I find the tax rate discussion instructive in that it indicates to me that the majority are not interested so much in justice but in using their power to take what others have. They think that if they impose the oppressive tax rate to a small enough cohort there will be few defenders of that cohort. This is a power move and a power argument until that gets pointed out. Once it does they try some justification beyond the wealthy can afford it, but those justifications fall flat, even for them, if they be truthful. They try to say that the wealthy enjoy the fruits of liberty or the benefits of society more, and should pay more, but by such increments? No, it is about jealousy and wanting the benefits of what others have under the guise of law. they want indolence funded by the work of others.
I am not unsympathetic. I will never earn at those rates so why do I care, and there is some minor truth that the wealthy may benefit somewhat more from public services, roads, schools, infrastructure, and defense. I mean after all nobody is invading this country to take the shopping cart away from the bag lady, now are they. She has little to lose, or everything from another perspective. The defense budget may, from a financial perspective benefit the wealthy more. But there are other perspectives.
What I know is this, I hear it in the voices of those who advocate such tax rates, they want what others have and they are pleased if it is perceived as punitive, though they mostly lack the honesty to admit that.
All that said, were I the ultra wealthy I would be mindful that I still live among others, that those others can become insulted and angry at gross disparity, particularly when suffering of loved ones is involved, and if the disparity becomes to apparent, right or wrong, it is a law of history that they will be dragged from their castle sand hung in the town square.
Wealthy, give a little. others, settle for something less than punitive graciously. There is a middle ground. we can all advance forward together. There is bounty enough for all unless we become greedy and invest in destruction and war rather than production and education.