Who pays — and who doesn’t pay — income taxes
The Tax Policy Center has released its latest statistics about who pays — and who does not pay — federal income taxes. According to its numbers, 46.4 percent of “tax units” in America will pay no income tax this year.
More than half of those non-paying units make less than $16,812. More than 80 percent make less than $33,542. Some will no doubt focus their outrage on those lower-income folks, but I’m more intrigued by the fact that 3,000 “tax units” with incomes above $2.18 million paid no income tax. All in all, 446,000 “tax units” with incomes above $103,465 paid no income tax on that money, a figure that includes capital gains taxes.
Now let’s put that in context, historical and otherwise.
First, personal income taxes account for just 44 percent of federal revenue. Payroll taxes account for 37.1 percent of revenue this year, and those taxes are paid by almost all of these “tax units” who don’t pay income taxes, with the exception of those whose main income is Social Security, pensions or investments.
Second, while the percentage of revenue raised through the personal income tax has remained relatively stable since World War II, the mix of revenue from other sources has shifted noticeably. Compared to 60 years ago, the payroll tax has tripled in importance as a revenue source, while the corporate income tax has fallen by two-thirds.
Let the call to raise taxes on the poor, the elderly on fixed income and lower-income earners begin.
– Jay Bookman
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720 comments Add your comment
The Leg Lamp is a "major award".....
June 29th, 2011
11:15 am
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:13 am
“the vast rw conspiracy”. How Clintonesque. And you accuse conservatives of repeating the mantra fed them from Fox News.
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
11:18 am
Individual income tax rates for 2011:
Individual income tax in Sweden is comprised of two major parts: A municipal tax rate between 28.9% and 34.2% and a national tax rate between 20% and 25%. For 2011, the national tax rate applies only to individuals earning more than SEK 383′000 per year. Assuming a municipal tax rate of 30%, the combined tax burden is as follows:
30.00% from SEK 0.00 up to SEK 383′000,
50.00% from SEK 383′000 up to SEK 548′300,
55.00% over SEK 548′300,
There is a 25% expatriate flat tax rate for non-residents.
This is a special for LWM. Every Swede pays a municipal tax of between 28.9% and 34.2% of gross income. No exemptions. To convert Krona to dollars divide by about 8. So if you make more than $50,000 you pay an additional 30% making your rate on anything more than $50,000 60%+. Sounds great doesn’t it? But just think, free Obamacare! Because of the excessive tax rates in Sweden and all Scandanavian countries, the best way to do business is cash under the table. You will get excellent service and discounts. No checks! Cash. Wonder why they live in tiny one or two room apartments? Wonder why their furniture has little storage areas, like beds with drawers? Because there living abodes are small because they can’t afford anything. Little cars, lots of bicycles. Socialism in action. Before you buy anything LWM is selling, visit Denmark, and Sweden. Not the tourist traps. Visit the people and see how they live.
TRUTH
June 29th, 2011
11:18 am
Jay, arguing with the Righties is a complete waste of a keystroke. Even in the face of hard facts they will continue to disagree, which is just fine. I am in the pounded middle class and (luckily) have a job that pays well until the tax man cometh…
I’m bent that the more financially sound “tax units” get away with paying NO taxes at all and continue to lay off other Americans so they can take their jobs abroad. That fact alone should be enough for all of us to cease purchasing these companies products. Period, Point Blank.
It will NEVER happen. As long as we continue to snipe at one another and point fingers, the fat cats will enjoy the divisiveness all the way too the bank and still NOT be paying taxes. DOn’t kno about you others, but I say enough is a frakkin’ nuff.
Just sayin’…..
The Leg Lamp is a "major award".....
June 29th, 2011
11:19 am
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
11:15 am
Okay, Joe. Take out the best extreme – Sweden – and the worst extreme – Greece – and tell me how the rest of the nanny states are doing. How many other European countries may have to be bailed out? A nanny state is not the way to go here unless you can amend the Constitution. The govt is supposed to have very limited powers. A nanny state is hardly an example of the country defined by our Constitution.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:20 am
leg,
You want some more.
Yes, vast rw conspiracy like the birth certificate, Muslim, Kenyan, etc,,,,
Surrender again.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award".....
June 29th, 2011
11:21 am
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:14 am
Yes…..I surrendered to you incoherent post and moved on.
(ir)Rational
June 29th, 2011
11:21 am
Joe – I wasn’t referring to the Greek riots either. I was referring to the fact (and you made my point nicely, thanks for that) that most major European countries have come to the realization that they can’t support their population with everything they’ve become accustomed to in the past. Germany, France, and Great Britain can all be added to the list of countries that have had to cut services. Like I said, Greece is the extreme of the example, but is still closer to being the rule than Sweden is.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award".....
June 29th, 2011
11:23 am
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:20 am
If you have the time and/or desire, go back and see if I ever accused Obama of being born in Kenya or being a Muslim. Won’t find it.
