Right-Wing Challenge: Fair Income Tax For The Top 50% vs Bottom 50%

[jc456]

We're discussing those who are not privileged, no college, no support structure, no financial backing to start a business, just working at low skill low pay jobs.

I don't know what this even means.

privileged? WTF. there is no such thing as privileged?
You don't need college to get a good paying job, how ridiculous. Trade jobs are all over the place and they are in need of resources to take opened jobs.
Support structure? make the men do their jobs why is it they are allowed out of kids lives?

EXCUSES all fking EXCUSES.

 

[kyzr]

The tax code encourages folks to make good life decisions, decisions that keep the nation on the right trajectory. Again, how do you imagine tax code benefiting those who don’t pay tax?

There is no gifting…Even the “gifts” from the Kenyan were paid back…those were loans. Subsidies to job creators are public investments.

Nope. Subsidies are gifts of taxpayer cash to corporations. You are thinking about the $700b bank bailout (TARP), that was back in 2008. Corporate Welfare happens every year, every year....

Maybe we should fight for that and the return of all Mexico’s people before calling to penalize our best citizens?

Yep. Cutting Welfare and Medicaid and deporting all illegals is necessary.

 

[kyzr]

I don't know what this even means. privileged? WTF. there is no such thing as privileged?
You don't need college to get a good paying job, how ridiculous. Trade jobs are all over the place and they are in need of resources to take opened jobs.
Support structure? make the men do their jobs why is it they are allowed out of kids lives? EXCUSES all fking EXCUSES.

OK, lets say we have only one tax rate that everyone pays, fine.

But then there are no tax deductions, NONE. Everyone MUST use the standard deduction, deal?

 

[progressive hunter]

Nope. Subsidies are gifts of taxpayer cash to corporations. You are thinking about the $700b bank bailout (TARP), that was back in 2008. Corporate Welfare happens every year, every year....

View attachment 1230576

Yep. Cutting Welfare and Medicaid and deporting all illegals is necessary.

why cant we do both??

cut corp. subsidies and welfare while deporting illegals..

 

[BrokeLoser]

Nope. Subsidies are gifts of taxpayer cash to corporations. You are thinking about the $700b bank bailout (TARP), that was back in 2008. Corporate Welfare happens every year, every year....

View attachment 1230576

Yep. Cutting Welfare and Medicaid and deporting all illegals is necessary.

Aren’t those “subsidies” you speak of really just tax credits to stimulate economic growth?
Are you thinking we are better off asking our best citizens to invest in ShaQuita’s baby factory?

 

[MarathonMike]

I used to be a "flat tax" guy, but over the years I've gotten to know a LOT of people who struggle in today's US economy. It would be crushing to those people who are barely staying above water now. I'd say focus on rooting out the countless billions in government fraud and "trains to nowhere" pork projects.

 

[jc456]

OK, lets say we have only one tax rate that everyone pays, fine.

But then there are no tax deductions, NONE. Everyone MUST use the standard deduction, deal?

That’s what was said

 

[jc456]

I used to be a "flat tax" guy, but over the years I've gotten to know a LOT of people who struggle in today's US economy. It would be crushing to those people who are barely staying above water now. I'd say focus on rooting out the countless billions in government fraud and "trains to nowhere" pork projects.

Not sure why that matters

 

[GWV5903]

You make no sense. Do the math.

You’re including half the population, the top 3 to 5 percent are in a much different income bracket, as well as tax structure, than the other 45 to 47 percent, that is the math. What planet are you living on?

 

[citygator]

You’re including half the population, the top 3 to 5 percent are in a much different income bracket, as well as tax structure, than the other 45 to 47 percent, that is the math. What planet are you living on?

I laid all that out in the OP with an easy to follow graphic. The Top make all the money which is why they pay all the taxes.

 

[Hafar1014]

Why isnt it fair to tax everyone the same percent AFTER you take out money for living? So we tax people on discretionary income? You cant live on $23,000 and give a lot to taxes.

Steve Forbes' flat tax proposal is a long-standing initiative designed to replace the complex U.S. federal income tax code with a simple, single-rate system, often proposed at 17%. It aims to boost economic growth by taxing only personal wage income (above a generous exemption) and corporate profits, while eliminating taxes on savings, capital gains, dividends, and estates.

