Any US voters want to sign a petition supporting the Fairness in Taxation Act?

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**Mannahnin**

petition wrote:Dear Representative [your Rep.'s name],

I'm calling on you to join Rep. Jan Schakowsky in sponsoring the Fairness in Taxation Act, which would create new top tax rates for those of us fortunate enough to earn millions or billions of dollars each year.

Instead of shared sacrifice during these tough economic times, Congress has passed a federal budget that slashes critical programs that serve and uplift poor and Black communities -- even as it preserves tax breaks for the most fortunate among us. In other words, the sacrifice isn't being shared by the wealthiest among us. Millionaires have an effective tax rate of about 16%, the lowest it's been in decades.

Rep. Schakowsky's bill would level the playing field by creating new tax brackets for the richest Americans, starting at a 45% rate for those whose income is $1 million and topping out at a 49% rate for billionaires.

The notion of taxing the wealthy to help meet our fiscal obligations has overwhelming public support -- a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 81% of Americans favor boosting taxes on mllionaires and billionaires as a deficit reduction strategy. The same poll found little support for cutting education funding and health care entitlements.

Asking the most prosperous among us to pay their fair share isn't about punishing the wealthy. It's about honoring the American value of shared sacrifice during tough times and shared prosperity during good times. I urge you to co-sponsor the Fairness in Taxation Act.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/taxes?akid=1955.473783.0IVF5m&rd=1&t=1

**biccat**

http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html

Help yourself, I'm sure they could use the money.

**Mannahnin**

That's a good option too.

**Major Malfunction**

Hahahha... "their fair share"... that's amusing.

What would be "fair" is taking the total tax bill and dividing it equally among the taxpayers. That's fair.

I like the way they call government handouts "critical programs" and equates tax increases to "leveling the playing field". This is clearly drivel and class warfare of the worst kind, the kind that punishes achievement and rewards sloth and lack of diligence.

**Mannahnin**

How is it punishing achievement to create an economic environment in which everyone does better, and in which our country can grow in power and prosperity?

Pick any year in the last century you would like, in which the US was doing well economically. Compare the tax rates then to now. We are doing worse now, with lower taxes.

**biccat**

The Green Git wrote:Hahahha... "their fair share"... that's amusing.

What would be "fair" is taking the total tax bill and dividing it equally among the taxpayers. That's fair.

I like the way they call government handouts "critical programs" and equates tax increases to "leveling the playing field". This is clearly drivel and class warfare of the worst kind, the kind that punishes achievement and rewards sloth and lack of diligence.

I disagree. I think that a tax that apportioned the tax bill according to income would be "fair."

**inquisitor_bob**

You know, I had a 2 Tax classes in law school. I can't believe that during World War 2, the Federal Income tax was 95% for those who make $1 million or more.

http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/history-of-federal-individual-1.html

**Kilkrazy**

The Green Git wrote:Hahahha... "their fair share"... that's amusing.

What would be "fair" is taking the total tax bill and dividing it equally among the taxpayers. That's fair.

I like the way they call government handouts "critical programs" and equates tax increases to "leveling the playing field". This is clearly drivel and class warfare of the worst kind, the kind that punishes achievement and rewards sloth and lack of diligence.

What do you consider would be a fair division of national income?

As a suggestion, you could diivide the country into five classes, and assign each class from top to lowest, a proportion of the national income.

What would be your idea of fair levels?

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

The Green Git wrote:Hahahha... "their fair share"... that's amusing.

What would be "fair" is taking the total tax bill and dividing it equally among the taxpayers. That's fair.

I like the way they call government handouts "critical programs" and equates tax increases to "leveling the playing field". This is clearly drivel and class warfare of the worst kind, the kind that punishes achievement and rewards sloth and lack of diligence.

Because everyone who's in a lower tax bracket is clearly lazy, and it has nothing to do with an unforgiving system that requires money to make more money. How's the bigotry going these days?

**Bookwrack**

I bust my ass off helping put together a large number of the cars on the road today. Take away half my income in tax and I'm in poverty. Meanwhile, the guys at the top of the car companies who were responsible for running them into the ground literally make thousands of time what I do. Take half of their income in tax, and they're still taking home more in a year than what I'll earn over the course of my working life. it's not 'class warfare,' it's simply the fact that the money has to come from somewhere, and those that can pay more, should. That's why flat tax proposals don't work, because to make sure you're not taking too much away from the bottom, you're not taking enough off the top, and vice versa.

inquisitor_bob wrote:You know, I had a 2 Tax classes in law school. I can't believe that during World War 2, the Federal Income tax was 95% for those who make $1 million or more.
http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/history-of-federal-individual-1.html

You think that's bad? For quite a while, Great Britain had a maximum tax rate of 99%. There was a running joke about how about how reaching a certain income automatically teleported you to the Isle of Man (they cap income tax at 20%). James Herriot made a joke once about being the only 'celebrity' to actually live in England.

**Major Malfunction**

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:Because everyone who's in a lower tax bracket is clearly lazy, and it has nothing to do with an unforgiving system that requires money to make more money. How's the bigotry going these days?