You, however, already regurgitated the “vast rw conspiracy” excuse originally blurted by Hillary. That’s been what, 12 or 15 years ago? Talk about living in the past…..
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Thee
June 29th, 2011
11:25 am
Jay, if you are trying to make a point, you would take a couple of minutes off from your obviously left-leaning political stance and report WHY those 3000 “tax units” making over $2M paid no taxes.
Would not we be better served discussing why millions of people making less than $10,000 per year cannot afford to help us pay down the debt wrought equally upon each and every one of us by forking over at least ten percent of their massive incomes in the form of federal income taxes. Just imagine the dent these people could make in our debt if only they paid their fair share of the expenses. That would be a billion dollars total for every thousand dollars collected from every million people that makes $10,000 and there are probably millions and millions of these poor undertaxed people out there. It’s mind boggling.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award".....
June 29th, 2011
11:25 am
Well, it’s time for me to go and support one of those greedy, evil, repressive corporations that the left so disdains. Yes, I’m heading to Chick Fil A to meet friends and family for lunch. Eat mor’ chikin’.
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
11:25 am
“RB seems to think that “liberals” don’t pay taxes. I’d wager that I pay more taxes than many of the wingnuts here.”
I’d wager most of those who pay NO taxes are D’s.
Disgusted
June 29th, 2011
11:26 am
Not a disciple of the fair tax, but are you saying the rich, who Jay claims pays no taxes, would still not pay taxes under the fair tax plan?
They would pay taxes only on what they spend on goods and services, Leg. Everything else, including the remaining income, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc., would be tax-free. It’s a neat tax-shift downward.
Gator Joe
June 29th, 2011
11:27 am
Jay,
The Right, especially the extreme Right, have carried out a successful propaganda and brainwashing campaign aimed at the white lower and middle class voters, convincing them that corporations and the wealthy shouldn’t have their taxes raised, or even adjusted. This, while they [middle and lower classes] are shouldering the tax burden of the wealthy and large corporations who are doing better than ever.
Fortunately, some of us know better, though ignorance, brainwashing and Fox will be difficult to overcome.
I enjoy paying taxes !
June 29th, 2011
11:27 am
During the past 10 years I have noticed; the more money I made (was) = to the amount of taxes I paid which correlated to the amount of employers that laid me off. In short, the increase of my income, increased my chances of being jobless. I would rather pay more in taxes and contribute to society than become a liability to my community. Personally, I don’t enjoy having cobwebs in my pocket due to the lack of income.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:27 am
(ir)Rational ,
They had to cut because the global economy collapsed.
Instead of ignoring this fact like most cons, incorporate it into your thinking to be intellectually honest and not just another leg.
Do you think the gop’s uncertainty on default here is helping them?
Be honest.
godless heathen
June 29th, 2011
11:28 am
LWM: “The tendency to categorically dismiss all government use of revenue from taxation as “waste” is in my view a rather infantile posture to take”
And noone takes that posture. If however, as we witness everyday, government has billions and billions to waste after paying for the legitimate functions, then revenue is not the problem.
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
11:28 am
Mighty Righty: “Socialism in action. Before you buy anything LWM is selling, visit Denmark, and Sweden. Not the tourist traps. Visit the people and see how they live.”
Not that I consider this type of thing decisive in these matters, but for what it’s worth Denmark is considered the happiest place on earth.
Bosch
June 29th, 2011
11:30 am
“I’d wager most of those who pay NO taxes are D’s”
I’d wager not, considering the majority of people on welfare are white and the political make up of our state.
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
11:30 am
“Republicans have repeatedly refused to meet them in the middle on revenue increases.”
It’s EXACTLY what’s going on here. Would you meet your children in the middle an only give them XX more than you earn?
The spending cuts the D’s have agreed to are pathetic compared to the problem and we’ve fallen for this “just give us a little more and we promise we’ll spend it wisely and won’t ask for more” routine too many times already. Go tell the lie to somebody else.
Mr Charlie
June 29th, 2011
11:35 am
So Jay finds 3000 people who made over 2 mil that did not pay taxes. Lets to the math. if each of those people pay 1 million in taxes, that would equate to about 3 billion in revenue.
Yet, we have well over 100 million who don’t pay a dime. If they all contributed, oh lets say a hundred bucks, that would be 10billion.
You guys why have the population cannot support the other half?
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
11:37 am
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
11:28 am
Mighty Righty: “Socialism in action. Before you buy anything LWM is selling, visit Denmark, and Sweden. Not the tourist traps. Visit the people and see how they live.”
Not that I consider this type of thing decisive in these matters, but for what it’s worth Denmark is considered the happiest place on earth.
People in Ethiopia are happy as well. My challenge to Americans is go there and see if they will be happy. We live in the wealthiest most modern nation in the histroy of the world because we have thus far avoided the economic ignorance of Europeans. Capitalism and free enterprise works. Socialisim doesn’t.
