And is that to say that many low income earners don't work as hard either?
Most rich people work long hours, which is why its stupid to claim that a significant portion of them are just "leeches", at least in the sense you're claiming.
It's easier to make money once you already have some.
So? An economy isn't about things being "fair", its about producing goods and services people want. Rich people are smarter so its better that they keep and spend their money than it is for poor people/the state to recieve/spend it instead.
But anyway we can't argue this without generalising a large demographic of people.
your whole post was a generalisation of a large demographic of people
Wheither you agree or disagree i believe in there being some sort of benchmark for allowing equality. Though i guess that's a matter of values so we can't argue there at all.
SO you think that australia should be poorer if it means greater "equality"?
Also we do tax consumption.
Only slightly. I'm talking about making it the prime source of revenue, and greatly minimising/eliminating income taxes. And low income earners could claim most of their tax back ifyou want to cry and hurting the poor.