Perhaps in a few years your reading and comprehension skills will be up to snuff. There's always hope for your Senior year in High School, or remedial classes in your higher learning educational institution of choice. Until then let me just point out that I didn't say everyone in a lower tax bracket was lazy. I said the current tax system rewards sloth and lack of diligence. Of course, there will be hard working and ambitious poor people who work their way up into higher tax brackets. I know it happens, because it happened to me, and it didn't "require money to make more money". That's a platitude people throw out to excuse their lack of work ethic and to try and pass off their lack of diligence as poor fortune.

But never mind that. Let's get back to the whole "fairness" issue. According to the Internal Revenue Service 50% of Americans pay 97% of the taxes collected. Please tell me how half the people bearing virtually all of the monetary burden is fair?

**Manchu**

@all: As you continue in this thread, please remember that: Personal attacks, even implied ones, are against Dakka's rules.

**Archaeo**

People that know how the system works and manipulate it don't help either. One third of mine and my wife's paycheck goes to taxes and thats fine. What I find interesting is that guys I work with that make somewhat less than I do and pretty much blow whatever money they have on booze and other nonessentials end up getting an ungodly amount back come tax day. One lady even told my sister in law how she could get more back by 'borrowing' other peoples kids to put on their taxes.

The system is broken, just no good ideas yet on how to fix it.

**Major Malfunction**

Kilkrazy wrote:What do you consider would be a fair division of national income?

First of all, I'd have to reject the whole notion of dividing national income in the first place. The money of the citizens does not belong to the nation; it belongs to each of the individuals that resides in the nation.

That said, it's up to each to go out and earn what they want or need. That's "Fair". I need a new car, I go exchange the talents, skills and abilities at my disposal for money. Once I get enough I can buy the car (or take out a loan).

**TheHammer**

It is hilarious that you disparage those that wage class warfare against the wealthy while waging the most disgusting form of class warfare against the working class and poor.

Move to Galt's Gulch. Or Somalia. Stop pretending that your bourgeois exploitation of the poor constitutes the same thing as "earning" money.

**Frazzled**

TheHammer wrote:Stop pretending that your bourgeois exploitation of the poor constitutes the same thing as "earning" money.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

The Green Git wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:Because everyone who's in a lower tax bracket is clearly lazy, and it has nothing to do with an unforgiving system that requires money to make more money. How's the bigotry going these days?

Perhaps in a few years your reading and comprehension skills will be up to snuff. There's always hope for your Senior year in High School, or remedial classes in your higher learning educational institution of choice. Until then let me just point out that I didn't say everyone in a lower tax bracket was lazy. I said the current tax system rewards sloth and lack of diligence. Of course, there will be hard working and ambitious poor people who work their way up into higher tax brackets. I know it happens, because it happened to me, and it didn't "require money to make more money". That's a platitude people throw out to excuse their lack of work ethic and to try and pass off their lack of diligence as poor fortune.

But never mind that. Let's get back to the whole "fairness" issue. According to the Internal Revenue Service 50% of Americans pay 97% of the taxes collected. Please tell me how half the people bearing virtually all of the monetary burden is fair?

I don't think the system is good or fair, and I think regardless of class, lazy people are lazy. Everyone thinks their class has the most crap to deal with, and that's just part of classes existing as a social construct. But it certainly does require money to make more money. One has to be able to pay rent, which the vast majority of jobs (minimum wage, part time or inconsistent hours) can either barely provide or can't provide for. On budgets that run paycheck to paycheck for many people, one hiccup can screw the whole thing over. When one or two hiccups pile up, then you start getting charged for it by the government and if you can't pay you eventually end up in serious trouble. It's a little ridic at the bottom of the chain

**TheHammer**

Capitalism is awesome!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
The factory owner is sure earning money today! You better not think about taxing him, either. He EARNED that money!

These children are just exercising their right to sell their labor!

**Sgt_Scruffy**

TheHammer wrote:

Capitalism is awesome!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
The factory owner is sure earning money today! You better not think about taxing him, either. He EARNED that money!

These children are just exercising their right to sell their labor!

Right, because the new budget would put 8 year olds in the factories. I think everyone needs to calm down here.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

TheHammer wrote:It is hilarious that you disparage those that wage class warfare against the wealthy while waging the most disgusting form of class warfare against the working class and poor.

Move to Galt's Gulch. Or Somalia. Stop pretending that your bourgeois exploitation of the poor constitutes the same thing as "earning" money.

Says the guy posting on a forum most likely using a computer built in china under GREAT conditions.

**dogma**

The Green Git wrote:I said the current tax system rewards sloth and lack of diligence.

It does? Well golly, someone really should notify all the millionaires in the uS that they have no incentive to earn more.

The Green Git wrote:
Of course, there will be hard working and ambitious poor people who work their way up into higher tax brackets. I know it happens, because it happened to me, and it didn't "require money to make more money".

Unless you were the beneficiary of extraordinary philanthropy, yes it did. If nothing else simple math will tell you that you cannot reach 100 without first having 50.

