How would you explain to a 5-year-old that higher taxes on the rich aren't a fix?

tangy

tangy

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I saw this question come up on Quora today (Economics: How would you explain to a five-year-old that higher taxes on the rich don't fix everything? - Quora) and while the top answer has some flaws, it blew me away with its simplicity:

So say that your 5 year old can make money by doing things around the house.

$5 for making their bed
$5 for putting away their toys
$5 for putting their dirty clothes in the laundry room
$5 for going to bed on time

They can do any or all of these chores.

Dad is the government.

For the first $5 you earn, dad will take $1 and you keep $4. Dad will give this $1 to grandpa because grandpa used to do a lot of stuff around the house (social security). So if you do one chore, you get $4 and pay $1 in taxes.

For the second $5 you earn dad will take $2 more and you keep $3. Dad will use $1 to buy food for your baby sister (food stamps). And will give $1 to your brother who doesn't do any chores (welfare). If you do two chores you get $7 and pay $3 in taxes.

For the third $5 you earn, dad will take $3 more and you keep $2. Dad will use this money to buy a new crib for your baby sister (infrastructure spending). So, if you do three chores you get to keep $9 and pay $6 in taxes.

For the fourth $5 you earn, dad will take $4 more and you keep $1. Dad will use this money to buy some new locks for the doors (defense spending). So if you do 4 chores, you get to keep $10 and pay $10 in taxes.

You get to make the decision on how much money to make, and how to spend it. Let's say you're a rich person and will do 3-4 chores. Here are your options:

You can decide that all this sounds fair and do all your chores for $10.
You can do some of your chores because it's not worth going to bed on time for just $1.
You can vote for Mom to be the Government at the next family meeting because she promises that if you do 4 chores you'll get to keep $12.
You can give $1 to your aunt (who's an accountant) because she knows a special family rule about children who do all their chores. She says you'll get to keep $13, pay $6 in taxes, and give her $1.
You can give $3 to your uncle (who's a lobbyist) because he can convince your Dad to not tax you for your 3rd and 4th chores. He says you'll get to keep $14, pay $3 in taxes, and give him $3.

Raising taxes on the rich doesn't work as well as we think it will because rich people find ways to not pay the higher taxes.

Hopefully this example teaches about graduated tax rates (how we try to make rich people pay more), how rich people try to avoid paying taxes, and some of the ways the government spends the taxes it collects. Maybe it also teaches about democracy and why Government (Dad) can't make up bad rules or you'll vote for Mom. Maybe it also makes the 5 year old ask why his/her brother gets $1 for doing nothing.
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There's a bunch of closet economists and government haters up in here, so let's see: how would YOU explain it?
 


How would I explain it to a 5 year old?

"Hey buddy, want to go outside and kick a soccer ball around?"
 
"You remember how I told you not to steal from others? It's a life long lesson, but unfortunately some group of individuals that label themselves the government haven't learned this yet. It matters not the amount they steal, for it is still theft. Now run along." Then continue on with your eye piece, reading elaborate works of philosophy.
 
Kiopa_Matt said:
How would I explain it to a 5 year old?

"Hey buddy, want to go outside and kick a soccer ball around?"
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this, except I'd ask if they want to throw the football around cause screw soccer.

Seriously at 5 years old kids should be kids, they'll have plenty of time to learn how much the world sucks once they become adults.
 
ayzo said:
this, except I'd ask if they want to throw the football around cause screw soccer.

Seriously at 5 years old kids should be kids, they'll have plenty of time to learn how much the world sucks once they become adults.
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I think this is more of an exercise in how to explain it to the American public since 90% of us have critical thinking skills on the level 5 year old.
 
I don't think it's supposed to be literally explaining it to a five year old, but rather it's an exercise in how to explain it as simplistically as possible.

Edit: ^^what he said
 
Kiopa_Matt said:
soccer ball
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Good idea! While you're out there you can teach him how to fall down and cry like a whiny little bitch if another male bumps into him. Good job. Don't forget to teach him how to roll around in pretend agony, and proper "clutching the shin" technique is helpful as well.

And yes, to those above... the idea was to create a simplistic view of this idea as the general public is seemingly too stupid to grasp anything that doesn't involve television, video games, internet porn or fast food.
 
ayzo said:
Seriously at 5 years old kids should be kids, they'll have plenty of time to learn how much the world sucks once they become adults.
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This.

Five year old kids should be picking their nose, playing out side, brushing up on their reading, playing a bit of doctor behind the couch, rocking Mario, etc.

They should not be doing grown up things like worrying about taxes & politics, getting strippers or going to see Batman movies.
 
I respond with the "y'all niggaz posting in a troll thread" macro, but I suspect Quora wouldn't respond well to it.

Although - hypothetically, I'd get him to work all day for two toys. Then I'd demand one toy back. When he quite rightfully objected to giving me the toy back, I'd lock him in the closet overnight. In the morning I'd ask if he felt the way I behaved was fair.
 
I think I'd have to tell a 5 year old the following:

While the cost of paying taxes locally makes more sense than going through the trouble of setting up the corporate structure Rich people will continue to pay tax locally, however once it makes more sense to setup a corporate structure, then Rich people will go that route since they have the resources to do so.
 
I think if you showed a five year old kid who had plenty of toys/sweets/coins another little kid who had fuck all you'd be surprised how benevolent they'd be towards the one with less.

The greed can come later on in life.
 
bobby_custard said:
I think if you showed a five year old kid who had plenty of toys/sweets/coins another little kid who had fuck all you'd be surprised how benevolent they'd be towards the one with less.

The greed can come later on in life.
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My son is always trying to give away his stuff to other kids who don't have much. I had to have a talk with him about it. It was pretty had to explain to a 5 year old that it's okay to give away some of the stuff you don't play with anymore, but not okay to give away everything. To kids stuff is mostly black and white, because they don't have the experience or understanding to see the gray.

He even does it with stuff that he bought with "his own money" from chores (feeding his dog, picking up his room, helping keep the front room clean, etc), birthday, and Christmas money he saves. I'm glad he's not greedy at such a young age, but gd some of those toys are expensive.
 
bobby_custard said:
I think if you showed a five year old kid who had plenty of toys/sweets/coins another little kid who had fuck all you'd be surprised how benevolent they'd be towards the one with less.

The greed can come later on in life.
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The natural political progression, most people start out very left leaning and move towards the right as time goes by
 
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