Who Pays the Taxes? Who Should?

[auditor0007]

According to some polls, most Americans think the rich—several among the top 5% and all in the top 1%-- should be required to pay more.
Most Americans say rich should pay more taxes, according to new survey - CBS News

So what do you think?

Here’s the problem as I see it:

Who is paying the income taxes in the USA? Among all Americans:

Top 1%
AGI earnings: $343,927 and over
% of all income taxes paid: 36.73

Top 5%
AGI earnings: $154,643
% of all income taxes paid: 58.66

Top 10%
AGI earnings: $112,124
% of income taxes paid: 70.47

Top 25%
AGI earnings: $66,193
% of income taxes paid: 87.30

Top 50%
AGI earnings: $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 97.75

Bottom 50%
AGI earnings: below $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 2.25

National Taxpayers Union - Who Pays Income Taxes?

President Obama wants the rich to pay more. Challenger Romney wants lower taxes for at least the middle class.

Are they both right? One more right than the other? Both wrong?

Please read the following explanation:

Economics of Beer Drinking​

Ten guys who were friends met at the local neighborhood bar to have a beer or two every Friday. They agree to pay the $100 bill in the same way they paid their income taxes.

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.00
The sixth would pay $3.00
The seventh would pay $7.00
The eighth would pay $12.00
The ninth would pay $18.00
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.00
Using this system, the men drank in the bar every Friday with no complaints until the owner threw them a curve..

"Since you are all such good customers, he said, I'm going to give you a discount and your bill will be $80.00 instead of $100.”

They couldn’t divide the discount equally as that would be $3.33 each which would mean six of them would get paid to drink beer. So the bar owner, something of a mathematician figured it out roughly by percentages according to what each had been paying.

Now the fifth man joined the first four and paid nothing. A 100% savings for the fifth man.
The sixth man now paid $2 instead of $3. (33% savings)
The seventh man now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings)
The eight man now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings)
The ninth man now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings)
The tenth man now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings)

Each of the bottom four still enjoyed the benefit of paying nothing and every one of the other six was better off than before.

But the fifth man began to compare savings and complained that he only got $1 of the $20 discount while the tenth man got $10. That wasn’t fair. And the others also noticed that they got less of a discount than the tenth man and began to angry. Why should the richest guy get the biggest break? And the bottom four joined in the protest: “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor.”

And they ganged up on the richest guy and accused him of all sorts of privilege and excess and greed and plotted how to get him to pay more of the bill.

The next Friday the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible

(teaching attributed to) David R. Kamerschen, PH. D
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

Your thread is pointless because you are only addressing one tax, the federal income tax. Until you include all taxes, anything you say is pretty much meaningless. We know that a lot of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, but they do pay many other taxes. In some cases, even without paying any federal income taxes, their overall tax burden is heavier than for some of the super wealthy. At the state level, those not paying income taxes are paying the biggest percentage of their income than any others, and they're paying at least double what the wealthiest earners pay, in some states it's up to four times as much.

It's hilarious how we see one thread after another talking about those who don't pay any federal income taxes, but we never see any concerns as to why the wealthy pay so little at the state level.

 

[Dissent]

Taxation is theft.

 

[bripat9643]

How do you grant exemptions to the fair tax? If you buy a car or a can of beans, you pay the tax. Also, it's not a Value Add Tax. It's a sales tax. The tax is show right on your sales receipt, not hidden in the price of the good.

You give exemptions by allowing certain demographics to deduct the tax or submit proof of expenditure for reimbursement or issue them special cards to show so that the tax would not be applied at the time of purchase. And yes, every tax that is based on price of an item at the time of purchase is a value added tax whether it is on your phone bill or utility bill or paid when you buy your new car or that can of beans. A value tax system is something different as it is applied all along the chain of production as well as retail, but the principle is the same.

