Claim That Rich Don't Pay Enough Based on Perception, Not Fact

The top 1% make 20% of all income and pay 37% of all taxes, almost double their fair share. To all progressives I say good luck. People like me, 55 years old and paying close to a million a year in taxes simply will not work till the middle of august before i take home a dime. We all trade time for money. Not worth it for people like me. I'm checking out. Good luck.

bill nason of CA 11:46AM November 20, 2012

Last I checked, I am free to better my education, or start my own business, or write a best selling book, or invest my money wisely. I am free to work 100 hours a week, employ my whole family at zero wages so that together we build a great business and all benefit in the long run, and I am free to convince as many people as possible to invest in my business/venture and they as well are free to accept/decline.

And I/others can do all this and more without worry of being blown up in the street, robbed by bandits or terrorist, or devastated by unfair govt tactic (except perhaps, in the most extreme situation--eminent domain, etc.).

On the other hand, I think I'll just sit by my modest pool, watch tv, read a little, kiss the wife each night, sleep in, and work a fairly easy job.

The hope the 1% are happy with their commitments, schedules and money. I wish them well in their efforts; esp when they invest in businesses that I work for. Good for them.

Michael Hermansky of CA 8:17PM October 08, 2012

Very disappointing that people vote for this argument, based wholy on the federal income tax despite the fact that the federal income are only 30% of taxes paid in this country. Add in social security and other federal taxes and the federal total comes to 65%. State and local are the last 35%. Social security taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes - all regressive - make up 45 % of all taxes in this country.

There is one source that calculates true total taxes (ferderal, state, local including corporate and other indirect taxes) for different groups as a percent of all income: wages plus investment income & gains. See the spreadsheets at http://fairsharetaxes.org

Warren Buffet - 11%

Middle class family-39%

Single minimum wage worker-37%

At the same website is a cracker-jack comprehensive tax proposal that would save working poor and middle class families thousands each year, fix the economic distortions that are ruining our economy and democracy, and balance the budget

Peter Gemsbok of CT 12:23AM August 08, 2012

When I left my salaried position in my trade to become self-employed in the same trade I was fortunate to double my income (and my work load). Fortunate, I thought, until I found that my federal tax liability had tripled. This IS a problem in our economy. EVERYONE should pay--no less than 10 percent and no more than 20 percent.

Kevin of CO 10:17PM April 25, 2012