WE THE PEOPLE are against tax cuts for the rich

[Phokus]

lol, what the OP really means but didn't want to admit with his title is that people want to increase taxes on the rich while not paying more in taxes themselves. Go figure - many have bought into the class warfare BS the liberals have been using for decades.

That's what progressive taxation is, "genius"

 

[DougK62]

The last I knew the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income to taxes than the rest of the population. That's not really fair.

 

[matt0611]

Its so easy for X% of the people to say they want to tax the other (100 - X) %

 

[MovingTarget]

The last I knew the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income to taxes than the rest of the population. That's not really fair.

As long as it is the same first $X earned, no they do not. The first $X a rich person makes is taxed at the same rate as mine as it is a tiered system. A progressive tiered system is totally fair as those who gain more from public goods (such as defense and infrastructure) pay more to support it.

 

[ProfJohn]

"We the people" are also against many forms of government spending, but the OP won't mention that.

 

[lord_emperor]

I don't care which party you belong to, this mess is of our own making because we did not hold our politicians accountable.

How do you accomplish that, exactly? Don't vote for them 4 years later after they're done abusing you? Vote in the guy from the other party who will probably do the same thing?

Do you even have a 3rd option usually?

 

[Fern]

WE THE PEOPLE are against tax cuts for the rich

Nah.

I've checked the polls. It's basically 50-50.

I think we could get broader agreement if two things happen:

1) Get out of this economic problem and substantially increase GDP. Even some dems have been wary to raise taxes now.

2) Most importantly - Let's first see Congress demonstrate some restraint on spending. The valid argument for increasing taxes is to cut the deficit and national debt. So until they do that many see no need to give them more money because they'll just blow it on 'monkeys and cocaine' etc.

Fern

 

[IBMer]

The last I knew the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income to taxes than the rest of the population. That's not really fair.

This is true if you look at it that way. Looking at it from a wealth perspective. The percent that own 80 percent of the wealth in the US only pay 65 percent of the taxes, while the group that owns 20 percent of the wealth pays 35 percent of the taxes.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

How do you accomplish that, exactly? Don't vote for them 4 years later after they're done abusing you? Vote in the guy from the other party who will probably do the same thing?

Do you even have a 3rd option usually?

That's the problem -- people think their vote is "wasted" unless they vote for Democrats or Republicans. As long as the majority of individuals in government have a D or an R behind their name, we're screwed.

 

[Phokus]

The last I knew the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income to taxes than the rest of the population. That's not really fair.

THIS is not "fair":

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/02/17/a-look-at-the-tax-returns-of-the-top-400-taxpayers/

The 400 best-off taxpayers paid an average tax rate of 16.6%, lower than in any year since the IRS began making the reports in 1992.

Thank you capital gains tax cut!

 

[Phokus]

Nah.

I've checked the polls. It's basically 50-50.

I think we could get broader agreement if two things happen:

1) Get out of this economic problem and substantially increase GDP. Even some dems have been wary to raise taxes now.

2) Most importantly - Let's first see Congress demonstrate some restraint on spending. The valid argument for increasing taxes is to cut the deficit and national debt. So until they do that many see no need to give them more money because they'll just blow it on 'monkeys and cocaine' etc.

Fern

Interesting how you and spidey have 'checked the polls' but don't post them. Note: The Bloomberg poll took the opinions before-during-and after the negotiations of the tax cut.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Not really surprising, since the majority lies under the 200K limit

ding ding ding.
The majority wants to punish the rich for being successful and thinks somehow that having more money means you should pay more or "their fair share", when "Their fair share" should be 0 dollars because the rich don't need to fall back on the government entitlement programs. Essentially they are paying taxes for nothing.
Where as people making $20K a year are paying no taxes, but using governemnt entitlement programs and thus using the rich peoples tax money. How exactly is that fair? It's not. It's jealousy of the not rich or well off.

 

[Phokus]

ding ding ding.
The majority wants to punish the rich for being successful and thinks somehow that having more money means you should pay more or "their fair share", when "Their fair share" should be 0 dollars because the rich don't need to fall back on the government entitlement programs. Essentially they are paying taxes for nothing.
Where as people making $20K a year are paying no taxes, but using governemnt entitlement programs and thus using the rich peoples tax money. How exactly is that fair? It's not. It's jealousy of the not rich or well off.

No, the majority is beginning to realize that the game is rigged. It used to be that Americans were fooled into thinking that a) Trickle Down Economics actually worked and b) Everyone has a shot to join the ranks of the wealthy, thus they were more forgiving of giving tax cuts to the upper class. However, they've come to realize that the Oligarchs want it both ways: To destroy the middle class by shipping their jobs oversees and also also giving tax breaks to those who benefit most from the annihilation of the middle class. WE THE PEOPLE are disgusted with the excesses of the Aristocracy. WE THE PEOPLE are disgusted that many of the rich pay lower tax rates than we do (see Warren Buffet and many money managers and basically anyone living off capital gains).