Brookings +2
Key elements of the Forbes flat tax proposal include:

• Single Rate: A low, flat rate (often 17% or 20%) applied to all individual wage income and business profits.
• Generous Exemptions:High personal exemptions for adults and children, meaning a family of four would pay no federal income tax on a significant portion of their income (e.g., up to $46,000–$53,000 in various proposals)
  .
  • Elimination of Deductions & Capital Gains Tax: All itemized deductions would be removed, but taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains would be eliminated, encouraging savings and investment.
  • Simplicity: Returns could theoretically be filled out on a single sheet of paper or a postcard.
  • Business Tax Reform: A 17% rate on corporate profits, allowing immediate expensing of capital investments.
    
    
    Brookings +5

Forbes argues that this system would eliminate the need for tax lawyers and IRS agents, remove corruption from the tax code, and foster a more vibrant economy by freeing up capital, as described in his book Flat Tax Revolution: Using a Postcard to Abolish the IRS.

Facebook +2

 

[SweetSue92]

Flat Tax for EVERYONE or bugger-off.

This. This is the way

That's why liberals hate it, of course

 

[1srelluc]

This. This is the way

That's why liberals hate it, of course

It's not just the vile dems....You can thank K Street for that.

 

[citygator]

Steve Forbes' flat tax proposal is a long-standing initiative designed to replace the complex U.S. federal income tax code with a simple, single-rate system, often proposed at 17%. It aims to boost economic growth by taxing only personal wage income (above a generous exemption) and corporate profits, while eliminating taxes on savings, capital gains, dividends, and estates.
View attachment 1230710Brookings +2
Key elements of the Forbes flat tax proposal include:

• Single Rate: A low, flat rate (often 17% or 20%) applied to all individual wage income and business profits.
• Generous Exemptions:High personal exemptions for adults and children, meaning a family of four would pay no federal income tax on a significant portion of their income (e.g., up to $46,000–$53,000 in various proposals)
  .
  • Elimination of Deductions & Capital Gains Tax: All itemized deductions would be removed, but taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains would be eliminated, encouraging savings and investment.
  • Simplicity: Returns could theoretically be filled out on a single sheet of paper or a postcard.
  • Business Tax Reform: A 17% rate on corporate profits, allowing immediate expensing of capital investments.
    
    
    Brookings +5

Forbes argues that this system would eliminate the need for tax lawyers and IRS agents, remove corruption from the tax code, and foster a more vibrant economy by freeing up capital, as described in his book Flat Tax Revolution: Using a Postcard to Abolish the IRS.

Facebook +2

Suggestion does not suck.

 

[Hafar1014]

Suggestion does not suck.

I thought this was a good plan.

 

[Greenbeard]

We boomers paid for our SS and Medicare.

You are in for a rude awakening and fairly soon.

 

[Hafar1014]

You are in for a rude awakening and fairly soon.

We did not we paid for those collecting when we were working. Our SS cones form people working today its not our money

 

[Delldude]

You are in for a rude awakening and fairly soon.

Sun will still come up.

Then it's all on you.

 

[kyzr]

You are in for a rude awakening and fairly soon.

If its not fixed it becomes insolvent in 2033.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Here is the challenge and it is based on next year's budget.

You need to raise about $2.4T in personal income taxes just to be $2.0T short of next year's expenses (Trump's plan) in a way that allows people to also live a life.

How do you raise your $2.4T from income taxes between the two halves of earners? Bottom half and top half.

Today we get 98% from the top 50% as it is circled in red on the chart to the right but as you can see they earn almost all the income and certainly 100% of the discretionary income after you put bare bones living expenses against $23k vs 137k.

What is "fair" to you?

I predict a long line of right-wingers suggesting we take $200B from people making $23K still leaving a $1.6T deficit without regard to how one would live. But maybe they will surprise me with some thoughtful reflection on income tax burdens and living with low means.

GO!

Trump 2026 Budget
$7T in Expenses

$2.4T of Income Tax
$1.7T of Payroll Tax
$0.5T of Corporate Tax
$0.5T of Excise and Tariffs
$5.2T of Revenue

$1.8T Deficit


View attachment 1229675

How does the federal tax system affect low-income households?

taxpolicycenter.org

So you’d rather focus on who should have even more money stolen from them instead of the obvious solution of not spending that much.