Fixing Tax Loopholes, 51% of Americans Pay NO Incomes Taxes

[Polk]

That is the difference between conservatives and liberals: conservative's happiness isn't determined by someone else's wealth or opinions. Liberals aren't happy knowing that others are more successful.

Thats a major difference. I don't let liberal morons make me unhappy. I watch a lot of different news outlets, and Fox/MSNBC a lot. Especially the 730pm-930pm times because I'm relaxing then. The contrast in attitudes is so dramatic. Fox's people are so much more upbeat, even if debating strongly, but they include a lot more stuff that's just...more positive. MSNBC is just 24 hour bitterness. Liberals in general are just overall such bitter people. I don't get it.

I think MSNBC has given Al Sharpton a show, and it is god awful. Last time I watched he has his 'power panel' which consists of one conservative and two, three counting Big Perm, liberals. Yet it is Fox News that is biased.

And they are dumbfounded at why Fox News continues to dominate, no one close, in the ratings

He was guest-hosting for Cenk Uygur. How is it any different than the show Fox runs at the same slot though? They end every night with the "fair and balanced" "Great American Panel" of four Republicans and one supposed Democrat (though she's more often than not parroting the GOP talking points as well).

 

[edthecynic]

Isn't that sad and ironic? Lefties preach about making people pay "their fair share", but, they target those that overwhelmingly pay higher rates and higher net amounts in taxes. Those who, technically, are taxed unfairly by paying so insanely much more, are somehow not "paying their fair share".

God damn I hate liberals. Luckily, though, they can't affect how happy my life is when I'm not reading their dribble on here.

That is the difference between conservatives and liberals: conservative's happiness isn't determined by someone else's wealth or opinions. Liberals aren't happy knowing that others are more successful.

What is so moronic about that CON$ervative bullshit is that it is the Liberals who are the more financially successful than the envious CON$ervative slackers and it is the CON$ who are constantly bitching about the "Limousine Liberals."

 

[bripat9643]

Yup- you don't worry about other people's suffering. In fact, Raygun says it's all their fault. Enjoy Hell

Is it my fault?

 

[DaGoose]

The Tax Foundation - Number of Americans Outside the Income Tax System Continues to Grow

Report after report has shown a growing majority, conservatively at 40%, of American workers pay no income tax, ZERO. Meanwhile the top 10% of American income earners fund 70% of total federal income taxes.

Where is the shared sacrifice?

If those who are paying zero income tax were to contribute 'their fair share' perhaps it would solve this current financial situation--for a few months at least. But it isn't politically expedient to go after people who don't pay taxes.

This is a result of tax credits, loopholes if you will, that allow median income earners to pay virtually nothing in income tax. Obama is all for inciting a mob against the evil rich who are currently funding this unsustainable spending spree that has intensified more under the short two years, though it seems much longer, of Obama's presidency than it has under any other administration.

Record monthly deficit spending was reached back in March and has continued at $200 billion a month. The US Federal Government spends $200 billion more a month than it takes in revenue, and Obama wants everyone to believe the problem is the rich aren't paying their fair share .

But we're told that cutting deficit spending will damage the economy. That is the justification for this absurd situation: fixing it will hurt the economy; as if continuing in this manner is going to have anything but an apocalyptic outcome .

Americans have become desensitized to the constant cries of crisis that Obama has used to achieve the entirety of his legislative agenda, it isn't working anymore.

I am 58 years old--and have paid federal income tax ALL OF MY LIFE. When I was 19 years old--I worked at a bank--making $2.25 per hour--and I paid FEDERAL INCOME TAX. I got married--opened up our own small business and paid FEDERAL INCOME TAX.

Why in the HELL--anyone gets out of paying federal income tax--regardless of their income--is beyond me.

In fact--the "earned income tax credit"--where one doesn't pay any federal federal income tax what-so-ever yet- still-gets a government check amounting to $1000.00 is beyond rational comprehension. Who in the Freak came up with that one? We the taxpayers of this country give them a CHECK--because these losers made a $600.00 dollars during the year?

FACT: Ronald Reagan twice expanded the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and called it "the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress."

.

 

[NYcarbineer]

I almost started a thread about this because its so funny.

Half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, conservatives have picked up on this and are outraged (ironically)

and, more ironcially, that can't be changed because the Republicans have signed a pledge not to raise ANY taxes ANY time for ANY reason.

It's not raising taxes as much as ending grants if all you do is give them back what they paid in. It's a start.

Of course the best way is to go to a 10% or so flat tax with no exemptions, and move election days to tax days so they always associate taxes with who they vote for. You'd increase revenue and end so much social engineering bullshit.

