Is 39% tax rate for wealthy really fair?

[Anonymous]

All of those things that make it possible for you to rise up and enjoy this lifestyle comes from the hard work of the underpriviliged that work to make this country great. That pick the fresh tomatoes, that build the roads and buildings, that drive the buses and trucks etc. The nameless faceless people who really helped you create your lifestyle but will never share in the fruits. If the wealthy think it sucks so bad here they should move overseas and see how tough things are here. Patriotism also means paying your fair share to keep this country great. 50% for people making $500 is not unreasonable and you know it. Stop spending your money on unreasonable things and live simply.

In college I worked to two jobs while taking classes. I have scrubbed toilets, slung pizza, worked the midnight shift in a warehouse, held retail jobs and detassled corn to get where I am today. That is what made it possible for me to rise up and get where I am and enjoy the lifestyle I have today. I know what it takes to get ahead. Don't for a minute think you have any moral authority to lecture me on how to get ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That is unfair.

I am sorry but I just don't see how this is unfair. I grew up dirt poor. I worked my ass off to get an education and spent another 25 years working my ass off to get where I am at today. It isn't up to you or anyone (besides my employer) to determine my worth and contribution to my company--or for that matter anyone's employment value. I pay my taxes, I support a number of elderly relatives (which would otherwise be on the public dole) and contribute to charity. I don't owe you or anyone else 50% of my income. Crying "unfair" makes you sound like a immature child.

All of those things that make it possible for you to rise up and enjoy this lifestyle comes from the hard work of the underpriviliged that work to make this country great. That pick the fresh tomatoes, that build the roads and buildings, that drive the buses and trucks etc. The nameless faceless people who really helped you create your lifestyle but will never share in the fruits. If the wealthy think it sucks so bad here they should move overseas and see how tough things are here. Patriotism also means paying your fair share to keep this country great. 50% for people making $500 is not unreasonable and you know it. Stop spending your money on unreasonable things and live simply.

I had grandparents that came over in steerage. No federal freebies. Nameless faceless people but were listed at Ellis Island. Public school with large class sizes and no ESL. No free daycare and childcare credits plus school started in grade 1. No free lunch. Those kids today get a lot and so do the parents. Easier than it ever was to get ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I still think a minimum 50% is fair for high wage earners with no deductions. They make SOO much more than the average American that even if you taxed them at 50% or even 55% they'll still be far to the right the bell curve in terms of income. Especially for people who don't "Create stuff". You build a company that manufactures things and you sell it, you deserve a bit of a lower rate, but all these, lawyers and investment guys who just suck the life out of this country should have to put some air back into our sails at tax time.

Once again, I am dumbfounded that anyone believes that they have the right to determine how much someone should be able to make and in this case determine the worth of someone's work. Doctors don't "create" anything, so therefore, under your scenario, they should not be able to earn commensurate with their education and value to society. I guess you believe that someone like yourself, has the right to determine the value of one's contribution to society. Damn, you people are frightening.

No what is frightening is the fact that 'you people' can take so much and give back so little. If you make $1m and you pay 50 or even 58% (Fed + state) in taxes you still have $500k in walking around money. That's 10x more than the average household. That is unfair.

Wow. My initial response was going to be that your thoughts are unamerican. That sounds more confrontational than I mean it to be. Maybe a better way to say it is that your thoughts are completely contrary to the economic system that built this country into the the economic powerhouse of the world. I'm no Ayn Rand disciple, but this whole thread is very "Atlas Shrugged". I don't think I can even fathom what makes people like you think this way. Another poster has repeatedly pointed out the immorality of your position. You want to confiscate people's money because, in your arbitrary opinion, they have too much of it. Your position, would be laughable but for the fact that a lot of progressives agree with you.

This crap is scary. I'm gonna go start building my bunker now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

The funny thing is that this is not a Republican idea. It is a Scandinavian one. And a key reason why the safety net had broad social support there - EVERYONE contributes their fair share, both at the top and bottom income levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

The funny thing is that this is not a Republican idea. It is a Scandinavian one. And a key reason why the safety net had broad social support there - EVERYONE contributes their fair share, both at the top and bottom income levels.