Nope, those aren't Value Added Taxes. The term has a specific meaning. It's applied to the difference between the cost of the inputs of manufacturing a good and the price of the output. It's never shown on a sales receipt, so people really don't even know how much they are paying.

I think if you repealed the 16th Amendment, the Constitution wouldn't allow the exceptions you describe.

 

[Foxfyre]

According to some polls, most Americans think the rich—several among the top 5% and all in the top 1%-- should be required to pay more.
Most Americans say rich should pay more taxes, according to new survey - CBS News

So what do you think?

Here’s the problem as I see it:

Who is paying the income taxes in the USA? Among all Americans:

Top 1%
AGI earnings: $343,927 and over
% of all income taxes paid: 36.73

Top 5%
AGI earnings: $154,643
% of all income taxes paid: 58.66

Top 10%
AGI earnings: $112,124
% of income taxes paid: 70.47

Top 25%
AGI earnings: $66,193
% of income taxes paid: 87.30

Top 50%
AGI earnings: $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 97.75

Bottom 50%
AGI earnings: below $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 2.25

National Taxpayers Union - Who Pays Income Taxes?

President Obama wants the rich to pay more. Challenger Romney wants lower taxes for at least the middle class.

Are they both right? One more right than the other? Both wrong?

Please read the following explanation:

Economics of Beer Drinking​

Ten guys who were friends met at the local neighborhood bar to have a beer or two every Friday. They agree to pay the $100 bill in the same way they paid their income taxes.

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.00
The sixth would pay $3.00
The seventh would pay $7.00
The eighth would pay $12.00
The ninth would pay $18.00
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.00
Using this system, the men drank in the bar every Friday with no complaints until the owner threw them a curve..

"Since you are all such good customers, he said, I'm going to give you a discount and your bill will be $80.00 instead of $100.”

They couldn’t divide the discount equally as that would be $3.33 each which would mean six of them would get paid to drink beer. So the bar owner, something of a mathematician figured it out roughly by percentages according to what each had been paying.

Now the fifth man joined the first four and paid nothing. A 100% savings for the fifth man.
The sixth man now paid $2 instead of $3. (33% savings)
The seventh man now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings)
The eight man now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings)
The ninth man now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings)
The tenth man now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings)

Each of the bottom four still enjoyed the benefit of paying nothing and every one of the other six was better off than before.

But the fifth man began to compare savings and complained that he only got $1 of the $20 discount while the tenth man got $10. That wasn’t fair. And the others also noticed that they got less of a discount than the tenth man and began to angry. Why should the richest guy get the biggest break? And the bottom four joined in the protest: “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor.”

And they ganged up on the richest guy and accused him of all sorts of privilege and excess and greed and plotted how to get him to pay more of the bill.

The next Friday the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible

(teaching attributed to) David R. Kamerschen, PH. D
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

Your thread is pointless because you are only addressing one tax, the federal income tax. Until you include all taxes, anything you say is pretty much meaningless. We know that a lot of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, but they do pay many other taxes. In some cases, even without paying any federal income taxes, their overall tax burden is heavier than for some of the super wealthy. At the state level, those not paying income taxes are paying the biggest percentage of their income than any others, and they're paying at least double what the wealthiest earners pay, in some states it's up to four times as much.

It's hilarious how we see one thread after another talking about those who don't pay any federal income taxes, but we never see any concerns as to why the wealthy pay so little at the state level.

It is true that there are many other taxes out there which, added together along with thei federal income tax, can pretty well confiscate around 50% of annual income for many people. That is noti insignificant and will need to be a factor in whatevver tax system is ultimately adopted.

But Obama and Romney, however, are not talking about anything other than the various forms of federal income tax and who should pay that. And because that is the single largest single tax paid by most of us who pay income taxes, this thread is devoted to that.

If you think that isn't worthy of discussion, you might generate some interest in your own thread talking about state taxes or whatever. That really gets complicated when so few of us care much what people in other states pay and are primarily interested in what we pay in the state we live in.

