You're driving me nuts Lloyd, Mr. Implausible. Hard to believe I'm more progressive than you and your buddy.
It's right here.
• The Tax Policy Center has found that while everyone is expected to pay payroll taxes, only 47% of American households now pay federal income taxes. That would mean that 53% of households DO NOT pay federal "payroll" taxes. Right?
Here is a link to the Tax Policy Center
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/aboutus/index.cfm
I do have to thank you for making me more aware of who is writing this stuff. The Tax Policy Center seems quite credible.
Everyone should pay income tax. Of course, there should and is an exemption point. It's the price of democracy. If you enjoy the democracy, pay in to it.
Last edited by SiriuslyLong; 10-20-2010 at 03:45 PM.
I misread it. i thought it said 47% DIDNT pay federal income tax.
What happened in 2 years for the % to go from 38% to 53% (if those are
indeed the correct numbers)?
Just curious what % of income tax you think those 60% (of the ones who dont pay federal income tax) should pay who make less than 20,000 per year should pay?
Last edited by Havakasha; 10-20-2010 at 04:05 PM.
S&L I thought you might find this interesting.
One of the striking ironies of Fox News running with the statistic that 47% of Americans might not owe federal income taxes is that Fox News also moonlights as the unofficial station of the Tea Party movement, which clamors for lower taxes. You might ask: half of the country pays no income tax, how much lower do you want? Here's a more troubling point: if the Tea Party movement has a similar share of Americans making under $50,000 as the broader population (as a recent Gallup poll suggests), then why is this movement rallying under the banner "Taxed Enough Already!" when half of them aren't taxed at all?
Forty-five percent of self-identified "Tea Partiers" make less than $50,000 per year, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll. Similarly, 50% of the total population makes less than $50,000 in the same poll. Despite this author's lack of direct access to the tax returns of the Tea Party movement, it seems safe to assume that if about half the country avoids federal income taxes, a similar percentage of the Tea Party movement gets away with the same even as they march and scream about their tax burden.
This is a gotcha point. But it's a gotcha point worth making, if only to shine light on the sad intellectual bankruptcy of the Tea Party, a political movement that has taken over the news cycle like a particularly aggressive strain of ragweed. Tea Partiers want lower income taxes. But many of them probably don't pay income taxes. If we listen to them and bring even more Americans into the zero-income tax pool, we would only concentrate more of the tax burden on wealthy earners ... which conservatives are against. Tea Party apologists on TV will explain that what they're really asking for is lower rates and a broader tax base to diffuse America's tax responsibility. But if half the Tea Party doesn't pay income taxes today, a broader tax base -- even with minuscule rates -- would raise many of their taxes!
The party's labyrinthine position on tax policy isn't worth untangling any further. It's a Gordian Knot that deserves a guillotine. When liberals and conservatives in Congress and think tanks and conference rooms debate tax policy in the coming months, they should consider a wide buffet of reform options -- but hold the tea.
Have you checked out the Tax Center Policy website? It's full of information. Here's a link on small businesses.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxto...dents_plan.cfm
You know, so much of it is political posturing. Obama wants to reduce taxes for small businesses, and yet he wants to eliminate breaks for many of those same people who make a certain amount. See my point? It's like a zero sum game, but 1.) he raises taxes on the rich, and 2.) supports small business's - two wonderful things to do lol.
Originally Posted by Atypical
"So we line the surface of the world with solar panels, and that enegy no longer gets absorbed into the Earth".
Your premise is implausable. Your inquiring, (and scientific) mind should have known that.
Hmmmm. That's not so progressive of you. I mean there were probably lots of folks 80 years ago who believed that burning fossil fuels wouldn't be a problem. Off topic, but....
S&L. Stop while you only look a little foolish. No one will ever be covering the entire surface of the world with solar panels.
I guess its hard for you to acknowledge that you made a REALLY implausable and dumb point.
I will check out the taxpolicycenter. just hope its not one of those Fox news think tanks.
Still would like an answer to my question.
What % of Federal income tax do you think all those people who make under $20,000 a year should pay?
As well, maybe you can also tell me how can you have a decent life making under $20,000 a year.
My grandfather was extremely successful and hated paying taxes (back then it was something like a 90% tax rate i believe. Today people cry about 38%. lol.) but he always had tremendous empathy for those who were less fortunate. He would NEVER (absolute truth) turn down someone on the street who asked for money or food. Thats because he never forget the poverty in which he grew up. You seem like many today who are bitter about and without empathy for those who are in need. I find that really sad.
Last edited by Havakasha; 10-20-2010 at 04:20 PM.