> I totally fail to understand why this is a polarizing issue as 99.5% of people are on the same side of the threshold...
Because one day it could be you on the other side. You’re gonna pull yerself by your bootstraps and are totally going to become one those filthy rich people. Everyone can make it in America. All you need is hard work and country music. You wouldn’t want to tax your soon-to-be fellow rich men, now would you? What are you, a commie? A socialist? Why, one day that could be yourself you’re taxing there, buddy. Take the government’s filthy hands out of your money. Yeehaw!
> Because one day it could be you on the other side.
I appreciate the sarcasm of your comment, but seriously though... if I end up with Bezos wealth, found myself on the other side, I would part with $176B if you just leave me the remaining $0.9B.
I mean I might bitch about it, but, yeah, I'll survive.
It makes more sense to not end up with Bezos wealth in the first place. Part with it as it reaches above your threshold, not after amassing some unspecified large multiplier.
I have zero doubt there are many of us who have no desire to own that much money to the detriment of our fellow human beings, but the point is there are also many people who do not think like that and want it all. They phantasise about being able to snub other people in an undetermined (and unlikely) future when they’re rich, even as they dislike being shunned now. That’s why (to the point of the original comment) there’s polarisation of opinion even thought rationally most people should be on the same side.
Because one day it could be you on the other side. You’re gonna pull yerself by your bootstraps and are totally going to become one those filthy rich people. Everyone can make it in America. All you need is hard work and country music. You wouldn’t want to tax your soon-to-be fellow rich men, now would you? What are you, a commie? A socialist? Why, one day that could be yourself you’re taxing there, buddy. Take the government’s filthy hands out of your money. Yeehaw!