Please define rich (with a poll)

[bozack]

For rich I voted a household income of a million a year, anything below that in my eyes is just well off, could even lower it to 500k but that would depend on location.

families pulling in 250K to me are more like upper middle class, can afford to live in nicer areas but are in no way wealthy.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

Unless you are lying, I know that you are too greedy to take tax hike if it means everyone is paying their fair share. You can claim whatever you want about yourself or your financial situation, unless your taxes would go down with a fair all inclusive tax rate someone is paying for your slack.

I'd be more than happy to take a rate increase if it meant everyone pays their fair share. Not just the top come down, the bottom come up. The problem is that most people are too greedy to do the same.

If you get rid of all the BS brackets, loopholes, tax returns and what not and have everyone pay X% I don't even think it would be that high.

I started out as poor as anyone, and through hard work I now make what I consider a very good amount. I have my own business and expect to bring in $135,000-150,000 before taxes this year and it should climb steadily once the economy starts picking up.

There is no reason I should be paying more than someone who wasn't willing to go the distance and is only making $15,000. There's no reason I should be paying less than the guy who makes $1,000,000.

Another great side effect of everyone paying the same rate it's easy to see when your government is spending too much. If everyone's taxes are hitting %35 you know people are going to be hollering.

Ok I'll ignore explaining why progressive tax systems are the norm.

Instead I'll posit this: if we have a flat tax rate, are we willing to give up government paid "luxuries" and make people pay for services that are use dby a minority of citizens?

Example: the aviation system, the park system, the interstate highway system, various parts of our national security state

I think you will find that it would be impossible to do what you want to do. People on the low end simply do not earn enough these days to pay for everything America considers essential. Its one thing if income disparity is reasonable, but that is not the case now, and it certainly shows no signs of improving.

Wealth distribution simply does not support a flat tax,

 

[Doboji]

Universal Definition of Rich:

Person/People who make more money than me, and therefor should bear more of the burden for the benefits that I take advantage of.

Universal Definition of Poor:

Person/People who make less money than me, and therefor made poorer decisions than I, and whom I deserve more than. Also person whom I can give money to in order to improve the condition of my conscience.