Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha
But they do pay more. As it stands right now, the richest 1% of the country pays over 35% of all income taxes.
|
This is pretty consistent with the numbers I've seen.
I know we here at the Warpath like to argue what "should" be the case on a lot of issues, but so often (as with the salary cap) we forget to ground ourselves in what is
possible.
We need to tax the rich a greater % than we tax the middle class and the poor, because the nation needs that money. If we went with a flat tax that managed to net the same amount of overall revenue that our current graduated system does, the flat tax rate would represent an absolutely CRIPPLING tax hike for the poor and the middle class. Maybe that seems "fair" to you, but I don't see how that can be considered a good thing when so many middle class people are struggling to afford health insurance as it is. With college education costs rising so fast and with the recent run-up in home prices, the middle class is getting squeezed enough as it is. A flat tax would thrust many of them into poverty so the top 1% could buy more yachts.
I'm a red-blooded Republican, and I still recognize a flat tax makes no sense. The middle class does indeed need to realize that they need to work hard and pull themselves up, and not depend on the government. But the shift of money from the poor to the rich would be huge if we moved to a flat tax.
Besides, this idea would NEVER pass in congress. The likelihood of this ever happening is so remote that it almost renders this thread "retarded."
But please, let's all continue arguing based on ideals instead of reality, and continue to pretend a flat tax would be more fair in our ideal worlds.