The Argument for the Rich to Receive a Tax Increase - Essay Example

Everyone is affected by the weakened economy, including those at the very top. Social rage is inevitable if someone does not do something about it; the rich have “volunteered” their wealth to help the struggling economy. The social imbalance in America (the Wealthiest 1% own more than 20% of the nation’s wealth) may cause the economy to plunge even further.

Overall, the rich should be contributing more to the struggling economy because they are the ones who can afford it and who will also suffer the consequences of another recession. The author of this editorial implicitly states his or her opinion without ever really alluding to the fact. To further back up their argument, the author highlighted social unrest in Berlin and the London riots as consequences of a failing economy. Furthermore, the author makes the point that the generations to come will feel the effects of a lack of economic growth.

In order to back up their argument, the author mentions that unemployment in America is over 9 percent, poverty rates are rising, and tax cuts are being implemented. He or she concluded that all these factors may lead to social unrest in America. However, the author offers no explanation that poverty rates are going up and also shows no evidence of how tax cuts have affected the economy. In order to validate their argument, the author could have researched some very basic statistics about these factors and show how they have changed over a long period of time.

This would have made the author’s argument seem more believable because otherwise it can be simply interpreted as the opinion only. The majority of people will find it easier to believe an argument if there are facts and figures to support it. Even though the author’s argument is compelling, it could have further been strengthened through the use of government statistics because these figures are on the whole accepted as trustworthy. Also, the author of this editorial may not have looked at the consequences of raising the tax rate for the wealthy.