# In a nutshell what's wrong with this country: "Elon Musk Throws a S--t Fit Over the Possibility of Being Taxed His Fair Share" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357 "2021-10-28T05:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/162 "2021-10-29T23:23:45Z")
Ok…evidence to the contrary: > Elon Musk paid less than $70,000 in federal income taxes between 2015 and 2017, and he did not pay anything in 2018, according to recent reports. [SOURCE](https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/558352-elon-musk-explains-his-extremely-low-tax-rate) How much did you pay in taxes from 2015 - 2018? How wealthy are you compared to Elon Musk? (I do not expect you to share personal finances here…just think about that comparison.) Again, I never said he broke any laws. I didn’t even imply it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/163 "2021-10-29T23:24:00Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > On the third hand You misspelled “gripping”. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/164 "2021-10-29T23:26:08Z")
So he IS paying his taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/165 "2021-10-29T23:27:08Z")
Seriously? That’s the hill you want to defend? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/166 "2021-10-29T23:28:11Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So he IS paying his taxes. And people are saying that he should pay more. And he’s throwing a shit-fit about it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/167 "2021-10-29T23:30:35Z")
So, we are gonna confiscate their shares in the companies they created? They don’t have that much income, they own that much stock, etc. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/168 "2021-10-29T23:32:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, we are gonna confiscate their shares in the companies they created? Yes, and take all their straw while we are at it. Do you have to sell your house when you pay your property taxes? Or is it confiscated? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/169 "2021-10-29T23:33:51Z")
No. The government sends him a tax bill. Same as they do with nearly everyone in the country. That bill is based on the person’s income that year. Same as is done with almost everyone in the country. Musk pays that bill. Same as almost everyone in the country. How he chooses to find the money to pay that tax bill is up to him. Is that “confiscation”? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/170 "2021-10-29T23:40:11Z")
"Yes! See, the thing is, for most people the amount of money confiscated isn’t that much, so while it’s wrong, it isn’t that big a deal, really. But with a billionaire the amount is so staggeringly high that it really is significant and so it is a big deal and it counts as confiscation. Duh." ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/171 "2021-10-29T23:46:44Z")
Seriously. You made the claim that he isn’t paying his taxes. Back it up, or retract, please. If your (poorly made) point is that the tax code needs to be changed more to your liking, just say so. Saying Mr. Musk or others similarly situated aren’t paying their taxes is false. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/172 "2021-10-29T23:52:11Z")
My apologies. Elon Musk is not paying his fair share of taxes. Clearly he pays some taxes. Every time he buys a pack of gum he is paying taxes. I am sorry if you were misled and did not understand what was being discussed here. That’s on me. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/173 "2021-10-30T00:04:49Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Elon Musk is not paying his fair share of taxes. Who decides what is fair? Hint: it’s not you, or the SDMB in general. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/174 "2021-10-30T00:10:13Z")
Musk is worth ~$275 billion. He pays a lower tax rate than I do (see links above). Probably you too. That is distinctly unfair. It is also out of whack with the progressive income tax system we have in the US. Then see the [Panama Papers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Papers) and, more recently, the [Pandora Papers](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/pandora-papers-biggest-ever-leak-of-offshore-data-exposes-financial-secrets-of-rich-and-powerful). I am unclear what you are defending or what case you are trying to make. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/175 "2021-10-30T00:12:20Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Who decides what is fair? I really hope that this is not rhetorical, and that you give us the answer. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/176 "2021-10-30T00:15:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That is distinctly unfair. That’s your problem right there. Life’s not fair, deal. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/177 "2021-10-30T00:16:58Z")
Are you a person who accepts unfairness when it happens to you or people you care about? Or, do you just roll over and accept it? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/178 "2021-10-30T00:27:55Z")
No one over the age of 10 whines about “it’s not fair”. If you want to advocate change, great. But I doubt that complaining on a message board will get results. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/179 "2021-10-30T00:36:55Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No one over the age of 10 whines about “it’s not fair”. Would “inequitable” be your preferred vocabulary word? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/180 "2021-10-30T00:53:02Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No one over the age of 10 whines about “it’s not fair”. Well…that’s just not true. “No taxation without representation” was a rallying cry that underpinned a whole freaking war that ended with the US becoming a country. Maybe you heard of it. Just one case of people over 10 complaining about unfair policies. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357/181 "2021-10-30T02:29:03Z")
I think you misspelled “Donald J. Trump,” but I take your point 😉 > **Digression about Ye Olde Cheeto-Faced Shit Gibbon** > > I’d be interested in a word count that tells how often he/it used the phrase, “very unfair.” > > And really always in reference to how _he_ (a wealthy, white, (ostensibly) Christian male who happened to be the leader of the free world) was being treated by … nigh unto everybody. > > And he’s a freaking hero to 20-30% of the GD _country._ When we talk about tax policy, we talk of fairness as a framework by which to evaluate the status quo, _and_ to consider alternative schemas – schemas that may or may not have a prayer in hell of ever becoming policy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-nutshell-whats-wrong-with-this-country-elon-musk-throws-a-s-t-fit-over-the-possibility-of-being-taxed-his-fair-share/953357.md?page=10)