This is so because the government will have more discretion in deciding which citizens receive what money and for what purpose. This idea dates back to the founding of the United States in that, government should not have an absolute role over the people and their prerogatives should be decided independently (that is, how they spend their money). In America, ideas relating to Socialism also are perceived negatively. By having higher taxes, a country becomes more Socialist because the government is providing and paying for more goods and services that could be paid potentially by the private sector.
A second poll, conducted on January 13, 2001, asked respondents which type of tax cut should be the highest priority. Twenty-nine percent said people with low and moderate incomes should be most targeted in a tax cut. Thirty-one percent replied that tax cuts should be given to all people, while fifteen percent said eliminating the marriage penalty is the largest priority. Inheritance and estate taxes, capital gains taxes and a combination of any of the above compose the remaining twenty-five percent of top tax cut priorities.
The largest percentage priority given above was thirty-one percent in favor of tax cuts for all people. Again, the individual's belief in the right to keep, spend or save one's own earnings are the motivation for tax cuts for all citizens. Equality is another influence on this belief. This thirty-one percent probably thinks, why should one citizen receive a tax cut and not another? To only give tax breaks to some would be unfair and unequal. Equality of opportunity would, theoretically, be preserved by cutting taxes of all citizens. Each citizen had the same opportunity to earn their money and should have that same opportunity to decide how it is used. In America, no guarantee exists that every person will have equality of the results of their labor; this is the fundamental means to create incentives for people to improve their position in society and work hard.