Bosch
June 29th, 2011
11:38 am
How very telling it is that RB compares his side to the “parents” and those he is against as the ” petulent children” therefore giving the impression that those who he is ideologically opposed to must somehow be corrected.
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
11:39 am
Leg Lamp — “Okay, Joe. Take out the best extreme – Sweden – and the worst extreme – Greece – and tell me how the rest of the nanny states are doing.”
Perhaps you should first *define* what you think a European “nanny state” is. I don’t know what definition you’re using, but given your previous posting behavior, I suspect your definition is that it’s a country in Europe that you don’t like.
“How many other European countries may have to be bailed out?”
I think you should pay more attention to how few *do* have to be bailed out. You know, if bailouts make you uncomfortable, we could always have let the banks fail. I presume that since you seem turned off by the idea of bailouts, that you were opposed to the bank bailouts?
“A nanny state is not the way to go here unless you can amend the Constitution.”
Which is always possible, but again, I don’t know your specific definition of a nanny state.
“The govt is supposed to have very limited powers.”
Defined powers, actually. Limited, *defined* powers.
“A nanny state is hardly an example of the country defined by our Constitution.”
Maybe you should *define* what you mean by “nanny state” before you start in on high-sounding pronouncements like that.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:39 am
The adult is talking.
Pay attention.
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
11:39 am
The spending cuts the
D’sR’s haveagreedproposed are pathetic compared to the problem…Once again, this is the reality in more relatable terms. The Washington “household” is spending $21,000 more every year than it takes in. The GOP “solution”? Reduce spending by $500 per year.
Woo Hoo!
Fiscal conservatism at it’s finest…
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
11:40 am
I’d also wager the person who thinks Sweden is so wonderful has never lived there. I have. Their standard of living for an equivalent wage to ours is PATHETIC. We’re talking about a 600 sq. ft. 2 room apt and 1 car.
If that’s what you want for your engineering degree, you should move there.
I’d also wager their leeches think it’s wonderful too.
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
11:41 am
ir(Rational) — “I was referring to the fact (and you made my point nicely, thanks for that) that most major European countries have come to the realization that they can’t support their population with everything they’ve become accustomed to in the past.”
It doesn’t take a nanny state to come to that conclusion. I think it’s a little disingenuous to point that criticism at ‘nanny states’ when *all* states are wrestling with that issue.
More Statistics
June 29th, 2011
11:41 am
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (based on a study of data gathered in Fiscal Year 2006), statistics for the food stamp program are as follows:[15]
49% of all participants are children (17 or younger), and 61% of them live in single-parent households.
52% of food stamp households include children.
9% of all participants are elderly (age 60 or over).
76% of all benefits go to households with children, 16% go to households with disabled persons, and 9% go to households with elderly persons.
33% of households with children were headed by a single parent, the overwhelming majority of whom were women.
The average household size is 2.3 persons.
The average gross monthly income per food stamp household is $673.
43% of participants are white; 33% are African-American, non-Hispanic; 19% are Hispanic; 2% are Asian, 2% are Native American, and 1% are of unknown race or ethnicity.[15]
From the above data 8% of the white population of the United States of America are participants, 39% of African-American non-Hispanics are participants, 15% of the Hispanic population are participants, 9% of the Asian population are participants and 31% of the Native American population are participants.
An annual report released by the USDA about the composition of households participating in the Food Stamp Program is identified as the Characteristics Report.[16
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
11:42 am
Leg lamp: “You said Obama’s enemies were also enemies of the people. What exactly did I miss in your diatribe?”
What I said was that the enemies of Obama also happen to be enemies of the people. See for yourself. You implied I was saying that by simply opposing Obama that that fact means they’re enemies of the people, which is not at all what I’m saying. So you’re jumping to conclusions.
“But what he failed to face was the fact that by that very act he emboldened his enemies — who are also the enemies of the people — and made more future suffering by those same people virtually unavoidable”
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
11:44 am
Obama is on tv. He just bragged about the tax cuts he signed in Decemeber and he wants everyone to know those tax cuts will be in place for another year.
josef
June 29th, 2011
11:46 am
“fledgling little regional newspaper”
fledgeling…nayanh, been around for a while, I’d be more inclined to call it “aged”
little…nyanh, moderate circulation
regional…defintitely, just not in touch with the region where it’s located
newspaper…probably on a good day, all things considered, and given the state of the institution, but that’s not saying a lot…
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:47 am
Calling out congress for doing nothing on jobs.
Wants to eliminate welfare for the rich.
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
11:49 am
RB — “It’s EXACTLY what’s going on here.”
No, it’s not. You and the GOP are simply being dishonest on this point.
“Would you meet your children in the middle an only give them XX more than you earn?”
