'Fair' depends strongly upon one's beliefs, and can't be objectively defined.
Which is a position completely ignorant of the marginal utility of money. No, it isn't fair that for one guy 10% could be the difference between getting by and not getting by while for the other guy 10% means no change to his lifestyle all.
No, progressives think it's fair that the burden is felt equally and that requires understanding how money works.
> 'Fair' depends strongly upon one's beliefs, and can't be objectively defined.
Fair does depend on beliefs, but some people's beliefs are objectively stupid. Anyone who denies the marginal utility of money and insists a flat percentage is fair, doesn't understand money and doesn't belong in the conversation just as anyone who believes vaccines cause autism is objective stupid and doesn't belong in that conversation. Everyone has opinions, that doesn't make them equal.
For the record, I agree with Piketty, Marx, and others of that particular persuasion. I'm all for progressive taxation, wealth and inheritance tax, all of it. But I'm also not ignorant of history...
Anyhow, the example was just rhetoric. The point is that communism started because people thought it was unfair that there was a rentier class who essentially monopolized wealth because they had inherited wealth. And communism fell because people thought it was unfair that people who were lazy made the same as people who worked hard.
Studies have shown that most people in western societies prefer inequality as long as someone has less than them. They think inequality is 'fair'. Why do you think people value celebrities and rich people? People are happy with our 'lottery' system, where anyone can become rich, even if the majority don't, and even if the average struggles...
It's funny, you're arguing for progressive taxation, but you don't understand the history behind labour movements, equal rights, welfare, socialism, etc... Or why communism is relevant in a discussion about rational choice, inequality and perceived fairness.
I do get it though - Americans have been taught to hate communism, and thus have purged an entire century of socialist philosophy from their collective thoughts.
1) utility maximization 2) Rawlsian justice 3) fee for service model based on benefits received from government
It's actually pretty hard to justify a flat tax from most underlying axioms. I think you'd actually have an easier time justifying a flat fee where everyone pays the same $ value regardless of income.
I also contest your assertion that "Conservatives think it's 'fair' that everyone pays the same rate." While that might be true for some conservatives, political support for progressive tax rates go much beyond Democrats.