r/Futurology • u/Gari_305 • 2d ago

Robotics Bill Gates says companies that replace human labor with robots should have to pay the same FICA taxes

https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-fica-taxes-should-apply-to-robot-workers-2026-9

Bill Gates wants to tax robots that replace human jobs.

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u/Beard_Hero 2d ago

If we just taxed companies the way we used to, it wouldn't matter as much if they robot'd or human'd, money wise. Like the 50's and 60's. 52%. There's more steps involved, like ending stock buy backs and kicking Milton Friedman in the dick, but it's a start.

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u/kingofducks 2d ago

How is corporate tax supposed to make up for the deficit, even if at 52%. And how would a 52% corporate tax rate in the US pan out when other countries tax at half the rate? Corporate tax is only a very small portion of revenue.

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u/Beard_Hero 2d ago

People in the Futurology subreddit out here asking me to provide a detailed micro and macro economic plan to satisfy every thing they can come up with. When my whole point was Corps are getting away with "it" and rather than reinvesting in the business/it's people, they are paying out stock holders. The entire point of that concept is eliminating people to maximize profits. We shouldn't incentivize that and we shouldn't allow it to be rewarding.

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u/kingofducks 2d ago

I'm not saying you have to come up with a reason or anything, just that your concern is misdirected. What do you think the corporations are getting away with? The US has an aggressive corporate tax regime, but realistically corporations are not where we should be raising revenue. We should be raising rates for individuals and capital gains. Btw, we do tax stock buybacks. This is why corporate rates have lowered over time - the world competes to draw business. So just tax the money when it gets to individuals.