We are #1

[Rajoo]

How government helps the 1 percent

The institute found that in 2015 the poorest fifth of Americans will pay, on average, 10.9 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes and the middle fifth will pay 9.4 percent. But the top 1 percent will pay states and localities only 5.4 percent of their incomes in taxes.

The institute found that in 2015 the poorest fifth of Americans will pay, on average, 10.9 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes and the middle fifth will pay 9.4 percent. But the top 1 percent will pay states and localities only 5.4 percent of their incomes in taxes.

A very good opinion piece from WaPo.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z3

[donquixote99]

If only we could get the 1% to each spend another million or so a year of ciigs and liquor, we might get their contribution up to an even 6%.

Or we might work the income tax rules just a little....

Any questions as to why the Republicans are always for consumption taxes and against income taxes?

[nailer]

I'll be a against state income tax until I move to a state with one.

[whell]

The fix is commonly referred to as the flat tax. This crap will continue as long as lobbyists have access to politicians, and politicians have access to a tax code that allows them to wield political power.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by whell

The fix is commonly referred to as the flat tax. This crap will continue as long as lobbyists have access to politicians, and politicians have access to a tax code that allows them to wield political power.

The fix is a true progressive tax with no loopholes.

It is simply morally wrong to have a minimum wage worker paying the same percentage of his or her income in taxes as a billionaire hedge fund mogul.

[whell]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

The fix is a true progressive tax with no loopholes.

It is simply morally wrong to have a minimum wage worker paying the same percentage of his or her income in taxes as a billionaire hedge fund mogul.

Maybe in an ideal world, but this isn't an ideal world. As long as we have a tax code that allows political types to mess with it at the behest of lobbyists, we will continue to have the concerns that are cited in the OP.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by whell

Maybe in an ideal world, but this isn't an ideal world.

That's just a typical right wing cop-out.

We don't need an ideal world. All we need is a good progressive Democrat like FDR in the White House and Democratic majorities in congress like he had in the 1930's.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

That's just a typical right wing cop-out.

We don't need an ideal world. All we need is a good progressive Democrat like FDR in the White House and Democratic majorities in congress like he had in the 1930's.

Concur.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

Maybe in an ideal world, but this isn't an ideal world. As long as we have a tax code that allows political types to mess with it at the behest of lobbyists, we will continue to have the concerns that are cited in the OP.

Hmmm, not a fan of Citizens United, eh Mike?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

That's just a typical right wing cop-out.

We don't need an ideal world. All we need is a good progressive Democrat like FDR in the White House and Democratic majorities in congress like he had in the 1930's.

Nah. There's not a politician or political party alive who won't tweak the tax code for their own electoral benefit. Therein lies the rub.