 

[there4eyeM]

I like The Fair Tax

Americans For Fair Taxation

Should be called the unfair tax. Sales taxes like this are regressive (again) and unfair to the lowest income groups (again).
We want everyone to benefit from living in the richest country the world has ever seen. Sometimes that could mean someone doesn't do someone's fair share, but there is no excuse for making those who work at the lowest wages pay a disproportionate percentage of their hard-earned wages.

 

[AmyNation]

According to some polls, most Americans think the rich—several among the top 5% and all in the top 1%-- should be required to pay more.
Most Americans say rich should pay more taxes, according to new survey - CBS News

So what do you think?

Here’s the problem as I see it:

Who is paying the income taxes in the USA? Among all Americans:

Top 1%
AGI earnings: $343,927 and over
% of all income taxes paid: 36.73

Top 5%
AGI earnings: $154,643
% of all income taxes paid: 58.66

Top 10%
AGI earnings: $112,124
% of income taxes paid: 70.47

Top 25%
AGI earnings: $66,193
% of income taxes paid: 87.30

Top 50%
AGI earnings: $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 97.75

Bottom 50%
AGI earnings: below $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 2.25

National Taxpayers Union - Who Pays Income Taxes?

President Obama wants the rich to pay more. Challenger Romney wants lower taxes for at least the middle class.

Are they both right? One more right than the other? Both wrong?

Please read the following explanation:

Economics of Beer Drinking​

Ten guys who were friends met at the local neighborhood bar to have a beer or two every Friday. They agree to pay the $100 bill in the same way they paid their income taxes.

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.00
The sixth would pay $3.00
The seventh would pay $7.00
The eighth would pay $12.00
The ninth would pay $18.00
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.00
Using this system, the men drank in the bar every Friday with no complaints until the owner threw them a curve..

"Since you are all such good customers, he said, I'm going to give you a discount and your bill will be $80.00 instead of $100.”

They couldn’t divide the discount equally as that would be $3.33 each which would mean six of them would get paid to drink beer. So the bar owner, something of a mathematician figured it out roughly by percentages according to what each had been paying.

Now the fifth man joined the first four and paid nothing. A 100% savings for the fifth man.
The sixth man now paid $2 instead of $3. (33% savings)
The seventh man now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings)
The eight man now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings)
The ninth man now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings)
The tenth man now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings)

Each of the bottom four still enjoyed the benefit of paying nothing and every one of the other six was better off than before.

But the fifth man began to compare savings and complained that he only got $1 of the $20 discount while the tenth man got $10. That wasn’t fair. And the others also noticed that they got less of a discount than the tenth man and began to angry. Why should the richest guy get the biggest break? And the bottom four joined in the protest: “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor.”

And they ganged up on the richest guy and accused him of all sorts of privilege and excess and greed and plotted how to get him to pay more of the bill.

The next Friday the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible

(teaching attributed to) David R. Kamerschen, PH. D
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

Your thread is pointless because you are only addressing one tax, the federal income tax. Until you include all taxes, anything you say is pretty much meaningless. We know that a lot of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, but they do pay many other taxes. In some cases, even without paying any federal income taxes, their overall tax burden is heavier than for some of the super wealthy. At the state level, those not paying income taxes are paying the biggest percentage of their income than any others, and they're paying at least double what the wealthiest earners pay, in some states it's up to four times as much.

It's hilarious how we see one thread after another talking about those who don't pay any federal income taxes, but we never see any concerns as to why the wealthy pay so little at the state level.

http://www.itepnet.org/whopays3.pdf

I've been doing some googling, and I'm surprised at the difference between state and federal tax burdens.

 

[bripat9643]

I like The Fair Tax

Americans For Fair Taxation

Should be called the unfair tax. Sales taxes like this are regressive (again) and unfair to the lowest income groups (again).
We want everyone to benefit from living in the richest country the world has ever seen. Sometimes that could mean someone doesn't do someone's fair share, but there is no excuse for making those who work at the lowest wages pay a disproportionate percentage of their hard-earned wages.