Oh, so you want Scandinavian tax rates now? Sure, I'm on board with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

The funny thing is that this is not a Republican idea. It is a Scandinavian one. And a key reason why the safety net had broad social support there - EVERYONE contributes their fair share, both at the top and bottom income levels.

I wonder if she'll sucker punch one of the guards at Buckingham Palace, saying "that's for shooting at my Forefathers!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

The funny thing is that this is not a Republican idea. It is a Scandinavian one. And a key reason why the safety net had broad social support there - EVERYONE contributes their fair share, both at the top and bottom income levels.

Oh, so you want Scandinavian tax rates now? Sure, I'm on board with that.

A bit dense, perhaps? My basic point is, yes, we need more income tax revenues. Both from top half and bottom half earners. Otherwise our social contract is going to erode further in years and decades to come.

[Anonymous]

Our current tax system is a pyramid scheme and simply is not sustainable in the long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a democrat, but I'm not sure I understand the justification of the wealthy paying such a high tax rate. Can someone explain this to me? We are middle class and pay about 12%. It seems like 39% is quite high, even for the wealthy. This seems like more than their fair share. What am I missing?

I'm in that bracket...and a Republican. However you may be surprised by my answer:

You're not missing anything. Instead of using "unfair" I'll just say that is is not proportionate.

I don't mind paying more taxes - I can afford to do it, and we ought to do it b/c the country needs help.

However - what I bristle at is that people who pay nothing, get to criticize me for "not paying my fair share". In that regard it probably is just semantics, but if you're paying zero and I'm paying more than zero, how do you get to criticize? I think Mr. Obama should have made everyone pay something even if it means "$100" as a token below a certain income level. While it may not cure the debt problem we have, the "token" amount will make people like me more willing to pay a disproportionate amount of taxes.

Taxes aren't even the problem - it's a spending problem. Even if we all pay what we're supposed to pay - it's less than a ladle-full of water in a bucket. We need to reduce spending in order to close the gap.

Who are the people who "pay nothing", I'm curious. (Hint: payroll and sales taxes are "tax")

Hint: payroll and sales taxes contribute basically nothing to education, to healthcare, to roads, to defense, to foreign assistance, to the common good...people who don't pay income taxes don't pay the taxes that build this country. And it is indeed worrying that over 50% adults in the US pay no income tax. That doesn't happen in any European country, where the vast majority does pay income tax.

How can you say that. Payroll taxes fund Medicare. And nobody's income tax pays for education, property taxes do. Property taxes are paid by property owners and ithrough rents collected by renters, so basically everyone. And pretty much everywhere Sales Tax goes into a state or locality's general fund, so it absolutely goes to the common good, including state and local roads which gets to another point.

So all you have left is defense and foreign aid. Maybe we should think about cutting that. Stop paying the bills for the defense of other countries.

You don't get it. Payroll taxes don't even fund Medicare for the beneficiary paying those taxes, much less for other people who need health care. Income taxes fill that huge and growing gap, as they do regarding education expenses given growing role of federal government there. Sales tax may help pay for some road maintenance but not for road or infrastructure building. And, while I am all for cutting costs in defense and other areas (not the little foreign aid we give), that is always going to be a significant cost line.

So, I'll repeat it. It is worrying that so many people don't contribute to the common good via income taxes.

Relief from taxes is one of the few (maybe the only) means of financial support the government gives to the working poor. Making them "contribute" to the common good will do little to fill in the costs you are so darn worried about. As a matter of public policy, I don't think your personal feelings on the matter are a good reason to change. Thank goodness your ideas are too petty even for politicians. Oh wait, no, this is a new Republican idea, so scratch that.

The funny thing is that this is not a Republican idea. It is a Scandinavian one. And a key reason why the safety net had broad social support there - EVERYONE contributes their fair share, both at the top and bottom income levels.