You’re begging the question. No one has asked for or even advocated such a thing. Democrats are simply asking for revenue increases to be *added* to the spending cuts so we can bring the deficit down *faster.*
If your household was tight for cash, wouldn’t you look for ways to bring down expenses AND bring more money into the house? Maybe take a second job? This is no different.
“The spending cuts the D’s have agreed to are pathetic compared to the problem”
Which is:
1) Why the Democrats have signaled their willingness to work on further spending cuts
2) Why we need to ALSO work on revenue increases
This is really simple.
“and we’ve fallen for his “just give us a little more and we promise we’ll spend it wisely and won’t ask for more” routine too many times already.”
No one has said or thought any such thing. You’re being paranoid and ridiculous.
“Go tell the lie to somebody else.”
Get over yourself. Nobody’s lying to you.
Mr Charlie
June 29th, 2011
11:50 am
I see there was a rash of shootings last night, what do you want to bet that all the victims and perps were from the 46% that don’t pay income taxes.
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
11:50 am
Mighty Righty: “We live in the wealthiest most modern nation in the histroy of the world because we have thus far avoided the economic ignorance of Europeans.”
And that very wealth is precisely the key to what is such a damning indictment of the United States today. Just consider the fact that though we are the wealthiest nation we still have some of the highest rates of infant mortality in the Western world, we have hands down the worst health care system (which can’t even offer all its citizens the ensured basic coverage that citizen of ALL other advanced nations enjoy), capped off by an income gap between rich and poor that is quickly moving us towards 3rd world status. But even worse than that, that very increasingly concentrated wealth is being used to game the system, to consolidate financial advantage permanently in favor of one group at the expense of those without that advantage.
No serious observer can claim that the United States is not in serious trouble, more divided than at any time since the 1860s, and the crisis is fundamentally political and ideological in nature. Everything is at stake.
“Capitalism and free enterprise works. Socialisim doesn’t.”
ty webb
June 29th, 2011
11:51 am
Josef,
I think I was being generous with “regional” and “newspaper”…I didn’t want to offend our dear host with “urban pamphlet”.
Paulo977
June 29th, 2011
11:52 am
Left wing
management
“but for what it’s worth Denmark is considered the happiest place on earth.”
My aunt who visited was of the same opinion . But , of course ‘capitalists’ who may visit are bound to see things differently!!!
Message from Matti
June 29th, 2011
11:52 am
More Statistics,
How DO you sleep at night knowing somewhere, somehow, some little five-year-old kid (who had no choice about how he came into this world) is eating a peanut butter sandwich for which did not put in eight full hours of work? GOSH, it must be tough thinking of his little belly not grumbling from hunger all night!
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
11:53 am
“How very telling it is that RB compares his side to the “parents” and those he is against as the ” petulent children” therefore giving the impression that those who he is ideologically opposed to must somehow be corrected.”
The people paying the taxes are not the ones begging for more, Bosch. And if you personally want to pay more taxes, DO IT! There’s nothing stopping you from leaving that mortgage interst decuction off your tax return so you, like Jay, can send in your “few thousand more”. But you won’t do that, will you?!!
The rest of us are tired of being lied to with this “just a little more” crap.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:53 am
Calling out the gop for not being serious on the budget.
Tells the gop to lead instead of pandering to their cons and playing politics.
Calling out the gop for fighting for corporate welfare and calls it not a sustainable position.
Calling their bluff if you will.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 29th, 2011
11:55 am
Now now getalife. We cannot blame all of Congress for doing nothing on jobs. The Republicans in the House have passed bills in 2011 that would eliminate 6.7 million jobs. I am sure the Republicans will correct Obama on that point.
SKH
June 29th, 2011
11:56 am
I believe we really need an entirely new tax system, as the one we have is obviously very flawed and getting worse by the year. It’s truly inane. Whatever alternative is advanced, it ought to be simple and without all of the exceptions, allowances, loopholes and inconsistencies that make the present code not much better than a montage created by a maniacal post-modernist artist. Building a city in an area that is largely below sea level is simply not a good idea – indeed, it is a foolish idea. But once that is done, to not at some point (hopefully sooner than later) recognize the danger and either elevate or move the city is welcoming a disaster (like Katrina). Similarly, continuing to build our economy on a tax system that rests on a tectonic fault is, in this present world economy, going to bring us an even greater disaster.
The congress is and has been comprised mostly of lawyers, who (aside from whatever ethical deficiencies they may or may not have) have been schooled to operate in a closed system. Unlike professionals like engineers and doctors, they have NOT been schooled to solve problems. And that should be painfully obvious to even the least reflective citizen. WE need to generate the solutions, test them on a small scale to ensure their viability before implementing them on a large scale (as opposed to the recent trillion dollar healthcare bill) and then insist Congress put them into law. Expecting the Congress to come up with viable solutions is where we, the people who elect them to office, make our big mistake. It’s like asking your uncle (a professor of Ancient Languages) to oversee the renovation of your house.