You obviously haven't read anything about the FAIR tax. It reimburses all taxes paid under a certain amount, so the poor effectively don't pay it.

 

[Foxfyre]

A direct tax on labor is borderline criminal... the government says "ya wanna earn a living? You have to give us our cut"

Bullshit.

I've been thinking about that, Soggy, but I guess I am having trouble seeing it as a tax on labor. I don't have any problem having a tax on income so long as it is levied in order to pay the necessary functions of government. A tax on earned income is the least painless as there is little or no risk in selling our labor for wages. Yes, there is the occasionally crooked employer who absconds with the payroll or the incompetent employer (or one just having terrible luck) who can't meet the payroll. But such situations are very rare, and the risk to the employees is quite limited.

I have no problem with a modest tax on capital gains or business profits, but it should be kept very low to compensate for the considerable greater risk of loss taken by those who merit those earnings. Otherwise, they are less likely to accept the risk and that always results in lower or lost opportunity for people to earn wages.

I am passionate about imposing no tax on the net worth of people lest almost nobody ever being able to retire. Also any kind of value added or sales tax hits the retirees the hardest and would make it far more difficult for many to be able to retire.

 

[g5000]

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Lincoln's First Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1861.

You should read that in context: Abraham Lincoln: First Annual Message - December 3, 1861

It has nothing to do with taxes.

.

 

[g5000]

One way to ‘see’ the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is to imagine a group of 100 people who have a $100 between them. Evenly distributed each would have one dollar of wealth. Alas, that is far from the actual distribution. According to the most recent study, Currents and Undercurrents, by the Survey of Consumer Finance wealth is distributed accordingly:

50 individuals at the bottom have a nickel. ($0.05 times 50 = $2.50)

The next 40 each have $0.70 of wealth (40 times $0.70 - $28.00).

The next 9 each have $4.00 of wealth (nine times $4.00 = $36.00)

The last richest individual has $33.40 (one time $33.40).



Read more: See the Distribution of Wealth in US (McCain, Obama, cost) - Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - City-Data Forum


The response from our Republican Party is we obviously need to increase taxes on those Americans that have a nickel

Or as Mitt Romney would call them.....The 47%

Why are you bringing up wealth? There is no wealth tax, fool.

.

 

[g5000]

Your thread is pointless because you are only addressing one tax, the federal income tax. Until you include all taxes, anything you say is pretty much meaningless.

On the federal level, the income tax is the largest source of revenues. The next largest source is corporate tax. We can talk about how much the lower 50% pay in corporate taxes, too, if you wish.

We know that a lot of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, but they do pay many other taxes. In some cases, even without paying any federal income taxes, their overall tax burden is heavier than for some of the super wealthy. At the state level, those not paying income taxes are paying the biggest percentage of their income than any others, and they're paying at least double what the wealthiest earners pay, in some states it's up to four times as much.

It's hilarious how we see one thread after another talking about those who don't pay any federal income taxes, but we never see any concerns as to why the wealthy pay so little at the state level.

What people pay at the state level is state business. State taxes don't pay for federal benefits, and it is federal outlays which are not being paid for by the lower 50%. And the federal budget is $16 trillion in the hole.

Do you know why the lower 50% pay a lot of state taxes? Because their states require a balanced budget. If it is good enough for the states, why is it not good enough for the federal government?

And where do you get the idea the wealthy pay so little at the state level? That's a complete lie. The states have a progressive income tax, too. And they are always trying to raise business taxes.



.

 

[g5000]

A direct tax on labor is borderline criminal... the government says "ya wanna earn a living? You have to give us our cut"

Bullshit.

