“But, I don’t think the taxes take motivation away from people,”
I am sure that there might be some truth in what your claim, at least to an extent. However logic would say that if you reduce the incentives fewer people will show up.
at 50% tax rate that means you got yourself a complete partner to your profits, that seems like a reduced incentive to go out and work really hard and solve problems and drive the economy.
It would be very easy to understand why someone that is on the receiving end to make the argument about taxing the rich at greater rates than the average person, those that are idealistic and are willing to do so, good for them but that does not necessarily mean that others should be obligated to do so.