The importance of tax to development is a common area of knowledge to administrators, policy makers, and public officers. Taxes sometimes are emotive when there are plans to increase or cut down for different groups. There is almost always some degree of resistance. Social, income, and wealth inequalities are universal realities. Such disparities create a moral ground for taxation so as to help cushion the plight of the less privileged in society. One's perspective or position is, it is morally permissible to tax the rich (Rich Rita) to alleviate the condition of the poor (Poor Penny).
Nozick’s Entitlement Theory is based on justice and principles of acquisition. It is a three-part principle of distribution and rectification. The first, a historical perspective, involves the determination of whether something is just or not. And this deals with how it was obtained, the source. If it is non-historical or end-result, it will depend on how it is distributed, which in this situation is the means. Patterned distribution is about specifying dimensions. Rectification principle deals with a situation when a holding is unjustly acquired. The Wilt Chamberlain example is a demonstration of just acquisition, a patterned principle. The distribution was just, and money was justly obtained. The transaction was voluntary and was done by legitimate consent. There was no coercion involved. In Nozick’s perspective, taxing Rich Rita equals a conflict on her liberty of estate. Redistribution in this regard is unjust. Nozick (1974) noted that “things come into the world already attached to people having entitlements over them" (p.160). Through taxation, the state will be acquiring money from people like Rich Rita involuntarily and unjustly.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Rawl’s theory of justice is a slight deviation from Nozick’s. He based the argument on two fundamental principles of justice in an attempt to create or envisage a morally driven and just society. The first principle advocates the right of every citizen to basic liberties devoid of inequality. The second states that economic and social positions should be to the advantage of every member of the society and open to all citizens. In a nutshell, the theory is for egalitarianism. The theoretical veil of ignorance element is about giving everyone the opportunity to make choices from a moral point of view without knowing the reality of a situation. Everyone has a common position which he called the original position. In the event of inequality, priority should be given to the least or less privilege in the society. Rawl (1999) stated such inequality be "reasonably expected to be to everyone's advantage" (p.53).
The Maximin strategy is conceptualized to favor the least persons in the society. That people need to compare alternatives in the Original Position, a place of uncertainty and people should choose the option that maximizes the worst scenario or outcome. The difference principle deals societal change. If a change is to be instituted and perceived as development, it should help the least advantaged individual in the represented community. Projects should be people-centered and the people to be considered are the less privileged. Rawl will respond in this situation by encouraging Rich Rita to be taxed for the good of both her and Poor Penny.
The approach that seems strongest to me is Rawl’s approach. This stand is because the rich utilize the resources of the country, natural and human to get more wealth. Therefore they need to be taxed so as to help the government provide services for those who cannot afford. An example is the Medicare and Medicaid programs attached to the Social Security Service. Many Americans are being helped by these programs because taxes are being collected. There is inequality, and the gap is also widening.
References
Robert Nozick. (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. New York: Basic Books.
John, R. (1999). A Theory of Justice. Rev. ed. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
