A liberal and a conservative were sitting in a bar. Then Bill Gates walked in.

[chequita guevara]

BTW, I paid $1699 in FICA last year.

So, the bottom 50% of us pay only about 3% in Federal taxes. That doesn't say what percentage of our income went to Federal taxes, just that it doesn't add up to very much.

You still made an incorrect statement saying that the bottom 50% doesn't pay any FICA when in fact we do.

[DuncanK]

Why the heck does all this matter? The rich are suppose to pay more taxes, or maybe JohnT and GP don't agree, but I really see no point to all this discussion. It seems like some people are arguing about how much tax low-income people pay. We should be arguing that we shouldn't have to pay taxes at all, because we are struggling to make it and they aren't. GP and JohnT are glad to get you liberals into this one the way I see it.

edit: sorry GP, I should have said Ned not you. I think you are the one who couldn't read the comic.

[Lord Merciless]

People from all income levels pay 15% in payroll taxes(Social Security + Medicare).

People earning below $15,000(the poverty line for a 4 member family) may not pay any income tax. The total deduction is this case would be $7350(married filing jointly) + $12000(4*exemptions) = $19350.

For married people filing jointly, the tax progression works this way:
<$45,000: 15%
<$90,000: 28%
<$125,000: 31%
<$150,000: 36%
>$150,000: 39%

People earning above $150,000, but less than $300,000, are usually the best doctors, scientists, engineers, lawyers, university professor, and other important professionals in our country. These people are undoubtedly the most hard working class in our society, and they got to pay the highest percentage of their income in taxes. How is that fair?

[cavebear]

The rich depend on the government to defend their assets more than the poor do. It only makes sense for the rich to contribute more to the government for that reason.

I'm in the top 20 percentile of income earners. And I say that I should be taxed more. There are things that need to be done to make this world a better place for me to live in and I'm willing to pay more for that.

Put *that* in your pipe and smoke it!

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Lets look at the facts.

1. Bush is trying to stimulate the economy
2. He's giving tax cuts to the rich, which won't stimulate the economy
3. To stimluate the economy, you give money to people who will actually spend it on consumer goods aka the poorest 50%. The rich will just invest it into the stock market. Big deal. Money goes in, it comes out, and they still dont make more jobs.

TAX THE RICH BABY!!

[Drake Tungsten]

So, is Tom Tommorow saying that people in "the flyover" don't support Republican tax cuts? Why do they vote consistently Republican then? Maybe the liberal elite are the ones really trying to speak for ordinary folk...

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Maybe they vote republican because they are racist/anti gay/ anti immigration/ pro life/ pro large military/ and catholic/protestant.

In a country with only two major political parties its damned if you do, damned if you dont.

[Drake Tungsten]

Of course, Lawrence. All of the ignorant yokels in the sticks must vote Republican because they're a) racist or b) christian (which is nearly the same as being racist). If only they would see the light and let the Democrats lead them to the promised land...

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Of course, Lawrence. All of the ignorant yokels in the sticks must vote Republican because they're a) racist or b) christian (which is nearly the same as being racist). If only they would see the light and let the Democrats lead them to the promised land...

Why do you think they vote Repulican, if they do that is?

edit: oh yes, the Republican tax cuts. And why should they vote Republican because of the tax cuts?

[Drake Tungsten]

They vote Republican for a variety of reasons, of which economic policy is one piece. It's not like there are a bunch of people out here who despise Republican economic policy but still vote for them to keep down the darkies...

[Lawrence of Arabia]

The people in the midwest who vote for his tax cut are just plain dumb. Because they will recieve the least amount of it.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
They vote Republican for a variety of reasons, of which economic policy is one piece. It's not like there are a bunch of people out here who despise Republican economic policy but still vote for them to keep down the darkies...

It's the Republican policy that keeps down minorities

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by cavebear
I'm in the top 20 percentile of income earners. And I say that I should be taxed more.

I think that the IRS should start taking non-deductible donations from people like you.

[Drake Tungsten]

The people in the midwest who vote for his tax cut are just plain dumb. Because they will recieve the least amount of it.

They're not dumb. They're the ones who actually understand how the US tax system works.

[DuncanK]

Drake,

Poor whites have historically voted conservatively in this country because they have been racist, Christian, and xenophobic. Even if they can't be on top they feel some comfort in the fact that white males are on top. And also that conservatives will help them get jobs at the expense of minorities.