Instead of speaking in terms of who "raises" or "lowers" taxes, why not speak in terms of tax burden?

Question

If Democrats raised taxes for corporations, people would call them tax-and-spend liberals, and if Republicans lower taxes for the rich, and their plan includes a savings of about $20/year for the poor, and they deregulate corporations allowing them to control wages, why do we call them tax-slashing heroes? If Democrats raised your wage $4,000/year but raised your taxes $1,000/year, for example, you would call them thieves. Republicans are failing to raise the minimum wage with inflation, yet minimal tax cuts make them great. A higher percentage of the income of the U.S. government comes from poorer people now... and yet you come out of it thinking they're saving you money. Let's start talking in terms of tax burden, not in "raising" or "lowering". Stop letting the rich and powerful define the terms of the debate.

Thanks for the link, but it's pre-Bush and doesn't include corporations. And I'm talking about the difference between corporate taxes and taxes paid by human beings, more than the difference between the rich and poor, when I talk about tax burden, although they do get better deals in the tax cuts than the poor

thylawyer good point, although I believe that there are people in the lower brackets who would be hurt by that idea... they sometimes need resources their taxes couldn't pay for... think in terms of the social contract, that the government should be providing for those who can't provide for themselves, and the ones who can do more than provide for themselves should be paying for the privelege of living in a society where their poor neighbors can eat and go to the doctor too

Answer 1

Oh no, you are giving the American people too much credit for math skills.

Maybe those who have the guns take the gold, those who have the gold make the rules, those few who make the rules make an education system so bad that the many have little chance of acquiring the guns required to take the gold and make the rules. Maybe the root cause of terrorism is greed. Maybe terrorism has a tendency to become self perpetuating because mercenary plutocratic predators profit from supplying demand for protection services created by terrorist activities.

Answer 2

Actually, taxes should be based on the government and public benefits "used" by the taxpayer. The rich would pay their fair share of roads, electric grids, environmental damage, police, fire and security protection, etc., which of course is a lot more than what poor and middle class people get. Too simple, of course, but eminently fair.

Answer 3

Ok, my friend you get the intelligent question of the day award. Answerman does the once a day to the person in a non partisan manner relates to both party's, Here is your reward WTG. Now onto the question. Tax burden sounds bad but is it really, the tax burden on a person making $25000 a year and the tax burden on a person making $100000 a year is relative. If we use 10% as and example $2500 is a bigger burden on the lower class person as it only leaves 22500 to live on, but $10000 is not as big of a burden on the richer person as it leaves $90,000 to live on. I think I could drink mixed drinks instead of bear if I had $90,000 to play with. It would seem to me that $2500 would be the biggest burden.

Answer 4

You are absolutely 100% wrong about where the bulk of the government's "money" comes from. The IRS just released the latest data on who pays what for taxes. The lowest tax bracket actually paid NEGATIVE income tax because of earned income credit refunds funded by the middle and upper classes. In fact, the upper and middle classes pay the bulk of all income taxes. Get your facts straight. Tax cuts, no matter how small, ARE VERY HELPFUL WHEN YOU ACTUALLY PAY TAXES!

Answer 5

dude...it's a question of the lesser of two evils to be sure...the rich get richer and the poor get pwned...I believe if the corporate fat cats i work for would actually quit making red tape to make themselves feel like they're covering thier butts and come down to the place i work and actually pitch in and help.....of course on the other hand i see how they operate and maybe thats not such a good idea either....the word "burden" pretty much hits it on the head...

Answer 6

Excellent point! Funny thing is that most common folk and even the supposedly liberal media seem totally swayed by the repubs bogus tax-cutting claims. They aren't helping the working man, they are squeezing us into poverty! Its time to change the nature of debate in this country, we've allowed the cons to walk all over us for too long.

Answer 7

95% of the taxes are paid by 5% of the population, what is your point!

Answer 8

Bingo!

I am sick of business from the local level up dicatating and influencing government policy!

Answer 9

I enjoy putting the "burden" on other people. Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that man behind the tree.

Answer 10

http://www.allegromedia.com/sugi/taxes/#Head-1.htm