I have posted this story before but never got an answer from liberals. But I really want to learn how they would defend their ideas of taxation. So I have decided to post the story again.

Story starts.

Imagine a household of three.

Imagine a household of three 20-something year olds sharing a flat.

Imagine the flat has three rooms, a big one, a small one, and a mid-sized one. (The big one has also the nicest view.)

Imagine the three 20-something year olds work:

Peter is a software developer and works full-time. He makes the most money of the three.

Paddy is a part-time call-center clerk and works 20 hours a week. He makes less money per hour than Peter.

Paul is an office drone of some kind and works full-time. He makes as much per hour as Paddy.

Imagine that Peter lives in the big room, Paddy in the small room, and Paul in the mid-sized room. Peter has also bought a TV for the living room (which all three use), a super expensive computer for his room, and a washing machine for the household (it's in the kitchen and everybody uses it). Paul bought himself a less expensive computer for his room. Paddy cannot afford a computer and spends most of his time, including the time the others are at work, watching TV in the living room.

Story ends.

How should Peter, Paul and Paddy divide the cost of rent among themselves? Please apply the same logic you apply to taxation and explain why your proposal is the fairest.

What should change if Peter moved into the small room and Paddy into the big room (perhaps Paddy argued that since Peter is never home he doesn't need the most comfortable room)?

Note that they cannot leave the flat. They have to live there. (If they leave, we have failed to answer the question. So for the purpose of the question, they must remain in the flat.)

Have fun!