While it may be a pleasant surprise to see that a Republican addressed income inequality at all, it should be little surprise that the way Rand Paul did it was to blame the victim.
During the Republican debate, Fox News’ Chris Wallace asked Paul about his flat tax and how it was projected to “massively increase inequality.”
Wallace: [T]alking about the Tax Foundation and what they say. Under your plan, a family making from $50,000 to $75,000 a year would get a 3 percent rise in income. Sounds pretty good. But a family making more than $1 million a year would get a 13 percent rise in income. Question, doesn’t your plan massively increase income inequality?
Paul: Well, the thing is income inequality is due to some people working harder and selling more things. If people voluntarily buy more of your stuff, you’ll have more money. And it’s a fallacious notion to say, ‘Oh, rich people get more money back in a tax cut.’ If you cut taxes 10 percent, 10 percent of $1 million is more than 10 percent of $1,000. So, obviously people who paid more in taxes will get more back.
