Steve Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heroic_jawline) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2019-11-01 11:52 am
heroic_jawline) wrote in fandomhigh2019-11-01 11:52 am
Entry tags:
Practical Civics, Friday, November 1, 2019
"There's a joke-but-not-really that goes around at Halloween about the candy tax parents take from their children's buckets," Steve began, holding up a plastic bucket full of chocolate candy.
"Which is a clever way to explain taxation and how it should work vs how it works now," Tony said, passing out equal amounts of candy to each student.
"We're going to keep it simple today," Steve said, "and not delve into how sales tax disproportionately affects lower income earners. We're also not going to talk about different state and locality taxes. We're going to focus on federal income tax. So this pile of candy is your yearly income. Don't eat it yet."
"Now taxes as a concept are actually good for a healthy government. They pay for maintenance and building of public works, emergency services, bridges and roadways," Tony said. "But say the system for extracting these services is broken."
"Since you all got equal amounts of candy, we're saying you're all at the same tax bracket. If we tell you that you are in the lowest tax bracket, you need to give us ten percent of your candy," Steve said.
"One if you will be in the top tax bracket," Tony added. "And will get that extra ten percent they've lost."
Steve rolled his eyes. "Because rich people need more."
Sometimes Steve's righteousness forgot he was dating one of the richest men on the planet.
Which was possibly why Tony shuffled awkwardly. "So, let's begin the exercise!"
"Which is a clever way to explain taxation and how it should work vs how it works now," Tony said, passing out equal amounts of candy to each student.
"We're going to keep it simple today," Steve said, "and not delve into how sales tax disproportionately affects lower income earners. We're also not going to talk about different state and locality taxes. We're going to focus on federal income tax. So this pile of candy is your yearly income. Don't eat it yet."
"Now taxes as a concept are actually good for a healthy government. They pay for maintenance and building of public works, emergency services, bridges and roadways," Tony said. "But say the system for extracting these services is broken."
"Since you all got equal amounts of candy, we're saying you're all at the same tax bracket. If we tell you that you are in the lowest tax bracket, you need to give us ten percent of your candy," Steve said.
"One if you will be in the top tax bracket," Tony added. "And will get that extra ten percent they've lost."
Steve rolled his eyes. "Because rich people need more."
Sometimes Steve's righteousness forgot he was dating one of the richest men on the planet.
Which was possibly why Tony shuffled awkwardly. "So, let's begin the exercise!"
Do Taxes?!
Then complain about why the government can't make the math easy!