4. It’s not a very important difference. I’d rather differentiate between government actions based on whether they advance the common good. If you’d ask me, do I see a difference between the U.S. spending hundreds of millions overthrowing foreign governments for speculative and questionable reasons (insert your favorite examples here), and spending the same amount filling some poor American’s bellies and giving them a chance to escape poverty for the long-term, I’d say sure, the first is objectionable and the second is unobjectionable.
5&6. In general, yes, I would find that unfair, but it really depends on the context. Is there a good reason to do what they’re doing in the context of their society? What percentage of the rich quartile’s income does $1000 represent? Do the top 25% have some representation in government? How do they feel about the decision?
What about this. Would you find it objectionable if the lowest quartile of income paid 20% in taxes (mainly sales taxes), the second quartile paid 23% (in sales, property and income taxes), the third quartile paid 27% (ditto), and the richest quartile paid 30% (in mainly property and income taxes), and the government does all kinds of things with the money, and spends a small proportion of it helping the poorest when they need it? If the majority (composed of people of all groups, but weighted somewhat toward the lower end) had approved it? What if the majority were composed mainly of the upper two or three quartiles, because upper quartiles vote more often than people in lower quartiles?
7. They’re not amassing a fortune by taking your money. They’re getting it just to survive. And I’m not sure I agree it’s all “yours.” If it weren’t for police and courts and a stable society and government (all made possible by taxes) you probably wouldn’t have been able to manage to grow the wheat, because you’d be too busy dealing with the chaos of living in an uncivilized and corrupt society. We’re all in this together. This is a cliche by now, but you didn’t build that — not all on your own. The myth of rugged individualism is just that — a myth.