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
11:56 am
Never ever in my lifetime have Democrats or Republicans reduced spending one penney. But, they have always been willing to increase taxes. I don’t trust them. I say first cut spending, then let’s talk about tax increases. Not on a select group of people but on all of us.
yuzeyurbrane
June 29th, 2011
11:57 am
We can kill 2 or 3 birds with 1 stone. Right now caps on the income that is subject to FICA taxes essentially make it a very regressive tax with the greatest burden on the poor and middle class. Raise those caps by a substantial amt. and suddenly both the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds are funded indefinitely and are no potential drain on the Treasury. Combine that with an eliminating our penchant for being the world’s policeman and our budget is balanced, the debt is reduced and we can consider public policy initiatives on their own merits rather than with extortionary tactics (i.e. “I won’t raise the debt ceiling if you don’t gut every program I am ideologically opposed to!).
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:57 am
Our President has found his groove and dealing with our corporate media with facts.
Again, calling out the gop for playing politics on Libya.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
June 29th, 2011
11:58 am
OF A GREATER CONCERN ARE THOSE THAT PAY NO TAXES AND STILL GET MONEY BACK!
Tamika
June 29th, 2011
11:58 am
If you want the tax paying units who don’t pay taxes to start, stop the ‘investments” in favored technology and other silliness sponsored by both parties in general and the democrats in particular. He might also eliminate tax loss carryforwards if he thinks that is fair.Bookman is such a hypocrite!
The Obama debt avalanche has been a disaster. Rather than stimulating the private sector, Obama has attacked it.
We have a spending problem! The government takes in pllenty of money but has not used it well. Giving them even more money to waste is a fools solution.
Either the political process will solve this problem or the market will. The time is comining quickly when a much more chaotic market solution to the US spending problem will be upon us. Time for the adults to lead.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
11:59 am
Keep,
The gop are stealing jobs.
It is their election strategy.
Party over country every time.
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Thee
June 29th, 2011
11:14 am
WIC is waaay different than food stamps! Waaaay different.
There are items listed in the store as WIC approved. Funny haven’t seen any that say food stamp or EBT approved. Because the items that can be purchased with food stamps are pretty much anything not already cooked in the store.
While WIC is for necessity items only, like bread, milk, cheese, beans, formula…… things that are necissties of life, not Lobster and porterhouses.
But I suspect you see and understand the differnce. Just not honest enough to admit it!
Why can’t food stamps be as regulated as WIC with only a select few items only those essential to ones health be made available for free?
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
“If your household was tight for cash, wouldn’t you look for ways to bring down expenses AND bring more money into the house? Maybe take a second job? This is no different.”
I’ve already taken a 20% pay cut becasue of this economy, have 2 jobs to try to keep myself and my family afloat, have a kid in college, and you want me to pay more??? You can take your “get another job” attitude and shove it!!
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
12:03 pm
Until each of us is willing to pay our fair share, we should shut up about someone else paying their fair share. Either every one pays taxes or no one pays taxes. That’s fair.
willie lynch
June 29th, 2011
12:03 pm
Tamika
June 29th, 2011
11:58 am
Again, if I remember correctly, it was the government who had to bail out the private sector.
Hmmmmmmmm
June 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
disgusted,
Your peddling stupid enough for all…… Anybody that believes that a tax for all is Stupid is just, well, STUPID!
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
I’ve already taken a 20% pay cut becasue of this economy
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
Every president since Reagan has pared individual welfare roles down.
And at the exact same time has dramatically expanded corporate welfare.
Which is MUCH more expensive and completely dwarfs all welfare for the poor, infirm, elderly, etc..
Vilify the weak and glorify the wicked – the new American model based heavily on Permanent War.
http://www.warresisters.org/pages/images/pieFY09.gif
uhoh
June 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
Watching your Pres stumble through the press conference-what an idiot. Does he really expect anyone to believe that killing the oil subsidies and kill the corporate jet loophole will fix the debt problem. He’s repeated the mantra 3x already (and it’s just the first 2 questions.) Of course he added the “millionaires and billionaires” in the crosshairs coupled with the seniors will have to pay more, and some kids won’t get to go to college crap.
Jeez I’d just wanna throw up listening to this bonehead.
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
willie at 12:03,
As I’ve often said, BIG business is against socialism. Until it benefits them.
getalife
June 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Rebuild infrastructure to put construction workers is a no brainer that the gop are blocking.
The gop are blocking trade deals.
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
“…your Pres…”
Are you a foreigner? Maybe an undocumented immigrant? LOL…
getalife
June 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
uhoh,
Can’t handle the facts?
Yeah, he is not fox news con.
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
To continue on Mighty Righty’s point: “Capitalism and free enterprise works. Socialisim doesn’t.”
You still claim that capitalism “works” even when after 3 decades of free market capitalism it landed us in the ditch of financial speculation and near collapse in 2007-8?
