What is wrong with taxing 80% of the wealth is that then the return on the equity placed into the business to make it real just decreased 80%. At <i>some point</i> then many of those startups won&#x27;t be created because there won&#x27;t be enough return to pay for the risk. So then there will not be more of &quot;those jobs&quot; and there won&#x27;t be any wealth created. Therefore no taxes will be paid. And we just reduced the pie to zero.<p>I am not sure what the number is, but when I hear 80% taxes, I think someone (maybe me) is not doing their math.<p>But I do agree that one must first make sure to understand the argument of the other side before articulating a counter-argument. I think in this case, there is also the problem that the message gets diluted because of the messenger: unfortunately PG does not have credibility in this area because (presumably) he has not been on the ground dealing with poverty issues as many others. Then again, many economists haven&#x27;t either, even as they also postulate solutions.