Because taxpayers are on the hook anyway when billionaires risk too much and their companies end up getting bailed out. Except now we've collectively spent even more than we likely would have so that they could, in the meantime, buy several yachts and lawyers to make sure they can hang onto their "risked" money and assets.
And sure, you could just say "well, let's just not do bailouts then", but then that leads to things like bank closures, airline collapses, imploding automobile industries [0], etc. Basically, we can argue about specific cases, but there are some things that become too important to fail.
Ultimately, there are things that benefit society that taxes should be used to pay for. Some of those things should be done regardless of what any potential payout might be. Note that billionaires don't help solve these problems. If anything, they make them worse because they often pay a far lower percentage tax than anybody else.
[0]: Of which the US at least is highly dependent on. I want this to change, but it won't be an overnight thing by any means.
And sure, you could just say "well, let's just not do bailouts then", but then that leads to things like bank closures, airline collapses, imploding automobile industries [0], etc. Basically, we can argue about specific cases, but there are some things that become too important to fail.
Ultimately, there are things that benefit society that taxes should be used to pay for. Some of those things should be done regardless of what any potential payout might be. Note that billionaires don't help solve these problems. If anything, they make them worse because they often pay a far lower percentage tax than anybody else.
[0]: Of which the US at least is highly dependent on. I want this to change, but it won't be an overnight thing by any means.