I've been thinking about that, Soggy, but I guess I am having trouble seeing it as a tax on labor. I don't have any problem having a tax on income so long as it is levied in order to pay the necessary functions of government. A tax on earned income is the least painless as there is little or no risk in selling our labor for wages. Yes, there is the occasionally crooked employer who absconds with the payroll or the incompetent employer (or one just having terrible luck) who can't meet the payroll. But such situations are very rare, and the risk to the employees is quite limited.

I have no problem with a modest tax on capital gains or business profits, but it should be kept very low to compensate for the considerable greater risk of loss taken by those who merit those earnings. Otherwise, they are less likely to accept the risk and that always results in lower or lost opportunity for people to earn wages.

I am passionate about imposing no tax on the net worth of people lest almost nobody ever being able to retire. Also any kind of value added or sales tax hits the retirees the hardest and would make it far more difficult for many to be able to retire.

Income and corporate taxes are taxes on labor. Soggy is saying we should have a consumption tax.

Most economists agree that a consumption tax is better than a tax on labor.

.

 

[Steelplate]

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Lincoln's First Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1861.

I use that as my sigline

Lincoln got it from Karl Marx. No one is surprised that you think it's the ultimate wisdom.

As opposed to worship the rich, let the huddled masses of peons fucking starve?

Yeah, I think it's a bit wiser.

EDIT: besides that? You're a fucking lying sack of shit.

 

[auditor0007]

Taxation is theft.

Not if society as a whole agrees to the need for it, which is always the case. Where it gets complicated is when it comes to how much society wants to see itself taxed for the greater good. There is a need for taxation, and for the services provided by that taxation. The question is where do we draw the line.

 

[g5000]

People in all of the above brackets pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, and sin taxes. Why have you selected only income taxes to bitch about?

Sales taxes and sin taxes have nothing to do with the federal budget.

Everyone pays payroll taxes, but those revenues don't even come close to paying for the programs they are being taken out for. The federal budget is such that after you pay for all federal entitlement programs there is no money left. You have spent ALL federal revenues, not just payroll tax revenues, to cover Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

There is nothing left to pay for national defense, roads and bridges and schools, or food stamps.

That is why we are running in the red.

.

 

[rightwinger]

One way to ‘see’ the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is to imagine a group of 100 people who have a $100 between them. Evenly distributed each would have one dollar of wealth. Alas, that is far from the actual distribution. According to the most recent study, Currents and Undercurrents, by the Survey of Consumer Finance wealth is distributed accordingly:

50 individuals at the bottom have a nickel. ($0.05 times 50 = $2.50)

The next 40 each have $0.70 of wealth (40 times $0.70 - $28.00).

The next 9 each have $4.00 of wealth (nine times $4.00 = $36.00)

The last richest individual has $33.40 (one time $33.40).



Read more: See the Distribution of Wealth in US (McCain, Obama, cost) - Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - City-Data Forum


The response from our Republican Party is we obviously need to increase taxes on those Americans that have a nickel

Or as Mitt Romney would call them.....The 47%

Why are you bringing up wealth? There is no wealth tax, fool.

.

Why would you want to raise taxes on the 50% who only have five cents worth of wealth, while you fight to protect the 1% who have $33.40?

You go where the money is

 

[auditor0007]

Your thread is pointless because you are only addressing one tax, the federal income tax. Until you include all taxes, anything you say is pretty much meaningless.

On the federal level, the income tax is the largest source of revenues. The next largest source is corporate tax. We can talk about how much the lower 50% pay in corporate taxes, too, if you wish.

We know that a lot of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, but they do pay many other taxes. In some cases, even without paying any federal income taxes, their overall tax burden is heavier than for some of the super wealthy. At the state level, those not paying income taxes are paying the biggest percentage of their income than any others, and they're paying at least double what the wealthiest earners pay, in some states it's up to four times as much.

It's hilarious how we see one thread after another talking about those who don't pay any federal income taxes, but we never see any concerns as to why the wealthy pay so little at the state level.

What people pay at the state level is state business. State taxes don't pay for federal benefits, and it is federal outlays which are not being paid for by the lower 50%. And the federal budget is $16 trillion in the hole.

