Should the 50% tax burden be higher, lower, or about the same?
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  Should the 50% tax burden be higher, lower, or about the same?
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Question: It should be...
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Higher
 
#2
About the same
 
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Lower
 
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Author Topic: Should the 50% tax burden be higher, lower, or about the same?  (Read 2231 times)
A18
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« on: December 21, 2004, 08:44:47 PM »

According to a study I heard several times on the news a few years ago, but that I have absolutely no internet source for, the average American pays half of his lifetime income in local, state, and federal taxes of all the different sorts (sales, property, inheritance, capital gains, income, etc.).

Anyway, it's not as if it's hard to believe.

How much of the nation's wealth should government control?
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Cashcow
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« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2004, 08:48:46 PM »

I think it only reaches that level for the very rich. The tax should be lowered, but not to the point at which the lower-classes are paying more. Just find a way to spend less.
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A18
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« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2004, 08:52:22 PM »

I remember very specifically that it was the average American.

Obviously, they don't pay it in just income tax, that's not what I mean. But also in property, luxury, payroll, sales, inheritance, gas, capital gains, etc. taxes.

And remember, this is every branch of government, state, federal, county, locality, etc. It all adds up.
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Lunar
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« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2004, 09:11:41 PM »
« Edited: December 21, 2004, 09:13:39 PM by Lunar »

I'm pretty skeptical of that number too.  Especially since you can't confirm it, I doubt it is really what the "average" American pays.  Even if you heard the number correctly, I'm pretty sure whatever group that gave it had a hard agenda to push and spun the statistics like crazy.

Obviously the number should be lower.  There's too much waste to justify whatever the current percentage even if you agree with all of the social programs.
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A18
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« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2004, 09:13:01 PM »

Then you're nuts. There are about 7,000 taxes in this country. Is there really anything that isn't taxed in this country?
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Lunar
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« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2004, 09:17:21 PM »

Then you're nuts. There are about 7,000 taxes in this country. Is there really anything that isn't taxed in this country?

I ran some quick numbers based on our budget and tax-paying population, and 50% simply doesn't match up.
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J-Mann
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« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2004, 09:18:01 PM »

Statistics aren't off limits from spin, and I'd really like to see a source for this information.

As to the question: if the burden is at 50%, if you want it lowered, I guess it depends on how much you really want your government to do.  A wasted local tax for one man may be money well spent for another.  The same goes for all taxes.  
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A18
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« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2004, 09:29:25 PM »

Can someone list every tax for me so I can check the numbers myself?
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David S
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« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2004, 09:30:19 PM »

The 50% number sounds a bit high. This source http://mwhodges.home.att.net/mwhodges.htm puts total government spending at 43% of national income. He adds another 14% for the cost of complying with government regulations. I can't vouch for the data though.

Its way too high though.
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A18
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« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2004, 09:42:05 PM »

A 50% tax burden is a 50% tax burden, which is what the average American pays, even if it's only on the rich or corporations. Any tax you place on anyone gets passed on to everyone else.
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J-Mann
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« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2004, 09:53:04 PM »

Until I see a source on that info, I'm going to assume that the burden isn't that high.  My family does not pay 50% of their income to the government (and hasn't and won't at any time unless extraordinary tax hikes take place); we're the "average" family.
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John Dibble
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« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2004, 10:52:20 PM »

I have heard it is about 42% annually on average.
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J-Mann
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« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2004, 11:17:36 PM »

I have heard it is about 42% annually on average.

That actually sounds very close to being correct.  Philip's statistic may be taking estate taxes into account, also, but I'm not sure.
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David S
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« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2004, 11:46:43 PM »

In my case the taxes for which I have receipts took just under 30% last year. That includes federal income tax, Soc sec, state income tax, and property tax. It doesn't include sales tax, gasoline tax, or taxes paid by corporations which increased the costs of products I bought. It does not include the cost of complying with federal regulations which increase the costs of some products. Nor does it include fees for license plates etc.
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Harry
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« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2004, 11:51:05 PM »

Higher!  Why not just 100%?
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A18
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« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2004, 11:57:07 PM »

Yeah, mine probably includes corporate taxes. That probably takes another large chunk of people's income through higher prices.
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opebo
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« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2004, 05:27:29 AM »

What's an 'average american'?  I don't know, but I would think it is someone with a fairly meager income - say $30-40K.  No one at that level is paying anywhere near the 50% level. 
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jfern
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« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2004, 05:45:41 AM »

I remember very specifically that it was the average American.

Obviously, they don't pay it in just income tax, that's not what I mean. But also in property, luxury, payroll, sales, inheritance, gas, capital gains, etc. taxes.

And remember, this is every branch of government, state, federal, county, locality, etc. It all adds up.

Sounds like the mean.
Bill Gates abd Steve Ballmer went to the same HS.
That HS has a really high mean net worth for its graduates.
But if you're a graduate and not one of those 2 people, so what?
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