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Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher taxes?

Should the rich pay higher taxes?


  • Total voters
    69
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Yes, and it's an overwhelming majority.
I'm sure it would be an overwhelming majority in a communist country as well. Jealousy is not a justifiable basis for passing laws.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

I'm sure it would be an overwhelming majority in a communist country as well. Jealousy is not a justifiable basis for passing laws.

I dunno, a lot of conservatives think that it's okay to pass laws to make life harder for gays because they're jealous of the enjoyment they see at the gay pride parades. Their lives seem jovial and mysterious to you, so you're jealous, and you try to pass laws to make them unhappy. You were jealous of African rhythms, and so passed laws to kick the music out of them. Seems like conservative white people have a lot of "culture envy". Tsk tsk.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

I have no problem with gay culture when it's not thrust into my face. I can be proud without walking down the road in a fishnet shirt and assless leather chaps carrying a boombox blasting the greatest hits of Cher.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

No one. At all. Pays NO taxes. Stop throwing that around. It's not true. Some people make too little money to qualify for ONE tax that is based on income. Even those people pay many non-progressive taxes, and plenty at the city and state level. Stop with this drivel. It is a lie and it does not help the discussion.

Thank you. Well said. Even the very poor pay sales tax. I'm also tired of the cliched drivel that the poor are just lazy bums mooching off the system. Most poor people work hard. Very, very hard. I don't know where the far right get the notion that farm workers, janitors, fast food workers, etc. don't work hard. Yet somehow some people think they're "dead wood."
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

They pay a sales tax because you cannot differentiate. It's not like everyone carries a colored tag on their person that identifies which tax bracket they're in.

And yeah, I'm sure there's some labor involved in pushing that mop or dunking that vat of fries in artery-clogging grease. People are often not paid based on how "hard" they work, but by the available pool of people able to be employed to perform a position based on skill and need. Lawyers get paid much more because they're required to know much more.

I won't apologize for being able to ascend through the ranks of an employment system that tends to follow a loose-leaf intellectual meritocracy. I had to do my "ramen noodles and kool-aid" thing when I was in college while those people went to work and had disposable income fresh out of high school.

People choose their lots in life. Bitching about what you've chosen for yourself won't get you a sympathetic ear from this corner.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

I have no problem with gay culture when it's not thrust into my face. I can be proud without walking down the road in a fishnet shirt and assless leather chaps carrying a boombox blasting the greatest hits of Cher.

This is the sound of things whooshing over your head.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Ive said this for months...gut the fed, control spending, and legislate targeted taxes specifically designed to pay down the debt. Yes...those taxes have to come from the rich. No, it shouldnt be an open ended change to the tax code that they will be hit with forever. But these are all just components to a solution. Without INDUSTRY...not made up federal jobs but private sector industry, you are just engaging in wealth redistribution and weakinging the potential for private sector job growth.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Interesting how the poll results are quite tilted against taxing the rich, but the links in the OP clearly indicate that the majority of Americans do want it. Seems to me that DP has experienced a microcosm of what is going on in America right now: The loud minority has a disproportionately strong voice.

Some things I would like to ask those who oppose raising taxes on the rich:

1. You say that "everyone should pay their fair share." This is a line I have heard repeatedly from you. Does this mean you would like to raise taxes on the poor and middle class?

2. Right now, many corporations have decided that their best investment is cash. So as the economy sputters, they are sitting on increasingly large stockpiles of cash. How will lowering taxes on them solve this problem?

3. Did you factor in costs of living when you came to your conclusion?

4. What happens if your conclusion is wrong, if it is indeed a good idea to raise taxes on the rich?

If you click on the numbers in the poll you will see the real results. When a "guest" votes, their name obviously doesn't show up. And if you aren't logged in you can vote as a "guest" as many times as you want. Someone (maybe more than one) has been trolling the polls on this website since I've been a member, and probably before that as well.

I was going to make a thread about it, showing numerous examples of poll trolls in hopes that the moderators would do something to prevent it. But the moderators clearly have no intention of thwarting such actions, so instead I make all my poll results viewable in order to weed out false poll results.
 
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Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

I'm sure it would be an overwhelming majority in a communist country as well. Jealousy is not a justifiable basis for passing laws.

Name me a Communist Country.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

They pay a sales tax because you cannot differentiate. It's not like everyone carries a colored tag on their person that identifies which tax bracket they're in.

And yeah, I'm sure there's some labor involved in pushing that mop or dunking that vat of fries in artery-clogging grease. People are often not paid based on how "hard" they work, but by the available pool of people able to be employed to perform a position based on skill and need. Lawyers get paid much more because they're required to know much more.

I won't apologize for being able to ascend through the ranks of an employment system that tends to follow a loose-leaf intellectual meritocracy. I had to do my "ramen noodles and kool-aid" thing when I was in college while those people went to work and had disposable income fresh out of high school.

People choose their lots in life. Bitching about what you've chosen for yourself won't get you a sympathetic ear from this corner.

