Wednesday Open Thread [6.27.12]
Republicans are always quick to attack Democrats for waging “class warfare” whenever they suggest that the wealthy ought to pay more taxes to help reduce the deficit and prevent the decimation of programs to aid the poor. But Republicans also engage in class warfare when they suggest that the poor are to blame for deficits because so few pay federal income taxes. Those among the wealthy who are paying no income taxes at least deserve equal time.
Republicans always talk about the 47% who don’t pay taxes, and are now saying taxes must be raised on the poor so that they pay their fair share. It never occurs to them that maybe they don’t make enough money to even pay tax. Meanwhile, those who make hundreds of millions if not billions are also not paying any taxes, and yet the Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to make sure it stays that way.
The 47% thing is a complete lie. If we repeat it without noting that, we are guilty of spreading it.
I know, but I said that Republicans always talk about it.
Here’s a succinct debunking:
http://www.politicususa.com/half-americans-taxes.html
Even more succinct, in picture form:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/federal-taxes-households.cfm