[Vision2020] Who pays US income tax?

[Jeff Harkins]

  Well, Mr Hansen,

I am uncomfortable when someone attributes words to me that I did not 
say. I did not "reflect" those words, simply posted them from the 
About.com site - which was coincidentally based on data from the US 
Treasury.

On 12/28/2010 5:30 AM, Tom Hansen wrote:
> Jeff Harkins reflects:
>
> "The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 33.7 percent of all individual income
> taxes in 2002. This group of taxpayers has paid more than 30 percent of
> individual income taxes since 1995. Moreover, since 1990 this group’s tax
> share has grown faster than their income share."
>
> Could it be because the top 1 percent earn a majority of the national income?
>
Well, it could be, but the Treasury Dept. reports that the top 1% in 
earnings paid 33.7% of income taxes in 2002. They also report that the 
1% income earners share of income taxation has grown faster that their 
income share.

More to the point, Mr. Hansen, the Treasury Department reports that 
"Taxpayers who rank in the top 50 percent of taxpayers by income pay 
virtually all individual income taxes."

In all years since 1990, taxpayers in this group have paid over 94 
percent of all individual income taxes. In 2000, 2001, and 2002, this 
group paid over 96 percent of the total.

WOOF WOOF!


> That dog don't bark, Mr. Harkins.
>
> That argument is similar to the old anti-marijuana claim that 95 percent
> of the people currently addicted to heroin got started on marijuana (let's
> not pay any attention to the 5 percent that started right away on heroin).
>
> Scuttlebutt has it that shortly after Rep. Boehner assumes office as
> Speaker of the House, a couple of his Republican buddies are going to
> introduce a bill making the tax cuts permanent.  Shortly later it will be
> suggested that spending be reduced by TWENTY PERCENT.  One can hardly
> imagine where the budget cuts will originate.
>
> There is even a nasty, vicious rumor that attempts will be made to
> privatize Tri-Care (healthcare for military retirees).  This has been
> "attempted" several times over the past decade.  Thank God for DAV
> (Disabled American Veterans) of which I am a lifetime member.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>