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...but for many years, going back at least to the time of Adam Smith, we have recognized that the wealthy derive so much benefit from their existence in society that it is fair for them to contribute a higher fraction of their income to the general support of our society and government than less affluent people. The trend has gone the other way in recent years, as the apologists for the rich have succeeded in making the tax system much flatter than it has been even in times when our economy and society have been very healthy and successful, but there is no legitimate basis, other than a preference for the rich over the poor, for doing that.
This needs to be repeated. Particular folks have demonized this notion. You would have thought those folks would have been happy the cold war is over but they gotta keep up the fight against unAmerican values.
"though the agency said the very richest have seen their share of taxes fall the past few years."
Funny how people don't focus on this sentence.
Quote:
"In 2009, the shares of total before-tax income (which includes government transfer payments, such as Social Security benefits) received by households in certain income quintiles were:
Lowest quintile: 5.1 percent
Middle quintile: 14.7 percent
Highest quintile: 50.8 percent
Quote:
In 2009, the shares of federal taxes paid by households in certain income quintiles were:
Lowest quintile: 0.3 percent
Middle quintile: 9.4 percent
Highest quintile: 67.9 percent
Quote:
With the decline in before-tax income offset in part by the decrease in federal taxes, average after-tax income fell 10 percent in real terms. The decline in after-tax income for the highest-income households reversed a substantial portion of the sharp rise in their income between 1979 and 2007.
Although the detailed data that form the basis of CBO’s estimates in this report are available only through 2009, other data can provide some insight into more-recent changes in the distribution of income. Those data suggest that income for households toward the higher end of the distribution increased more rapidly than income for households elsewhere in the income distribution in 2010.
And this is a problem why exactly?? Lower income people aren't supposed to pay income taxes. And what the hell is it about income taxes that the cons are so obsessed about that they like to pretend it's the only tax that exists
If income taxes aren't a big deal then no one should have to pay them. I mean, "it's not the only tax that exists"
If you have no skin in the game then you shouldn't get a say in where that money goes.
No, they would not be contributing the same in relation to their income. The lower income people would be paying a higher percentage, they probably already do but then it'd be even higher
You have absolutely nothing to back up any of the ridiculous opinions you are spewing.
Why are you pretending the income tax is the only tax that exists?
Sales tax
Property tax
Gas tax
Auto excise taxes
Sin taxes
Licenses
Every single one of them a regressive tax
Sales tax. Rich people buy more stuff.
Property tax. Most poor people dont have property, if they do their taxes are MUCH lower than rich people.
Auto. Again, the more expensive the car, the more the rich is paying.
Sin taxes: who cares? that's your choice
Licenses: really?
If you earn a $1,000 a month, you NEED that extra $100 to help pay for housing, food, transportation, etc so you can continue to earn $1,000 a month. (You will mow your own yard, make your own meals, etc.)
If you earn $10,000 a month, you can pay $2,000 in taxes and still have plenty left over to take care of most necessities without a stretch and a few luxuries as well. (You'll eat out more, enjoy AC & heat without issue, hire folks for various projects.)
If you earn $100,000 a month, you can afford to pay $30,000 a month in taxes and hardly miss it. You can afford everything you need and a whole lot of stuff just because you can. You also get the privilege of employing, as well as, using the outside services of other folks who earn a whole lot less than you to make your life comfortable so that manual labor is by choice (and give you the opportunity to continue to do whatever it is that makes you that kind of money).
So, yeah, the rich carry more of the tax burden. And they should.
If you are unemployed or on disability, and have all that extra free time, you can afford to spend 20hrs every week working for the govt, cleaning streets, running my errands, etc.
Seems like a fair trade, right? I work my tail off and get killed in taxes. The people receiving that money should have to contribute as well. Since they cant pay for anything, they need to work.
If you make $1000 a month you earn more than billions of your fellow humans and can afford to pay more in taxes so they can live a better life. You might have to give up a few things, but it's only fair...
This needs to be repeated. Particular folks have demonized this notion. You would have thought those folks would have been happy the cold war is over but they gotta keep up the fight against unAmerican values.
Oh yeah, and it is really important that small-business people in the second-highest bracket pay a higher marginal rate than Chevron or Apple or Walmart--as the president wants.
Has someone told you that throwing the word "handwaving" into a discussion makes your argument persuasive? You should go and punch them in the nose, because they were wrong.
Haha...get killed in a debate so you resort to this?
Pathetic
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