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Ethics Behind Government

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Ethics Behind a Key to a Government “Moral principles that govern a person’s or group behavior,” is the definition of ethics, a philosophy that many use on specific topics. Ethics philosophy is used in major decisions and topics on judging whether the specific topic or decision is right, or correct. There are subsections that are under ethics, one being the topic of Utilitarianism which is what is the greatest benefit for the majority of people. A topic that many have split opinions on the ethicalness of, and can be protected by the principle of utilitarianism is the United States government's tax system. Taxes have been implemented throughout history, which time has shown how people view this necessary evil. As said by a great founding…show more content…
This is very common with ethical issues on large topics that have split opinions. Forgetting about personal bias, the topic can be analysed by ethical principles such as, virtue ethics, care ethics, rights based ethic, utilitarianism, and deontology. The subtopic under ethics that is most applicable to the tax system is utilitarian, since the principles were based off of this philosophy. The philosophy of utilitarianism is that the doctrine that actions are right if they are used to benefit the majority (CAAE). This is showing that one must put the benefit of all or the majority over the benefit of one. An example could be shown in the criminal justice system for punishing one so that it will protect the harm of the future harm of society, or the majority. The tax system is based on utilitarian system which is wealth distribution. The government takes a small portion of your income to help, and benefit others in grand or large long term scale such as in programs. Sacrificing a small portion of a person's wealth to benefit the majority with a functional government, governmental help programs, and governmental budget is showing how the tax system benefits the majority or the US population (CBPP). The philosophy of utilitarianism is very close to a description for what the basis of the US’s tax system, which I believe is why I am in the…show more content…
With taxes, many are clouded by greed and believe it’s unethical because of the principle of equality in ethics. Their counterpoint is how the taxes have brackets and many times taxes in upper brackets gets breaks and it is unequal for everyone and many pay more. Another is how the government taxes the inner city more on goods such as gasoline, and believe it is to keep the poor at a lower status and not become wealthy. It can also be interpreted as stealing from the people on how the taxes are required as a mandated amount of money to pay that punishable by law. The main reason why the counter argument believes the tax system is unequal and unethical, basing more weight on equality principle over the principle of utilitarianism justifying the ethicality of the tax system (CAAE). This idea of is partially true, but the bracket system taxes the wealth more yet it gives back to the poor through programs such as food stamps, funds, and opportunities (CBPP). The utilitarian philosophy outweighs the half truth of the unequal philosophy, that inequality equality infringes on the ethicalness of the program. A fog of greed overshadows the light of truth showing how the United States government tax system is ethical and beneficial for
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