VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

I just received my tax return for 2011 back from the IRS. It puzzles me!!! They are questioning how many dependents I claimed. I guess it was because of my response to the question; "list all dependents?" I replied: 12 million illegal immigrants, 3 million crack heads, 42 million unemployed people on food stamps, 2 million people in 243 prisons, Half of Mexico and 535 persons in the U.S. House and Senate. Evidently, this was NOT an acceptable answer. I KEEP ASKING MYSELF, WHO DID I MISS?

Carioca

You missed the entire United Nations! ;)

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

And Iraq, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Guam, The Marianas, American Samoa, Israel and South Korea. Not to mention OPEC!

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

Boy. You nailed it.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

acorn, the afl-cio, uaw, teamsters the aclu, general motors,and the solar power industry.

Gnslngr

And the oil companies and the banks and the investment houses. A lot more of your tax dollars goes to them than the groups you mention. But try this:

In the 1950s and 1960s, when the top tax rate was 70-92%, we:

Laid the interstate system
Built the internet
Put a man on the moon
Watched the deterioration of communism
Had an educational system that was the envy of the world
Had a middle class that was thriving and an economy that was unparalleled.

You want that back? Raise taxes on the rich.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

the top 1% pay 70% of the taxes, while being responsable for only 39% of the toal income of the country. 49% of the us pay no taxes at all, yet the dems are strangely silent on that tax paying inequality. Here is a better idea. Cut taxes for everybody, pass a balanced budget amendment, severly reduce federal spending to the essentials only leaving way more money in private persons hands to invest. Get rid of all those earmarks for stupid bridge to nowhere projects, and other wastefull pork. The economy of this country would boom, and as financialy unstable as europe is, we would draw european investors here to this country bringing their money with them to invest safely here, rather than risk their fortunes in say greece.

Or here is a better idea. The first 30,000 of income is tax free. After that a 15% flat tax right across the board, no deductions allowed. everybody pays the same fair percentage rate and no more punishing those who work hard to achieve. Also abolish the death tax, as its double taxation. side benefit is it would put allot of tax attornies and accountants out of work.

kodakmomentsnow Loc: Tucker ga.

You did not include the Kardasians Group --

star2344 Loc: Lakewood Ranch, FLorida

You missed Democrats !

Gnslngr

The top 1% SHOULD pay 70% of the taxes (only they don't) - they leave a much, much larger footprint on the economy than people of poorer means. They are also responsible for way, way more than 39% of the income - your figures are old. The 49% who pay no taxes? Simply not true - all sorts of taxes and fees by state, local and federal gubmints are paid by 100% of the electorate.

Sorry, but all the crap you swallow from right wing media (funded by people who directly benefit from your naivete) should leave a sour taste in your mouth. And it will, if the country moves in the direction you want.

Narnia Loc: Sydney, Australia

I wish there was a government somewhere in the world that stopped taxing income altogether. Whats fair about taxing hard workers more just because they work longer hours have 2 or sometimes 3 jobs and earn more. Whats really needed is a flat tax on spending. tax people and businesses on what they spend, not what they earn. I have read that a flat 3% on all spending will probably collet twice as much as all current taxes put together. The only problem with such a scheme is that the tax departments, accountants and lawyers would all be out of work.

Cragzop Loc: NYC

The top 1% SHOULD pay 70% of the taxes (only they don't) - they leave a much, much larger footprint on the economy than people of poorer means. They are also responsible for way, way more than 39% of the income - your figures are old. The 49% who pay no taxes? Simply not true - all sorts of taxes and fees by state, local and federal gubmints are paid by 100% of the electorate.

Sorry, but all the crap you swallow from right wing media (funded by people who directly benefit from your naivete) should leave a sour taste in your mouth. And it will, if the country moves in the direction you want.[/quote]

First, YOU should stop swallowing the socialist rhetoric espouced by the dems. We cannot tax our way to prosperity. The fact is even if that socialist in the white house CONFISCATED ALL the wealth of the richest, it would barely make a dent in the deficit.
We have grown to be a country of enablers. We enable the illegal to enter our country and use our resources from healthcare to education without paying taxes (or minimal taxes, if any.) We have enabled OPEC to screw the market forces for oil prices for the last 40 years. THIS is what happens in a command economy, wildly fluctuating prices that have no basis in market reality.
And as alluded above, we have enabled countries who HATE us to benefit from our hard earned tax dollars. And the list goes on and on.

So the crap flows to the left as well.

greymatter

the people who work 2 or 3 jobs are paying alot more in taxes than the top 1%. they don't have offshore accounts and other tax shelters

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Why should the top %1 pay more than the rest.

For what it is worth this topic is about federal income taxes, not all the other deductions.

If you want to go back to the 1956 levels then the rates should be adjusted for inflation.
In 1956 the top tax rate was 91% on income above $200,000. Inflation makes this about $2,000,000.

Biggest problem is that income of $200 K in Indiana is a bunch while in San Francisco it is a whole lot less.

I like the idea of the first $30 k not taxed and 15% on everything above and no deductions for anything other than kids and spouse. Think of all the money we would save on lawyers and accountants.

izzykats

Watch your back. Two people you don't want to sarcastic with: the umpire in baseball and the IRS.