The earned income tax credit and the child tax credit are the primary tax policies that put so many households in the zero federal income tax category. The lowering of marginal rates over the years also contributes a large share.

In sum total that is mostly Republican tax policy,

and given that the pledge to the Norquist lobby prevents Republicans from eliminating tax credits,

none of that can be changed unless the GOP throws Norquist overboard.

The further irony is, if Republicans want MORE tax cuts for the wealthy, they'd never get them politically unless they include something for middle and lower income Americans.

That means any further tax relief for the wealthy would pretty much have to push that 50%number, i.e. of those paying no taxes,

even higher.

 

[editec]

The median salary* in the USA is about $21,000.

Given that, it's small wonder that 51% of Americans pay no income taxes.

If we want more American paying more taxes, we might at least consider trying to come up with ways that we can increase the median salaries of the American workers.

But every policy advanced by pretty much both parties in the last fourty years has been designed to put downward pressure on the value of American labor.

Reap what we've sowed Americans.

*(that's median salary, not median household income)

 

[AVG-JOE]

A simple tax code = a fair tax code.

Fair Taxes. Appropriate Regulation. Budget Balanced by Law.

 

[NYcarbineer]

The median salary* in the USA is about $21,000.

Given that, it's small wonder that 51% of Americans pay no income taxes.

If we want more American paying more taxes, we might at least consider trying to come up with ways that we can increase the median salaries of the American workers.

But every policy advanced by pretty much both parties in the last fourty years has been designed to put downward pressure on the value of American labor.

Reap what we've sowed Americans.

*(that's median salary, not median household income)

Yep. When you go from building cars for GM to stocking shelves for Walmart, what happens to your tax bill?

 

[AVG-JOE]

I almost started a thread about this because its so funny.

Half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, conservatives have picked up on this and are outraged (ironically)

and, more ironcially, that can't be changed because the Republicans have signed a pledge not to raise ANY taxes ANY time for ANY reason.

The answer isn't "higher taxes" right now any more than the answer was "lower taxes" back in 2003.

The answer is "fair taxes".

A simple tax code = a fair tax code. The time to fill the unemployment lines with tax attorneys and lobbyists is NOW.

 

[AVG-JOE]

The Tax Foundation - Number of Americans Outside the Income Tax System Continues to Grow

Report after report has shown a growing majority, conservatively at 40%, of American workers pay no income tax, ZERO. Meanwhile the top 10% of American income earners fund 70% of total federal income taxes.

Where is the shared sacrifice?

If those who are paying zero income tax were to contribute 'their fair share' perhaps it would solve this current financial situation--for a few months at least. But it isn't politically expedient to go after people who don't pay taxes.

This is a result of tax credits, loopholes if you will, that allow median income earners to pay virtually nothing in income tax. Obama is all for inciting a mob against the evil rich who are currently funding this unsustainable spending spree that has intensified more under the short two years, though it seems much longer, of Obama's presidency than it has under any other administration.

Record monthly deficit spending was reached back in March and has continued at $200 billion a month. The US Federal Government spends $200 billion more a month than it takes in revenue, and Obama wants everyone to believe the problem is the rich aren't paying their fair share .

But we're told that cutting deficit spending will damage the economy. That is the justification for this absurd situation: fixing it will hurt the economy; as if continuing in this manner is going to have anything but an apocalyptic outcome .

Americans have become desensitized to the constant cries of crisis that Obama has used to achieve the entirety of his legislative agenda, it isn't working anymore.

I am 58 years old--and have paid federal income tax ALL OF MY LIFE. When I was 19 years old--I worked at a bank--making $2.25 per hour--and I paid FEDERAL INCOME TAX. I got married--opened up our own small business and paid FEDERAL INCOME TAX.

Why in the HELL--anyone gets out of paying federal income tax--regardless of their income--is beyond me.

In fact--the "earned income tax credit"--where one doesn't pay any federal federal income tax what-so-ever yet- still-gets a government check amounting to $1000.00 is beyond rational comprehension. Who in the Freak came up with that one? We the taxpayers of this country give them a CHECK--because these losers made a $600.00 dollars during the year?

The poor pay less than $0 because income tax credits are a way to dole out welfare without calling it 'spending' and the uber-wealthy pay $0 or less because they can afford the attorneys, lobbyists and off-shore shelters to take advantage of a tax code that would take 7 reams of paper to print using size 10 font and single spaced lines.

