Why does America penalized people for being successful?

Question

The top 5% of tax payers pay 50% of all taxes. The top 20% of tax payers pay 78% of all taxes. Do you think 'oh well F the rich, they can afford it' is a valid argument? They actually use FEWER government services than the poor (i.e. tax dollars) yet they pay more into the system. The more successful you are, the more the government penalizes you. It's easy to hate the rich because most people are not rich (I'm not rich), but does it make it right?

Chi guy, what I said it true. They pay a lower percentage of their income, but that's not what I'm talking about. Please READ the question before you reply.

Answer 1

HEY CHI GUY

(Not true. The rich pay a much smaller percentage of their income in taxes than the working stiffs)

But they pay the lion share of the nation's taxes as a whole.

(Also, many well off individuals either are paid by non taxable "compensation packages" and/or capital gains. Companies even pay execs taxes via 'escrow' accounts that exects write their checks against to pay a portion of their taxes.)

Capital Gains are taxed (and taxed hard). You're never going to believe this, but they call it "The Capital Gains Tax". Clever, eh? The rest of your sentence makes no sense.

(edit: Ever heard of the Farm Bill or corporate welfare? Oil companies receive billions in tax relief which IS a form of government services.)

First of all, oil companies produce a commodity that the world over NEEDS. They aren't making cell phones or cable boxes, but the lifeblood of Industry. Second, I'd love to see how the numbers relate to what the government GETS from them in taxes per gallon of gas versus what they return and lastly, have you noticed that the per-gallon price of gas is rising at a much slower rate than the per-barrel price is? That's the oil companies swallowing up the gap so as to not send gas prices through the roof. This country has f-ed them over repeatedly, yet they still stick around. Don't bet that they won't leave America anyway, depriving us of corporate taxes, whether you think it's enough or not.

(Warren Buffet pays 17% of his income in taxes. He says that it is a sham on the working class. Neo-cons have convinced you that the rich are paying 38% when they are paying less than half of what the code calls for.)

Without any loopholes? I doubt he's paying his fair share. I doubt that anyone in the country is paying their fair share. Over 12,000 companies are registered in the Cayman Islands in one building. Either, the world's largest building is a big secret, or the government is chasing all of America's industry out of our borders. Aside from that, how much of what is paid for by taxes is used by the rich? You want the pillars of our economy to shell out more? The people most able to find MORE loopholes or even just straight get up and leave the country? Brilliant.

Answer 2

This is a great question.

I've had some years where I've been dirt poor. I've literally starved myself so that I could have gas money to get to work.

I've also had some years I had so much money that I literally didn't know what to do with it. I found out real quick that the government knows exactly what to do with it. My taxes were so unexpectedly high that two years later I'm still paying for it. My job is feast or famine. Meaning I could make lots of money in two years but it’s got to last me for another three. But because I made it in such a short amount of time the government took most of it. Now...I'm back to dirt poor because of the government.

No it's not fair.

If all American Citizens paid their taxes in a lump sum at the end of the year, there would be an uprising that would lead to a major revolution. People would care a lot more where their tax dollar goes and how effective it is. The government has us paying taxes like docile Hindu cows.

In my opinion; fair taxes. But even more importantly, down size government. The U.S. government has so many dysfunctional programs that have not solved the problems we want solved. We need to be removing the programs that don't work and creatively think of new ones that do work. Instead our government sees a program that doesn't work and dumps more money into it in hopes that now it will work. We're paying for it!

i.e.; Our welfare program is not working. It's not helping people get back on their feet. Instead we have more and more people needing welfare. Solution; drop welfare and start a plan that prevents people from needing welfare in the first place. Don't dump more money into the dysfunctional welfare plan. I want my money spent effectively on ideas that work. (Don't get me wrong...I'm all for helping people when times are desperate for them.)

Sorry about the rant but I'm still bitter, and it's two years after paying the higher taxes.

Answer 3

And just why have the rich adopted this incredible entitlement attitude? The top 25% taxpayers in this country earn 68% of reported income. To those that are given much, much is expected. Why shouldn't they pay more?

"Paul Caron cites a Tax Foundation study that finds “the top 1% of tax returns paid about the same amount of federal individual income taxes as the bottom 95% of tax returns.” Glenn Reynolds, reasonably enough, thinks “that degree of progressivity is actually bad.”

Kevin Drum, though weary from constantly having to point this out, notes that these calculations only include federal income tax and that, when one considers Social Security (aka “payroll”) taxes, things suddenly flatten out. Indeed, the tax burden becomes curvilinear, with “the 5,000 richest people in the country” paying less than those making $100,000. Further, if one includes excise taxes, state income taxes, sales taxes, or property taxes, the system is flatter yet, with those in the top and bottom quintile actually paying a slightly higher share of their incomes than those in the middle."