Do you know why the lower 50% pay a lot of state taxes? Because their states require a balanced budget. If it is good enough for the states, why is it not good enough for the federal government?

And where do you get the idea the wealthy pay so little at the state level? That's a complete lie. The states have a progressive income tax, too. And they are always trying to raise business taxes.



.

Wrong. Income taxes are only slightly greater than payroll taxes as a percentage of total revenue. Corporate taxes are less than 10%.

What are the federal government's sources of revenue?

Everyone who works pays payroll taxes.

 

[Foxfyre]

A direct tax on labor is borderline criminal... the government says "ya wanna earn a living? You have to give us our cut"

Bullshit.

I've been thinking about that, Soggy, but I guess I am having trouble seeing it as a tax on labor. I don't have any problem having a tax on income so long as it is levied in order to pay the necessary functions of government. A tax on earned income is the least painless as there is little or no risk in selling our labor for wages. Yes, there is the occasionally crooked employer who absconds with the payroll or the incompetent employer (or one just having terrible luck) who can't meet the payroll. But such situations are very rare, and the risk to the employees is quite limited.

I also have no problem with a modest tax on capital gains or interest earned or business profits, but it should be kept very low to compensate for the considerable greater risk of loss taken by those who merit those earnings. Otherwise, they are less likely to accept the risk and that always results in lower or lost opportunity for people to earn wages.

I am passionate about imposing no tax on the net worth of people lest almost nobody ever being able to retire. Also any kind of value added or sales tax hits the retirees the hardest and would make it far more difficult for many to be able to retire.

Income and corporate taxes are taxes on labor. Soggy is saying we should have a consumption tax.

Most economists agree that a consumption tax is better than a tax on labor.

.

But I disagree that income taxes are a tax on labor. Selling our labor/experience/expertise/creativity/ability/talent for an agreed price is just one way of acquiring income, and the seller is in complete control of that.

I also have no problem paying a reasonable tax on capital gains from my investment or sale of real estate or other property purchased as an investment. Such is also income and somebody has to pay for my security and ability to acquire income as a person who is free and who has her rights secured. And while a user tax is the most defensible tax, it probably would never cover the most minimal government necessary to secure those rights and my freedom in a country a large and diverse as the U.S.A. So a flat income tax is the most practical and least regressive means to fund the necessary functions of the federal government.

Federal payroll taxes (F.I.C.A., medicare, et al) are a flat tax that everybody pays and nobody seems to have a problem with those.

 

[xsited1]

Who Pays the Taxes? Who Should?

Why the rich should pay more in taxes because they're evil. EVIL!!!!!

Here's how I see it. Our progressive taxation system places individuals into a classified society by success. The more successful you are, the more you pay. Therefore the poor receive a greater protection of their civil rights (including property) than do the wealthy since they generally pay less as a percentage in taxes. And since there are far fewer wealthy people than non-wealthy, the non-wealthy have been allowed to democratically violate the rights of the wealthy to an equal protection of property. Isn't that great???!

 

[WillowTree]

Here’s the problem as I see it:

Who is paying the income taxes in the USA? Among all Americans:

Top 1%
AGI earnings: $343,927 and over
% of all income taxes paid: 36.73

Top 5%
AGI earnings: $154,643
% of all income taxes paid: 58.66

Top 10%
AGI earnings: $112,124
% of income taxes paid: 70.47

Top 25%
AGI earnings: $66,193
% of income taxes paid: 87.30

Top 50%
AGI earnings: $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 97.75

Bottom 50%
AGI earnings: below $32,396
% of income taxes paid: 2.25

People in all of the above brackets pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, and sin taxes. Why have you selected only income taxes to bitch about?

Because those of us who pay Federal Income tax have to pay the ones you've listed to. Maybe it would be fair if the people who pay FEDERAL Income tax were relieved of paying the ones you've mentioned above Would you go for that?