Until I can say with assurance what YOUR tax rate is (because it's EXACTLY the same as mine) someone is getting screwed and someone is taking advantage.

It's time to put tax attorneys out of work. Congress simply can't be trusted to not play favorites.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Isn't that sad and ironic? Lefties preach about making people pay "their fair share", but, they target those that overwhelmingly pay higher rates and higher net amounts in taxes. Those who, technically, are taxed unfairly by paying so insanely much more, are somehow not "paying their fair share".

God damn I hate liberals. Luckily, though, they can't affect how happy my life is when I'm not reading their dribble on here.

So you agree that the time for a ground up re-build of the tax code is now?

 

[Contumacious]

If those who are paying zero income tax were to contribute 'their fair share' perhaps it would solve this current financial situation--.

The "fair share" is a marxist scam.

Individuals and Business enterprises are liable for those taxes which are CONSTITUTIONALLY IMPOSED.

.

 

[AVG-JOE]

I almost started a thread about this because its so funny.

Half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, conservatives have picked up on this and are outraged (ironically)

and, more ironcially, that can't be changed because the Republicans have signed a pledge not to raise ANY taxes ANY time for ANY reason.

It's not raising taxes as much as ending grants if all you do is give them back what they paid in. It's a start.

Of course the best way is to go to a 10% or so flat tax with no exemptions, and move election days to tax days so they always associate taxes with who they vote for. You'd increase revenue and end so much social engineering bullshit.

I like the way you're thinkin', but I'd like to see a combination of income and consumption taxes, like a 5% income and 5% sales tax.

Straight up income tax is unfair to upper incomes and straight up consumption is unfair to lower incomes - a blend would be fair.

Not to mention how easy it would be to increase or decrease taxes fairly..... Is 5% + 5% not enough? Make it 7% + 7%.

Simple and equally shared.

Not to mention stability and certainty in the market.

 

[WillowTree]

I almost started a thread about this because its so funny.

Half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, conservatives have picked up on this and are outraged (ironically)

and, more ironcially, that can't be changed because the Republicans have signed a pledge not to raise ANY taxes ANY time for ANY reason.

Yes, but they haven't signed a pledge to NOT work on revising the tax system. Too many freeloaders.

 

[Sallow]

Bait and switcheroo..

This sort of reminds me of Marie Antoinette and the "Let them eat cake" comment.

Wonder how it worked out for her.

Less then 1000 people control half the wealth in this country. We are moving well past the aristocracy phase. We have people so wealthy now..that it would take the average person, at their present salaries, nearly 1,000 lifetimes to accrue that much wealth.

And conservatives think that's healthy. It's not.

It is killing Capitalism.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

According to what I have read - it is closer to 55%.
At any rate - the very LEAST that should happen is the lowest tax liability someone has is ZERO.
The IRS was never meant to be an income redistribution network.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Isn't that sad and ironic? Lefties preach about making people pay "their fair share", but, they target those that overwhelmingly pay higher rates and higher net amounts in taxes. Those who, technically, are taxed unfairly by paying so insanely much more, are somehow not "paying their fair share".

God damn I hate liberals. Luckily, though, they can't affect how happy my life is when I'm not reading their dribble on here.

That is the difference between conservatives and liberals: conservative's happiness isn't determined by someone else's wealth or opinions. Liberals aren't happy knowing that others are more successful.

That is a sweeping generalization composed of utter bullshit and makes you appear foolish.

I consider myself a political liberal and you have absolutely no clue what makes me happy. None.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Also...the ONLY people in my opinion who should pay zero income tax is:

1) Students, including high school students IF they have a college savings plan.
2) Active military.

That's it.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Isn't that sad and ironic? Lefties preach about making people pay "their fair share", but, they target those that overwhelmingly pay higher rates and higher net amounts in taxes. Those who, technically, are taxed unfairly by paying so insanely much more, are somehow not "paying their fair share".

God damn I hate liberals. Luckily, though, they can't affect how happy my life is when I'm not reading their dribble on here.

That is the difference between conservatives and liberals: conservative's happiness isn't determined by someone else's wealth or opinions. Liberals aren't happy knowing that others are more successful.

Liberals are more concerned with how to distribute the eggs that the Golden Goose lays--and conservatives are more concerned with the HEALTH of the Golden Goose.

Well this bird has been plucked clean--and this administration has got the pot boiling.

 

[sparky]

If those who are paying zero income tax were to contribute 'their fair share' perhaps it would solve this current financial situation--for a few months at least. But it isn't politically expedient to go after people who don't pay taxes.

Gee, maybe if there were jobs out there, people could pay taxes.....