The only thing that saved the system from total collapse was government intervention, which helped save bankers’ bottom lines but thus far has done little to help the general public. In other words, the “socialism” we’ve seen of late has primarily been for the bankers and the financial aristocracy.
As Michael Lewis said: we have socialism for the rich and brutal, dog-eat-dog capitalism for the rest. That’s some socialism man! Aux barricades, comrades!!
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
LWM, it’s called socializing the risk while privatizing the profits…
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
Bosch
June 29th, 2011
11:30 am
Are you saying all white people are republican? It seems like thats your insinuation. Otherwise why bring up the race of the majority of welfare recievers?
BTW California is the highest, followed by Maine, then Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Vermont rounds out the top five.
Not to put a whole in your argument but I think most of those are democrat states, no?
Oh now i know the source may be a lil biased but maybe not in the way you were thinking……
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31910310/The_Biggest_US_Welfare_States?slide=13
Now i only chose teh older one, I had a moe recent one from June of 2011, but it is ran by a conservative and knew that would lead to attacks on the messenger instead of the actual message.
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
12:13 pm
getalife
June 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Rebuild infrastructure to put construction workers is a no brainer that the gop are blocking.
The gop are blocking trade deals.
Sorry, as usual you are wrong. Obama was given by Democrats and Republicans 700 billion dollars to do exactly that. But instead he paid off his political contributors.
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Thee
June 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
I heard that property taxes are pretty high over in Gwinnett County. I wonder what the payers of those taxes get for their money and if they think they get a good value.
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
RB — “I’ve already taken a 20% pay cut becasue of this economy, have 2 jobs to try to keep myself and my family afloat, have a kid in college, and you want me to pay more??? You can take your “get another job” attitude and shove it!!”
Really? So you’ve already done EXACTLY what I’m advocating the government should do — and you’re getting all upset at me?
You’re too good to be true. (laughing) You’re a living example of the EXACT METHOD I’m suggesting the government follow to get us out of debt — cut spending AND increase revenue, and yet you’re telling me to shove it. (pointing, laughing)
I know what you’re upset about now. You’re mad because you know I’m right — and you know it because YOU’RE ALREADY DOING IT.
(laughing)
Message from Matti
June 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
The Plutocrats are on the attack. Ignore this at your own peril. When the middle class is history and the time comes to segregate the Lords from the Serfs, what side of the fence do you think you’ll be on? Uh-huh.
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
“Are you saying all white people are republican?”
But 90 something percent of Republicans are white, true?
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Righty — “Until each of us is willing to pay our fair share, we should shut up about someone else paying their fair share. Either every one pays taxes or no one pays taxes. That’s fair.”
As your side is fond of saying, life is unfair. I suspect you will go on thinking that our tax structure is unfair, too.
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
“BTW California is the highest, followed by Maine, then Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Vermont rounds out the top five.”
California–swing state about evenly divided R-D
Tennessee–solidly R
Maine–R, liberal R, but R
Mass–D
Vermont–who knows? I’d go for I…
“Not to put a whole in your argument but I think most of those are democrat states, no?”
Not really.
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:19 pm
Off topic, but this photo montage made me proud to be American, this week…
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2011/06/among-gay-gays-photo-essay-of-victory.html
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
June 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
Har ! Har ! Har !
“IMAGINE THERE’S NO LIBERALS ……….. LA, LA LA LA !”
HEADLINE: “John Lennon was a closet Republican, who felt a little embarrassed by his former radicalism, at the time of his death – according to the tragic Beatles star’s last personal assistant.
Fred Seaman worked alongside the music legend from 1979 to Lennon’s death at the end of 1980 and he reveals the star was a Ronald Reagan fan who enjoyed arguing with left-wing radicals who reminded him of his former self.”
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/28/lennon-was-a-closet-republican-assistant
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
I don’t know where cnbc got that “welfare states” data, but here’s what I pulled up…
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/04/the_red_state_ripoff.html
um…
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
June 29th, 2011
12:22 pm
Headline: “IRAN TESTS NUKE MISSILES”
Are the Israeli jets warming up on the runway yet ?
Mighty Righty
June 29th, 2011
12:22 pm
Left wing management
June 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
I am sure it comes as a surprise to you that the entire western world is in a recession including all socialist countries. Only Cuba is left of the great socialist experiment and I don’t think even you would tout that economic failure. Even China has pretty much given up socialism for Capitalisim. Come on, it’s time to smell the roses.
AT
June 29th, 2011
12:22 pm
So, if you run these numbers: $2.56 trillion (est 2011 fed budget – minus social sec and medicare, ie what payroll taxes pay for) divided by the number of people who pay taxes, 54% of 164 million (from the link Jay provided), you get…
$29000 of spending per tax unit per year that actually pays something.
Continuing the math you get $7540 spending per tax unit per year on social security/medicare assuming every tax unit contributes.
