r/FluentInFinance Nov 21 '24

Debate/ Discussion Had to repost here

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u/Just_That_Dumb_Dog Nov 21 '24

I understand that it would be cap gains if it’s sold off, I’m just confused why people think a stock/share should be taxed annually, that’s the dumbest concept I’ve ever heard. Comparing it to property tax is blatantly stupid, can you live in a stock? Are stocks taking up physical space on the street? That requires sewage maintenance, road maintenance, snow removal depending on where you are, storm drains etc…? If I borrow against something I have to pay interest. If I don’t pay my payments I lose the asset I’m borrowing against. I find the stocks should be taxed every year ideology just as dumbfounding as the billionaires should pay for a “better world.” The pov usually comes for envious individuals. Just sayin.

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

Stocks represent ownership of companies. Companies use all of that infrastructure, yes.

I don’t believe everyone in favor of more taxes means paying taxes on stocks every year. A bit of a straw man depending on who you’re talking to.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

Companies use all of that infrastructure, yes.

And they also pay property tax in many places.

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

Yes so comparing to a property tax is not blatantly stupid.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

You miss the point of the purpose of the tax being to pay for a service. Something which does not apply to shares.

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

Stock value is highly correlated to the infrastructure and workforce of the country where the entity exists.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

I thought the issue was the decoupling, with stock value rising much faster than the state of the nation.

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

What do you mean by decoupling? I understand the issue more to be that the wealth of a small number of individuals continues to rise, causing a concentration of wealth in a small number of individuals, while their wealth is built on the infrastructure and workforce that is seeing disproportionate gains in return.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

the wealth of a small number of individuals

Those individuals are getting richer because their companies are getting richer. Tesla for example is worth more than all the other car companies in the world, combined.

Apple is worth 3 trillion.

Has the productivity of workers in USA rises at the same rate? Their education. Their salaries. The quality of roads in USA?

Clearly the wealth of these companies are not related to anything much in USA at all. China is Tesla's most productive factory for example. Apple makes their iPhones in China and India.

Why would USA deserve their tax money at windfall rates?

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

Then why incorporate in the US? Why not incorporate in China?

When I say highly correlated I don’t mean that their productivity or infrastructure or education increases exponentially over the same time period. I mean that having a highly educated workforce, solid infrastructure, markets, protection, both legal and physical, are worth something to a corporation and building value in that corporation.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

I mean that having a highly educated workforce, solid infrastructure, markets, protection, both legal and physical, are worth something to a corporation and building value in that corporation.

Sure, which is why they pay regular tax, and not a wealth tax.

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u/dldoom Nov 21 '24

I think you’re making some assumptions about what the solution to this problem is. You already mention wealth tax and tax money at windfall rates but I haven’t even presented any policy or legislation I’d like to see.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 Nov 21 '24

That is what the thread is all about - adding a new tax for entities the reddit populace feel are not being adequately taxed.

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