You just changed the subject. You called very hard working people "dead wood" and when I pointed out how preposterous that was, you changed to "well, they could move up." Someone has to pick those grapes and tomatoes. Someone has to clean those toilets. Not everyone can be at the top. The top is held up by the bottom, which is a far cry from being the "dead wood" that you so callously called them.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Problem is that morality is subjective. I personally don't consider it "moral" to make the rich float along the dead wood of society at the point of a gun. If they choose to donate profits to those less fortunate under their own volition, great. If not, sorry.





Money is power, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It not the money, but the power you want, the power to say that you’re better than that poor person, it is easy to set on your high horse and say that poor people are the dead wood of society, but sir I say you’re not very moral yourself only greedy, and I am sorry for you.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

You just changed the subject. You called very hard working people "dead wood" and when I pointed out how preposterous that was, you changed to "well, they could move up." Someone has to pick those grapes and tomatoes. Someone has to clean those toilets. Not everyone can be at the top. The top is held up by the bottom, which is a far cry from being the "dead wood" that you so callously called them.

Oh, but they think we are the daed wood, and they want to tear us out and replace us with cheap Chinise wood.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Its not surprising the number of mindless muppets that immediately jump to mouth the lines they have been fed regarding the rich and the whole 'fair share' bul****. But when even ABC calls out the presidents lies...well...some things are just too obvious to let sit. Of course...it wont matter to the true believers.

The key numbers: this year those earning over $1 million will pay, on average, 29.1 percent on federal taxes. Those earning between $50,000 and $75,000 will pay 15 percent.

That’s not to say that there aren’t wealthy people who are even better than Buffett at avoiding taxes. In 2009, 1,470 people with incomes over $1 million a year paid absolutely no taxes. But that represents less than 1 percent of those earning over $1 million a year. Raising their taxes may be the fair thing to do, but it will not bring in much revenue.

There were 236,883 taxpayers who earned more than $1 million in 2009. That’s less than two-tenths of one percent of all filers.

The Top 400 tax filers – the very richest Americans – do pay a lower rate of just 18.11 percent of their total income. Why? Many of them are hedge fund managers and people like Buffet — their income is pegged how much their investment fund grows. For some reason, this income is counted as so-called “carried interest” (even though it is not interest at all; it’s more like a performance bonus) and is taxed at the lower 15 percent capital gains rate.

It’s a loophole for hedge managers, pure and simple. But while it may be an outrage that these uber-rich hedge fund managers pay such a low rate compared to the rest of us, there are just not many of them out there.

But the top 400 tax filers represent a tiny sliver – just .00028 percent of all filers. The vast majority of those earning over $1 million a year pay at a higher rate, which is why the average tax rate for this group, according to the Tax Foundation, is 29.1 percent of taxable income. And, yes, this number includes income taxes, payroll taxes and capital gains taxes.

The numbers change a bit if you look at total income before deductions and tax credits (Adjusted Gross Income), according to another non-partisan group, The Tax Foundation. Here’s how the numbers breakdown using IRS data from 2009 on Adjusted Gross Income for the income groups at issue in this discussion:

- $10 million a year paid 22 percent.

- $1 million to $10 million paid 25 percent.

- $50,000 to $75,000 paid 7 percent.

The rate for the middle-income filers drop because many individual deductions and tax credits are phased out for higher income taxpayers.

Now if Buffet et all want to see reform for hedge fund managers...that would be GREAT. Him...George Soros...several others...dont make them pay capital gains...make them pay straight taxes. But as the article points out...thats not 1% of the people...thats .000028% he vast majority ARENT paying a 'fair share'. They are paying their share and 50% of the American populations share.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

That's swell, you know, but that doesn't make raising taxes the right thing to do, nor agreeable with the founding principles of this republic. I can feel greedy and angry at the rich all day long, but that doesn't justify stealing their money.

Lol you think this is about greed and jealousy? No, it's about damage control. In case you haven't noticed we have a $14 trillion debt right now. I fully reject the idea that we can solve our debt and deficit problem solely by cutting taxes and spending. And with the middle class shrinking and with their income already so small that they are one disaster away from being thrown into poverty, I reject taxing the middle or lower class more in this current economy. The rich on the other hand can afford higher taxes... and no I'm not talking paying 90% of their income... I'm talking 1-5% higher. Like it was before Bush.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

I have no problem with gay culture when it's not thrust into my face. I can be proud without walking down the road in a fishnet shirt and assless leather chaps carrying a boombox blasting the greatest hits of Cher.

How often do you actually see that? Puh-lease.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

How often do you actually see that? Puh-lease.

Yeah, but you can be sure that when a heterosexual couple walks down the street doing the same thing, he doesn't say a word.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

If you click on the numbers in the poll you will see the real results. When a "guest" votes, their name obviously doesn't show up. And if you aren't logged in you can vote as a "guest" as many times as you want. Someone (maybe more than one) has been trolling the polls on this website since I've been a member, and probably before that as well.