Oh, so you want Scandinavian tax rates now? Sure, I'm on board with that.

A bit dense, perhaps? My basic point is, yes, we need more income tax revenues. Both from top half and bottom half earners. Otherwise our social contract is going to erode further in years and decades to come.

Wonderful. We all agree. Let's get Scandinavian tax rates for the top earners, correct our berserk wealth distribution, then make everyone pay some. I'm so glad you've stopped resenting the working poor and recognize your real goal.

[Anonymous]

Our current system is broken. Washington are spending our tax dollars like it is Monopoly money. They get by with this in part because almost half the employed are paying no federal income tax (and in many cases are receiving cash payments back). There is no incentive to hold our legislators accountable when the money isn't coming out of your own pocket--pushing the responsibility for taxes off to someone you deem unworthy of their income. Washington is out of control. We will collect more tax revenues this year than we have ever collected in the history of our country and yet they still claim to not be collecting enough. We having a spending problem and every American needs to step up and demand responsibility on the part of our legislators. This will never happen as long as 'someone else' is footing the bill. You have to have some skin the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I

.

.

.

A bit dense, perhaps? My basic point is, yes, we need more income tax revenues. Both from top half and bottom half earners. Otherwise our social contract is going to erode further in years and decades to come.

Wonderful. We all agree. Let's get Scandinavian tax rates for the top earners, correct our berserk wealth distribution, then make everyone pay some. I'm so glad you've stopped resenting the working poor and recognize your real goal.

New Poster. There you go. At least you admitted it. Your goal for the tax code evidently isn't to raise revenue. You want it for your own social engineering. You talk about resentment. You resent the wealthy apparently. You know, the ones who create the jobs. You say our wealth distribution is beserk. That is your goofy opinion. Many of us think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I

.

.

.

A bit dense, perhaps? My basic point is, yes, we need more income tax revenues. Both from top half and bottom half earners. Otherwise our social contract is going to erode further in years and decades to come.

Wonderful. We all agree. Let's get Scandinavian tax rates for the top earners, correct our berserk wealth distribution, then make everyone pay some. I'm so glad you've stopped resenting the working poor and recognize your real goal.

New Poster. There you go. At least you admitted it. Your goal for the tax code evidently isn't to raise revenue. You want it for your own social engineering. You talk about resentment. You resent the wealthy apparently. You know, the ones who create the jobs. You say our wealth distribution is beserk. That is your goofy opinion. Many of us think otherwise.

(Different poster here, just copying the text from previous PP so people can see it)

New Poster. There you go. At least you admitted it. Your goal for the tax code evidently isn't to raise revenue. You want it for your own social engineering. You talk about resentment. You resent the wealthy apparently. You know, the ones who create the jobs. You say our wealth distribution is beserk. That is your goofy opinion. Many of us think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I

.

.

.

A bit dense, perhaps? My basic point is, yes, we need more income tax revenues. Both from top half and bottom half earners. Otherwise our social contract is going to erode further in years and decades to come.

Wonderful. We all agree. Let's get Scandinavian tax rates for the top earners, correct our berserk wealth distribution, then make everyone pay some. I'm so glad you've stopped resenting the working poor and recognize your real goal.

New Poster. There you go. At least you admitted it. Your goal for the tax code evidently isn't to raise revenue. You want it for your own social engineering. You talk about resentment. You resent the wealthy apparently. You know, the ones who create the jobs. You say our wealth distribution is beserk. That is your goofy opinion. Many of us think otherwise.

OF COURSE tax rates are a form of "social engineering." Almost any government action, or inaction, is a form of social engineering. Please, grow up. You think the mortgage interest deduction isn't a form of social engineering? You think the loopholes that let Mitt Romney pay a 13% tax rate aren't social engineering? A tax system that is designed to help primarily wealthy and upper middle class people is going to do just that, at the expense of the poor, who just get poorer. Anything "better" is going to be an effort to correct that. Get a clue.