.9 trillion."
He's spot on with that assessment. There is a MASSIVE income inequality here in the U.S., the rich are doing perfectly fine and yet they act like it's a crime to take a bit from them to make life more bearable for everyone else.
Of course, in the comments you get the standard crap. People screaming "IT'S SOCHERLISM!", someone going under the username "John Galt" smugly saying he "Can't wait to see all the rich people move to houston", people saying that we're going down the path of Nazi Germany.
Personally, I support Jerry Brown and I agree that it's high time the rich pay more and stop acting like paying an extra three dollars when you have millions in the bank is somehow "the peak of evil". Yet, I'm sure that this talk of "Moral Obligation" is bound to get a debate started. So I want to ask you all this: Regardless of whether you think tax increases work or not, do you believe that there is a moral obligation for those who earn more to pay just a little bit more? What do you think will be the response of the rich on this one? Why do you, or don't you, think that the rich are(n't) morally obligated to pay more or less due to their income.