?wealthy individuals will do what is right for them? That sounds fine and dandy ? but when poorer people do the same with the means at their disposal ? strikes for example ? then they are roundly condemned Nor do I think anyone is claiming ?assuming rich people are thieves and the poor are deserving victims? If rich people have done well for themselves, good luck to them. But there comes a point in time where the people with the cash need to do pay their fair share to the society that enabled that wealth. This is one of those times. It doesn?t mean they have to give their hard earned cash to ?the poor? ? but it does mean a country facing a deficit (and we aren?t alone) could do with more grunt Be you rich or poor, the society you live in is facing major problems ? problems which need money. The poor aren?t deserving victims, but are bearing the brunt of the current measures. The rich could be doing a bit more, surely? (here it should be noted that I?m open around the 50p tax bracket ? if it does raise the targetd 2ish billion then I can?t see a problem) But let?s go with the theory that the rich know best what to do with the money ? better than governments Is there any chance those rich people would get around to sorting out the problems, instead of just call for more QI? I?m not looking for simple redistribution of wealth, and to claim that is the debate is missing the point