Scott Walker, John Boehner, and the Politics of 'Broke'

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The rich did pay their fair share,in the 50's and 60's and America prospered, built a strong middle class, was the world's best in education, health care, etc. No the wealthy individuals and corporations pay much less and America is much less.

Greg Harman of LA 4:17PM July 28, 2011

Total net worth Forbes 400 in 2007 1.5 Trillion.
Obama's budget deficit in his proposed budget 1.6 Trillion.
If we kill the rich and take all their wealth we could not balance the Federal Budget for more than a year, let alone bail out each state, city, bank etc...

PJ of OH 4:06PM February 25, 2011

Based upon data released by the IRS, the top 1% ranked by adjusted gross income paid the following percentage of federal personal income tax:
2006 - 39.89%
2005 - 39.38%
2004 - 36.89%
2003 - 34.27%
2002 - 33.71%
2001 - 33.89%
2000 - 37.42%
Based upon data released by the IRS, the bottom 50% ranked by adjusted gross income paid the following percentage of federal personal income tax:
2006 - 2.99%
2005 - 3.07%
2004 - 3.30%
2003 - 3.46%
2002 - 3.50%
2001 - 3.97%
2000 - 3.91%
Now, of course, this doesn't present the entire picture, as the lower income groups pay a higher percentage of their income for social security, medicare, local and state sales tax, and many more local and state taxes and fees.
The real issue is not who pays how much, but rather that taxes are too high in our society and the cost of government is also too high. And yes, our country is going broke. Local and state government will feel the pain more than the federal government. The federal government will just increase the money supply. And that will ultimately lead to devastating runaway inflation and the destruction of the US dollar as the world's reserve currency.
And that will cause the failure of our economy and society as we have known it since WW II.

JIm in Seattle of WA 11:38AM February 25, 2011

Can you prove the millionaires are really paying 40%? I don't believe it for a second. They're just like the corporations who take every loophole and make loopholes when none exists. Even then if they did pay 40%, so what they have to pay 60%, if it would protect America from China, then it's the sacrifice they should make. Now are you rich? If not then stop working against yourself.

Vikki of WA 9:49AM February 25, 2011

Sounds like you are or should be a supporter of the fair tax, which is a consumption tax (sales tax),the more you consume the more tax you pay.

Mike Guernsey of GA 9:45AM February 25, 2011

It is astounding to me how easily you fall for the quote, "we're broke" and accept the idea the poor and middle class has anything to do with it. Stop being a mushroom and use your head for some good. Stop looking where the magician wants you to watch and look under the top layers. The problem is the wealthy and corporations are in charge and in charge of the government. The housing bubble, the bad economy, broken government system is all a manipulation of these groups. We didn't set these things into action, people richer than I am and probably you have manipulated what's going on. Don't believe me. Research it. The Koch brothers are on the side of the Republican and manipulating via the dangling money packet. If all of a sudden, te Republicans woke up and decided to side with the working classe in the America, they'd dangle the money in front of the Democrats. Trust me they probably are doing this to both sides. Who is losing in all of this? The middle class and poor. Banks and Wallstreet got bailed out. Who suffered the most. Mainstreet. Corporations and the rich do not want to suffer the shortfalls all over America, so don't raise my taxes, but it's ok to cut your pay, charge you more for medical insurance and then tell you, no loan when you've used every resource available. So don't work against your own best interest. I'm not saying America has a problem, but why aren't you asking the millionaires and corporations to do more on their part. If they're American, they would and you'd see no problem with their being asked. If we don't wake up, life as we use to know it will go so far away, there will be no hope for our children. They'll be so distracted with their ipods and phones, they won't recognize the education, money, medical insurance or pension they do not have.

Vikki of WA 9:44AM February 25, 2011

Do you know that the top 1% income earners presently pay 40% of the income tax collected, and that same 1% generate only 20% of the wealth, and that 40% of the adult population does not pay any income tax? You probably do, but these stats don't fit your narrative. Also, don't you think that increasing corporate taxes would hinder economy growth and that these same taxes would be passed alone to the consumer? You no doubt do, but being the progressive that you are, I betting that you would want / expect government to intersede, another stimulus anyone?

Mike Guernsey of GA 9:37AM February 25, 2011

Everywhere I look, I see the libs, "willing ignorance" come shining through!
What part of "we are broke" don't they understand???
It is as if they have been partying on the taxpayers $$$ for so long, they cannot believe that there is "no more"!
I say no more "negotiating" .....out they all go in 2012!

Sandy Morris of GA 8:16AM February 25, 2011

Union has drunk from the well too much and too often.
Well is dry...

Bill Hedges of MO 3:18AM February 25, 2011

First They Came… - Pastor Martin Niemoller 1939
First the Nazis came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Richard Blankenburg of CA 12:16AM February 25, 2011