The Green Git wrote:
But never mind that. Let's get back to the whole "fairness" issue. According to the Internal Revenue Service 50% of Americans pay 97% of the taxes collected. Please tell me how half the people bearing virtually all of the monetary burden is fair?

It isn't really an overly difficult concept, you're simply focusing on what is paid rather than what is received; the normal argument being that people in higher tax brackets have a greater stake in the welfare of the state, and receive greater benefits from its prosperity.

**Mannahnin**

The Green Git wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:What do you consider would be a fair division of national income?

First of all, I'd have to reject the whole notion of dividing national income in the first place. The money of the citizens does not belong to the nation; it belongs to each of the individuals that resides in the nation.

No man is an island. That wealth is made within the context of a system of laws and public infrastructure that make it possible. Without the support of the government, public infrastructure, and the labor of other people, that wealth could not be made. If you think otherwise, perhaps you can put your ideas into practice in a place where you won't be shackled by these things. One of the other posters mentioned Somalia.

The Green Git wrote:[That said, it's up to each to go out and earn what they want or need. That's "Fair". I need a new car, I go exchange the talents, skills and abilities at my disposal for money. Once I get enough I can buy the car (or take out a loan).

Where are you going to drive your car? On your privately-owned highways? Who are you going to go to if the loan company rips you off? Your privately-owned court, or perhaps your private police force?

**Emperors Faithful**

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
Right, because the new budget would put 8 year olds in the factories. I think everyone needs to calm down here.

I think that was in reaction to Fraz's post, not the budget.

**Ahtman**

Perhaps if they changed the title of the bill to"We haven't thought this through we just thought it sounds good and even though it hurts the poor and middle class more we all hope someday we're rich and take advantage of it Bill", or is that to wordy?

**Monster Rain**

It would be nice if more of the people with all that fat cash would just... you know... go ahead and cough up a little more money for the greater good of their fellow man (a la Warren Buffet).

Then debates like this would be moot, you dig me?

**Kilkrazy**

The Green Git wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:What do you consider would be a fair division of national income?

First of all, I'd have to reject the whole notion of dividing national income in the first place. The money of the citizens does not belong to the nation; it belongs to each of the individuals that resides in the nation.

That said, it's up to each to go out and earn what they want or need. That's "Fair". I need a new car, I go exchange the talents, skills and abilities at my disposal for money. Once I get enough I can buy the car (or take out a loan).

Money is created and issued by the US Treasury, not each of the individuals that resides in the nation.

Otherwise my brother would like to pay his taxes in twit pounds, and keep the US dollars he earns for himself.

**Andrew1975**

But never mind that. Let's get back to the whole "fairness" issue. According to the Internal Revenue Service 50% of Americans pay 97% of the taxes collected. Please tell me how half the people bearing virtually all of the monetary burden is fair?

Because your numbers are wrong. Probably written by the same guy that thinks planned parenthood does 90% abortions.

It also depends on how you look at the numbers.

The top 5% of the country that owns 72% of the wealth only pays about 20% of the taxes. Leaving the other 80% to be paid mostly by the middle class. This is why the filthy rich have gotten massively richer, while everyone else has stayed the same or got much worse. The Rich are not paying their share. If you own 85% of the machine, you should pay for 85% of the machine.

When GE pays no taxes and even Warren Buffet is saying that he believes that rich are not doing their part it's pretty obvious.

the current tax system rewards sloth and lack of diligence. Of course, there will be hard working and ambitious poor people who work their way up into higher tax brackets. I know it happens, because it happened to me

It didn't happen to you unless you are a multi-millionaire! If you are not in the top 5% then you are being screwed because you are paying for multi-miliionairs share.

It seams logical to me that tax should be a wealth based system based on demographics.

Top 1% owns 43% of the wealth should pay 43% of the cost to run the system that feeds it.
Next 15% should pay 29%
and so on

Here is the chart that shows who actually pays taxes

All you shlubs that think you are the rich being taken advantaged of by the poor. LOOK AT THE GRAPHS. You are really middle class. The really rich are crushing you. They have just brainwashed you into thinking that you are one of them.

**Kilkrazy**

Is now a good moment to mention trickle down economics?

**Andrew1975**

Kilkrazy wrote:Is now a good moment to mention trickle down economics?

Trickle down economics has been the savior of the US and is responsible for boom of wealth in the lower classes!

#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement

**Frazzled**

Emperors Faithful wrote:
Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
Right, because the new budget would put 8 year olds in the factories. I think everyone needs to calm down here.

I think that was in reaction to Fraz's post, not the budget.

So you're saying Communism is NOT a party? Its like everything I've been told is a lie...

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kilkrazy wrote:Is now a good moment to mention trickle down economics?

No. We've had a drought for six months now. No trickling!

**biccat**

Andrew1975 wrote:When GE pays no taxes and even Warren Buffet is saying that he believes that rich are not doing their part it's pretty obvious.

Here is the chart that shows who actually pays taxes

You forgot your "#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement" tag.