From: Gerald A. Levy (Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM)
Date: Thu May 13 2004 - 06:40:03 EDT
Hi Ernesto. > In the Manifesto Marx and Engels also proposed a fiscal > policy based on "a heavy progressive or graduated income tax". > Both measures are envisaged as part of a process of building of > a communist society. Right. But, so long as capitalist relations of production prevail, what is the impact of a heavily progressive income tax on the accumulation of capital? > It is interesting to note that Engels interpreted progressive taxation > as embodying the principle "from each according to his ability". > On the other hand, the public provision of goods at low or zero > price allocates resources on the ground of the principle "to each > according to his needs". Perhaps M and/or E miscalculated about _which_ demands can only be realized after a workers' revolution? In the _Communist Manifesto_, free public education for children was also a policy change proposed after the insurrection, yet (despite recent neo-con efforts at privatization of the school system, e.g. in India) this demand was already realized in most capitalist social formations long ago. In solidarity, Jerry
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