 

[Fern]

Interesting how you and spidey have 'checked the polls' but don't post them. -snip-

I've already posted about it, and linked the poll here in P&N recently. I Discussed the 'math' in the various categories etc ("yes", but at $250; "yes" but at $500k etc) I don't feel like doing it again. No, it wasn't Rasmussen.

Fern

 

[JS80]

lol democracy, where 51% of the people vote to steal from the 49%. I nominate Amused for Dictator of the US of A.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Until we can show that we can control spending I am 100% again any tax increases on anyone for ANY reason. Any additional nickel we give the Federal Government will be wasted.

Nice third grade logic
As if the Fed spends out of a piggy bank, and if we don't put anything in the jar they can't spend it, right?

I guess you slept through the last 10yrs while the government proved they didn't need your tax money to spend like drunken sailors. GWB cut taxes on everyone using your exact "starve the beast" logic, and how did that work out for us? Yet you prescribe more of the same?

You may think you are punishing the government by reducing tax revenue, but your actually punishing your children an grandchildren by leaving them a debt burden that you ran up yet refused to pay.

 

[Craig234]

Wow, all these reports from our informed right-wingers about the huge success of liberals at promoting 'class warfare' AGAINST the rich. Those poor rich.

Under this tyranny, the rich have *skyrocketed* in wealth - with non of the bottom 80% getting any of the economy's growth since Reagan, and most going to the top.

As the top 1% have seen their share of the income go from 8% to 23% under this 'tyranny' to a concentration of wealth not seen since just before the great depression, thank goodness we have these people here informing us of the class war against the rich.

But actually, just proving the success of the ideological war FOR the rich they fell for as they spout these huge lies.

 

[Jadow]

I'm in the 25% bracket, don't make anywhere near what the "rich" make, however being in the 25% bracket, between federal income, state, property, FICA, and sales tax, i pay an almost sickening amount of taxes.

Easily 40% of my gross. I can't imagine adding another 15% on top of that and paying 55% in total taxes.

How about we keep tax rates where they are or even LOWER them and cut back on gov spending and waste. It's not complicated.

 

[Zorkorist]

We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, and seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

That's the preamble to the constitution, and what it really means is that people should try and tax the rich. They should try and get away with bank-robbery too...

So, what Government has to understand is that each person is trying to seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If a poor person can tax a rich person, and further his life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, he will.

If he can rob a bank, to pursue life, liberty and happiness he will.

Governments obligation, is moderating the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

Actually, more succinctly, Government has imposed itself on the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, in the name of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Of course poor people are going to cry foul.

It's only Government that listens to them.

-John

 

[Zorkorist]

If instead, Government stood away, and let our economy grow, freedom grow, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness grow, then we would be much closer to the intent of the Constitution.

-John

 

[Craig234]

We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, and seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

That's the preamble to the constitution, and what it really means is that people should try and tax the rich. They should try and get away with bank-robbery too...

So, what Government has to understand is that each person is trying to seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If a poor person can tax a rich person, and further his life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, he will.

If he can rob a bank, to pursue life, liberty and happiness he will.

Governments obligation, is moderating the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

-John

First, that's the preamble to the *Declaration of Independence*, not the constitution.

Second, I'd accuse you of spouting false, ignorant right-wing ideology - arguing for aristocracy - but that'd be unfair to right-wing ideology.

You're simply projecting. You seem to think you're noble, not like the rabble rousers, for not wanting to commit 'bank robbery' against the rich, but in fact you are horribly ignorant and demanding our nation adopt policies that will impoverish the people of the country in the interests of the rich owning more and more, and you presumably have no ideas you are being a parrot for the propaganda.

A moment ago, I was reading the article about how the propagandist Frank Lutz camp up with the lie the Obama Healthcare plan is 'government takeover' of medicine.

It is nothing but a lie that is good at fooling people to oppose it, like any good propaganda. A poll showed 53% fell for the propaganda.

That's you, a dupe for the propaganda, thinking your 'bank robbery' is anything else.

American idiot voters are a major threat to our society, so easy to manipulate by well-funded propaganda into betraying the American people.

At a time the rich are *skyrocketing* their share of all wealth in the country, you are here fighting against their being harmed by greedy American people.

 

[LegendKiller]

I love class warfare (jealousy).

My wife an I paid over 60k in federal income taxes last year. I am against the extension.

How much did you pay?

 

[LegendKiller]

If instead, Government stood away, and let our economy grow, freedom grow, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness grow, then we would be much closer to the intent of the Constitution.

-John

The intent of the Constitution was to allow the people to decide how the Government would act within the broad limits of the Constitution. The Constitution was the foundation for the house, not the house itself.

You fail at logic.

 

[LegendKiller]

The last I knew the rich still pay a higher percentage of their income to taxes than the rest of the population. That's not really fair.

Last I knew the rich gained more from the government than the middle class did. They used the infrastructure more. They were allowed to build the wealth more.

Last I checked, the only rich people in Somalia were warlords. Why don't the rich try to be rich there to see if they can be rich in a vacuum.