Problem is spending, not taxes.
Bill Orvis White
June 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
FAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTaxFAIRTax…. I all levels of gov’t way too much. Because I have to be forced to pay for failing public screwels in Washington, D.C., abortions in Liberal New York City and seeds to grow drugs on the Left Coast, I AM NOT HIRING ANYONE NEW, PERIOD!
Goodnigt and amen,
Bill
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
June 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
JAY:
HERE YOU GO ! THE SOLUTION TO SOUTH GEORGIA FRUIT !
“NKorea shuts down universities; sends students to work in factories, farms… ”
Get our students down there !
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
Joe, If I was doing what you are proposing, i’d be standing around with 1 job begging other people to give me money so I could continue spending more money than I earn. THAT’s what you and your dems are doing. It’s NOT the same thing. I’d be laughing too, but the thought of people as dense as you are having an equal vote just isn’t funny.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
stands, great photo. Isn’t UsinUK a big cat fan, I wonder if she is going to be upset that someone’s sign suggests they are eating cats
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:25 pm
AmVet
June 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Best figures i found showed about 63-67% of whites were republican.
But if you say 90% i guess we will all believe you, wouldn’t happen to have a source for that would you?
Lets say you are correct! That still leaves 10% who are not republicans, correct? Pretty sure the poster who originated it is white himself, making the first insinuation even more confusing.
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
SFD
That photo montage embarasses me and makes me ashamed…why highlight the, uh, colorful and outrageous…? I’m not opposed to it per se, but that’s light years away from mine and my partner’s and our associates lives and how we live them.
If ot’s we’re “just like you and your folks” we want…this is not the way to go about it, imho…and, BTW, I do love a good drag show..
.
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
June 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
As Ann Coulter’s new book says, liberals live by the mob !
Headline: “911 tapes reveal fights before beach shutdown… ”
Headline: “Mob of 100 rob restaurant customers in Philly… ”
Oh, and by the way ………….. “POLL: Obama 42%, any Republican 46%… “
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:32 pm
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
Funny all of the data and research I saw had 4 of the 5 states voting solidly for Obama in the last presidential election, with tenn. being the exception!
http://www2.imperial.ac.uk/~mgastner/cartogram/election10/election10.html
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/
But those are just the latest facts. Nothing to concern yourself with.
You say they are republican states, who cares if the experts show they have voted democrat right?
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:34 pm
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
not disputing that, the original topic was not about who spends and recieves more it was about who has the most people recieving welfare type benfits.
Sorry if you don’t agree with the facts.
Joe Mama
June 29th, 2011
12:35 pm
RB — “Joe, If I was doing what you are proposing, i’d be standing around with 1 job begging other people to give me money so I could continue spending more money than I earn.”
That’s absolutely ridiculous; I’ve neither said nor proposed any such thing. I have *repeatedly* said — and on plenty of threads other than this one — that we need to cut spending AND increase revenues in order to solve our financial problem. It’s very simple, and all the fanciful falsehoods and outright misstatements you post won’t change what I’m saying.
“THAT’s what you and your dems are doing. It’s NOT the same thing.”
No, it’s not, and yes, it is. We are trying to execute a two-part solution to the problem, and it is EXACTLY the same thing a family would do — look for ways to cut spending AND increase income.
” I’d be laughing too, but the thought of people as dense as you are having an equal vote just isn’t funny.”
I think it’s *precious* that *you’re* calling someone else dense, RB. (pointing, laughing)
Dave R.
June 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
Why am I not surprised that Jay seems more upset with the .000009% of people who in any given year don’t cough up .001% of our annual deficit?
There seems to be no cure for the disease of the liberal thought process.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 29th, 2011
12:39 pm
josef, I dont think there is any need to feel shame. Shirtless guys at a football game, chants in New Orleans to exhange beads (tat) for showing non-tat. St Patricks’s day has many Irish and non-Irish showing similar behavior. Go to most big events like the cycle event in SD or college breaks you’ll see much more and yet there are few objections. I dont think there should be a double standard just because of sexual orientation.
That is of course not to say that I do not understand your point and the diversity of opinion.
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:39 pm
thomas
I never said they were Republican states. Just because most voted for Obama does not mean they are Democrat states. California just voted out a Republican governor. Maine has two GOP. The senators. The Kennedy seat is currently held by a GOP and the GOP front runner for the party nomination for president is from Mass…you can’t just go on the last presidental election…
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Thee
June 29th, 2011
12:41 pm
It isn’t surprising that the more Republican a state leans, the more likely it is to be furious about government spending. But what is surprising is that states with the highest anti-spending sentiment appear to be the largest beneficiaries of government spending. Not only do red states swallow the lion’s share of government spending, but Richardson found a linear relationship between the extent of GOP support in a state—and, by implication, the fervor of its anti-government sentiment—and the amount of federal largesse the state receives.
