Why must capital gains be treated differently than other income? Are you aware of what the Capital gains tax rates have been through our history?
That is a good question, and also one that I addressed a bit already. See the video link of an hour or two ago with Charlie Gibson asking Obama during the Democrat nominating debate with Hillary.
Capital Gains, aka Investment, reacts differently when taxed than does wages. They are motivated by completely different dynamics. Study it all you want, but the net result is that if you increase taxes on Capital Gains, the first presumption would be that it is to produce more revenue. But it invariably produces less revenue, as the investments will migrate away from higher taxation to lower taxations. The historical precedent for this is overwhelming. See the link I noted. See also what happened in NJ, MD, and Oregon in the last five years when they went after wealth. It is frankly not debatable.
So, if we do as Obama proposed, we get less revenue. History is also frought with taxation that is not in balance, ie "fair". Cigarette tax. Import Tariffs that encouraged the Civil War. Our own already "Progressive" Income Tax rate, which apparently is not enough for the libs as is. "Fairness" in taxation is a myth by most analyses.
What you are espousing is to empower government to better keep you on the gubmit teat so as to redistribute wealth. Obama and the Dems love it because it keeps them empowered in an expanding nanny state.
If you were truly concerned about "fairness", you would drop this envy crap and move to a consumption tax, which the politicians such as Obama fear, as it transfers power from them to you in more ways than one.
However, higher tax rates just do not work in producing much in added revenues. The high marginal rates of the past were accompanied with enormous loopholes and deductions. Without them, such high rates would not have been on the books.
It is a giant mess, but Obama's own Simpson Bowles Commission recommended a slew of reform. Obama has ignored all, opting instead for envy, and an expanding gubmit teat. He is not doing what is best for the country.