I was going to make a thread about it, showing numerous examples of poll trolls in hopes that the moderators would do something to prevent it. But the moderators clearly have no intention of thwarting such actions, so instead I make all my poll results viewable in order to weed out false poll results.

Whoa.

They oughta change that ASAP.

Oh, but they think we are the daed wood, and they want to tear us out and replace us with cheap Chinise wood.

EDIT: I misread your post. My mistake. But you still need to spell correctly. :D
 
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Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Now if Buffet et all want to see reform for hedge fund managers...that would be GREAT. Him...George Soros...several others...dont make them pay capital gains...make them pay straight taxes. But as the article points out...thats not 1% of the people...thats .000028% he vast majority ARENT paying a 'fair share'. They are paying their share and 50% of the American populations share.

And making way more than half of America's money. Who Rules America: Wealth, Income, and Power This was in 2007 the top 5% of the population had 62% of all wealth, that is money and all their holdings, and the bottom 80% had 15% of all wealth. Income was the top 5% made 72% of all income, and the bottom 80% made 7% of all the income. The other 19% are the middle class, and I'm leaving them out of it.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

luna tick said:
You just changed the subject. You called very hard working people "dead wood" and when I pointed out how preposterous that was, you changed to "well, they could move up." Someone has to pick those grapes and tomatoes. Someone has to clean those toilets. Not everyone can be at the top. The top is held up by the bottom, which is a far cry from being the "dead wood" that you so callously called them.

No, I didn't call them "very hard working". Carpenter, construction workers, truck drivers/loaders...I'd call that "very hard". Fast food? Not so much. By the way, those professions I just mentioned make pretty decent salaries. Future millionaires? No. Thus the concept of "work smart, not hard".

And if they don't want to be the bottom, they can be replaced by someone who will. There will always be more indians than chiefs.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Not really a "strawman"
Lets think about this.

Where in the constitution does it say "no income tax" or something on the lines of that?

Actually specifically in the Constitution it says there can be an income tax. originally it was Unconstitutional, so they passed an Amendment on the matter.

Lets see at all the things taxes pay for
1.) we had a bright idea to have roads, a highway system, stop lights, speed limits, a police force for our growing population, free healthcare for veterans/soldiers, the national guard, 911 services, public restrooms, public schools, clean air/water regulations, food stamps, pell grants, regulate airplanes, we decided to go to the moon and explore space, inspect meat and produce, the GI Bill, US postal service, national parks, state universities... Point is the list goes on and on...

yup. another point would be that the vast majority of these things don't need to be handled by the Federal Government.

Yes im not saying your wrong. Im saying at some point and time we had to pay for expanding population, and community...

we seem to have done pretty well at the time, considering the results.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

Actually specifically in the Constitution it says there can be an income tax. originally it was Unconstitutional, so they passed an Amendment on the matter.



yup. another point would be that the vast majority of these things don't need to be handled by the Federal Government.



we seem to have done pretty well at the time, considering the results.
The Amendment allowed Direct Taxes (e.g., income tax) not previously allowed.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

And making way more than half of America's money. Who Rules America: Wealth, Income, and Power This was in 2007 the top 5% of the population had 62% of all wealth, that is money and all their holdings, and the bottom 80% had 15% of all wealth. Income was the top 5% made 72% of all income, and the bottom 80% made 7% of all the income. The other 19% are the middle class, and I'm leaving them out of it.
You DID read the ABC report that says only 400 people in TOTAL (.00028%) are those insanely rich folk and that they follow a different set of income guidelines. The great majority of wealthy...even the great majority of the top 1% pay well over their fair share. The 'fair share' argument is populist bull****.

I have said for months...the rich will NEED to be tasked to pay down the debt. its not fair...its not right. However it is the only PRACTICAL way of fixing the problem that congress is responsible for. Dont fix it and none of that wealth will matter...we will just be a bigger version of Greece. But this can only be a COMPONENT of a fix. Just raising the taxes on the rich is foolish. Its like dumping a pint of new oil in a car thats burning two quarts a day. Eventually you have to either fix the engine or the thing blows up.
 
Re: Are you part of the majority of Americans who feel the rich should pay higher tax

And making way more than half of America's money. Who Rules America: Wealth, Income, and Power This was in 2007 the top 5% of the population had 62% of all wealth, that is money and all their holdings, and the bottom 80% had 15% of all wealth. Income was the top 5% made 72% of all income, and the bottom 80% made 7% of all the income. The other 19% are the middle class, and I'm leaving them out of it.
And BTW...if there was a greater effort at teaching personal responsibility, the bottom 50% wouldnt be so freqin miserable and wouldnt be such a drain on society and the economy. Bitching about the successful and wealthy and taking their resources just to give it away to the poor fixes nothing. The poor remain poor and eventually there is no more wealth to take. No public sector innovation. Then what?
 
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