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:42 pm
I wonder if she is going to be upset that someone’s sign suggests they are eating cats
why, for shame! that’s just wrong, eating cats!
That photo montage embarasses me and makes me ashamed…why highlight the, uh, colorful and outrageous…
well see, this is the Rude Pundit? The guy whose motto since 2003 has been “Proudly lowering the level of political discourse”?
Anyway, I just liked seeing all kinds of folks enjoying themselves and having a good time. Different strokes and all that.
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:43 pm
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:39 pm
Um had a link to the midterm elections too…….
If you never said they were republican states then can you explain what you meant by the (R) next to the states names?
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
“BTW California is the highest, followed by Maine, then Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Vermont rounds out the top five.”
California–swing state about evenly divided R-D
Tennessee–solidly R
Maine–R, liberal R, but R
Mass–D
Vermont–who knows? I’d go for I…
Real Scooter
June 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
stands for decibels
June 29th, 2011
12:19 pm
DB,if that’s what makes you proud to be American,you really need to seek help buddy.
khc
June 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
could we also get an analysis of what various income groups pay percentage wise for all taxes, hopefully by category…..it would be interesting to compare the % of tax paid from the lower income groups to high income groups
RB from Gwinnett
June 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
Joe, again, we’ve done this “just a few more dollars” routine so many times we’re sick of it. Only a complete idiot doesn’t think the government won’t find a way to spend every dime of the increased revenue and then turn around in a few years and whine “we need more”.
We’re tired of it. And we’re tired of the whining from the 47% that the rest of us aren’t “paying our fair share” while they contribute nothing but whining.
You got that “complete idiot” comment I hope…
Swami Dave
June 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
Joe Mama
For over a generation, every “deficit reduction plan” has been a “compromise” of higher taxes (implemented immediately) and reductions in spending (scheduled “over a period of years” that never materializes). This has been the reality regardless of which political party has been in power.
To that end, the dependency brigades and the politicians who acquire power by creating / expanding transfer payments and services deserve no trust from Taxpayers that they will uphold THEIR end of any compromise and accept real cuts in spending.
Return government to its constitutional charter and enact real spending cuts – THEN America’s Taxpayers can be expected to participate.
Otherwise, not one dime of additional taxes because America’s Taxpayers already provide more than is needed to fund the operations of government. The problem is that too many Tax-BENEFICIARIES expect politicians to steal that which is earned by others to fund transfer payments and services that they will not provide for themselves.
America will have fewer problem when our growing class of economic cabooses start pulling their own weight like the economic engines have been doing for a long time.
-SD
Dave R.
June 29th, 2011
12:46 pm
josef, I’m calling BS on your state electoral descriptions.
“California–swing state about evenly divided R-D”
Sorry, both state houses and national delegations are solidly Democrat.
“Tennessee–solidly R”
True.
“Maine–R, liberal R, but R”
Barely R (7 seats in house, and decidedly liberal at that.
“Mass–D”
Critically and solidly Democrat. No Republicans in their House delegation.
“Vermont–who knows? I’d go for I…”
Solidly Democrat. And their “I’s” are admitted Socialists!
td
June 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
0311/0317 – 1811/1801
June 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
JAY:
HERE YOU GO ! THE SOLUTION TO SOUTH GEORGIA FRUIT !
“NKorea shuts down universities; sends students to work in factories, farms… ”
Get our students down there !
Yes, earn that HOPE scholarship that the schools inflated the grades for you to get.
josef
June 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
good fight
I’ll confine myself here to just Mardi Gras since it, too, is “mine.” I love it. But it is so much more than just a media image and, quite frankly, that image is what so many think “we” are all about. When my folks get together there’s usually a squabble over whose turn it is to “have to” squire the tourists to the Vieux Carre for the outrageous experience. Most of us had rather sit on the verandah, munch king cake and jambalaya, stroll down the block to the neighborhood parade and such other events.
Like I said, I’m not out to say “no” per se…but where are the mundane, day-to-day, just want to go about our lives with equal rights, that is the “real” people. And believe me, there are a whole lot more of them in the parade and the crowds than the outrageous. Just keep it in perspective. It embarasses me and I am ashamed that we still feel obligated to highlight the “spectacular…”
thomas
June 29th, 2011
12:48 pm
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Thee
June 29th, 2011
12:41 pm
The states eating through the government money are nearly all farm states. It is done through the farm subsidies.
Now i do not agree with anyone getting any kind of subsidy unless they are physically or mentally not capable of working.
But you do understand that YOU are getting a benefit from the farm subsidies don’t you? Unless of course you grow your own fruits and veggies and never buy any from anyone. Thats how they keep the price low.
Where as a person reciving food stamps is not improvingthe life of anyone except their family members and themselves.
Both are wrong in my opinion, but one is a lil more wrong. Especially since the cost of the wronger (is that a word)one would be much much higher if it was not for the less wrong choice keeping prices down.