Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit blogger, is often sensible, always indispensable.
But his idea for slowing “the revolving door between government and business” would encourage government to do more of the bad things freedom lovers loathe.
Glenn says: “Political appointees in the executive branch should pay an extra income tax when they leave for high-paying jobs.” He wants a surtax of 50 to 75 percent, for five years, on all income greater than what the victims of the surtax had earned as government officials.
Even if lobbying were the biggest cause of outsized government — dubious — expanding government’s ability to impose strangling taxation ain’t the answer.
The tax would, first of all, be unjust in itself, among other things treating persons unequally under the law. It would massively penalize select taxpayers simply for having worked at a certain level in a certain branch of government. Penalize them not only for unapproved-but-legal conduct (lobbying), but for unapproved-but-legal conduct in which they might engage.
The tax would also be a horrific precedent. For one thing, why apply it only to executive appointees and not also lawmakers, judges, the president?
Indeed, such a tax would foster the notion that it’s okay to confiscatorily target the income of members of any group, not just former government officials, in hopes of preventing other disapproved-but-legal conduct. After all, lawmakers wouldn’t be calling up Instapundit to get approval of the next proposed application of his idea.
Back to the drawing board, Glenn.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
4 replies on “No 75 percent Tax Hike”
It is nearly the same rationale for the taxation regemin that is used in Obamacare, from which the politicians have conveniently exempted themselves. Makes no more or less sense, just ensures that they get to experience some of the same discomfort that they have foisted on the rest of America. In that sense, it is cathartic to think about, but we are better than that.
We cannot stop corruption but we can make it less profitable.
A progressive income tax up to 100% like that in Sweden would take care of all undeserved lavish bonuses, salaries, etc.
When we had a progressive tax system, our economy was much healthier.
Many of us had to sign a promise not to leave the company and take a job at a company where we had influence on any of their related business deals.
Why not make the same requirement of gov workers?
phybrr’s comment about employment contracts makes sense. The desire for a 100% top tax rate would destroy entrepreneurism.