GE reports it made $14 Billion in profits and paid zero in taxes. States such as Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio are pursueing anti-union initiatives, telling their public employee union members, “You need to pay your fair share of health insurance and pension costs.” The middle class is clamoring that the rich, “Need to pay their fair share of taxes to the State and Federal coffers.” Individuals in upper income brackets say they’re already paying their fair share. In fact, they claim they’re paying a disproportionate fair share percentage of total taxes. In this Bigger than life debate crisscrossing the country, it appears that everyone is speaking with the same punch line, “You/they need to pay your fair share.” It’s that simple and that complicated.
Although “fair share” is a simplistic term, its a complicated problem. In fact, some might call it a “wicked problem.” And therefore, “what’s fair” is based on one’s perspective, not necessarily some universal truth. And since we’re generally incapable of agreeing on what constitutes ”fair share,” it degrades into a “I know whats unfair” debate. Consequently, the dialogue goes something like this.
Employees that work for private companies generally have to pay from ”X% to X%” of their health insurance premiums, therefore its unfair that public employees only have to pay “Y%” of their premiums.
GE made $14 Billion of profit last year and paid no taxes. I may not know what amount would be fair for GE to pay, however I know that paying zero in corporate taxes is totally unfair.
Teachers only work 9-months out of the year and are paid on average $xx,000 a year. I have to work 12-months out of the year and are only paid $xx,000 a year. I think what teachers are paid is unfair, because…
The problem with the “fair share” dialogue is that it quickly turns into a “whats unfair” edict, which makes it potentially emotional and polarizing. Plus we cannot forget, one of the reasons behind why unions were created was to achieve a “what’s fair” income. Now, a “that’s unfair” agenda is being pursued by some states.
Will or can this debate ever be solved. I don’t know. However I do know one thing for certain, the polarizing nature of the fair/unfair debate can never be discounted or overlooked. What do you think.