Wake up - the poor aren't the problem or the boogeyman like the Republicans have succeeded in making people think over the last 20 years. Which works out well to their advantage don't you think? Now people don't even get up in arms when they steal from the system, line their pockets, cozy up with lobbyists and practice cronyism.

And as you can see, the whole story tells a much different picture.

Answer 4

Because we have a govt in place that allows it.

But its worth it. Without their tax contributions, our country would be like Mexico. Have you ever been to a real mexican city (not a tourist spot?).

They have a mansion for the rich, next to shacks, poverty and kids selling candy for food.

is that what you want? i dont. Get over it. I am a republican as much as anyone (I didnt say religious zealot), I believe in smaller federal taxes, but then I also believe states and local govts should be left to their own more often. That would mean state taxes being raised.

The money has to come from somewhere. For all those who say "they dont need it" well you dont need McD's, Cable or a CD Player. But you do, so get over yourselves too.

Fanatics: Dems do all of that too. I hate the partisanship in America. Where you say "repubs have villified the poor" well, Dems villify the rich and say they should pay more...but where is Buffetts money to match his mouth? Thats right, he doesn't either.

If I were wealthy and thought I should pay more taxes, I would pay more taxes. You dont have to send in solely what is due, you have the option to send in more.

Answer 5

The problem most have with the rich are they were pretty much born that way!Now they don't want to pay anything when they inheirit!
Admittedly there are those who have earned their wealth but I would bet the majority of wealthy people inheritted it!
People like GW Bush who was set by being born into wealth!Why was it he never attemptted to clear the record of finishing his military obligation to the Texas national gaurd?Maybe because Daddy took care of it when he was either director of the cia,VP,or president?
A few years ago in my area the son of a mayor of a well to do suburb was caught attempting to deliver 10 lbs of pot plus a half ounce of coke.......he got probation! Another man convicted of a lesser offense was sentenced to 10 years........The mayor paid for the kids defense........while the other guy had a court appointed lawyer!

Answer 6

o.k., I examine your question and then lots of the solutions. i've got faith which you're reffering to the reality that in case you sparkling extra beneficial than $250,000 a twelve months, then you definately will circulate in to a extra advantageous tax bracket and be required to pay extra taxes. My husband, who has a school degree, would not make that plenty, so our taxes would be decreased, simply by GOP. in case you're making sufficient to fall in to the better tax bracket, then you definately do no longer could rigidity bearing directly to the type you will pay your $60. water invoice this month. those persons that are on the decrease end, do. The little bit extra beneficial that we are going to get, will conceal that invoice. you do no longer could rigidity approximately how plenty you could spend on the food market and you probable do no longer time your procuring journeys to the time that the butcher marks down the beef, yet something persons do. i may well be extra beneficial than satisfied to pay extra taxes if I made extra beneficial than $250,000 per twelve months. i would not have a concern in the worldwide if we made that plenty, yet we don't and in simple terms right this moment, i've got not got the alternative of working simply by fact I could spend quite a few days a week getting our little female to all of the professionals she desires to confirm and her brother is in college in undemanding terms 3 hours an afternoon. next twelve months, i would be waiting to circulate lower back to artwork area time and that i will gladly pay the extra beneficial taxes if choose be, simply by fact if I make extra money, then i've got faith I could be taxed at a extra advantageous fee. i think of that Warren Buffet suggested it appropriate while he reported that he payes much less taxes than his cleansing female or he did while he became right into a paper boy. there is something incorrect with a society that expenditures the richest human beings in the rustic much less taxes than people who sparkling his homestead or furnish him his newspaper.

Answer 7

Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride

Answer 8

Because half of this country is lazy, they prefer to redistribute the wealth created by the 20% of Americans to those who's votes they buy with other peoples money.

I'm not rich either, my wife and I bust our asses and we do ok, why should we have to pay more for the exact same taxpayer provided services (schools, police, Fire, sewer etc...) than a couple who makes 25% less than we do ?

Why would I willing pay more for the same services or meal than someone else if we're going to the same store ?

Answer 9

That is totally wrong

Warren Buffet the third richest man in the WORLD
happens to be a self made billionaire democrat

says he pays too little in taxes

He says he pays less (percentage of income) than his secretary !!!

He also has challenged his millionaire and billionaire counterparts to prove that they pay more ( percentage of income) than their secretarys do
If they can prove it, he will pay them $1,000,000 CASH

SO FAR NO TAKERS

Answer 10

Why does government penalize you for working? Why do we pay in income tax and even more for working overtime? Why dont we go to Fairtax? Why well government worked hard to keep all those loopholes and pages of tax code to avoid paying. American workers are left with the burden.