The tax cuts deal

[TomC]

I'm OK with compromise and don't care for "soak the rich" rhetoric, but this move was a huge failure primarily in communications. Obama's humility or whatever it is has got to go.

[TomC]

The wealthiest Americans do not need a tax break.  Many of them do not even want a tax break.  The Republican Party has made a fundamental error in judgment.  They could have become the party of common sense and the party of middle America by extending the tax cuts only to those earning less than $250,000/year.  

Let the rich pay!

The leaders of our nation- being first true to their parties- are the ones who have made a mistake. This whole pile of giveaways should be vetoed except maybe the unemployment extension- which should be offset by cutting something.

[TomC]

This is the problem with America, we talk about the American dream and how we should all strive to be successful but instead we punish success. Although I do not favor the Bush Tax-cuts I do support a flat tax everyone should be taxed an equal percentage. Its not right that 85% of this nations revenue is paid by only 1% of the population. Fair! thats punitive.  

Do you mean 85% of the nation's income tax?  Even so, you are way off on your numbers. Got a source?

On the rest of your claim, you have a point about a flat tax, but this claim of "punishing" is just silly. If anything this nation is spoiled with all the crap it gets without really paying for it. China's largely funding our GDP growth.

[TomC]

http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=11976&type=11

page 29- the top 1% paid 28% of federal taxes. So you're only off by 57%.