Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Lottery winnings

I love these questions Craig.



(And I love where you're going with this, I think )

The bottom 50% of income earners, while paying 3.9% of federal taxes, earn 13 % of the income. This number comes from the IRS, and does not include things like the earned income tax credit, child tax credits... etc... that 3.9% is a lower in reality.

The Top 50% earn 87 % of the money, and pay 96.1 % (again, more than 96.1 % when taking into account the EITC and child credits the "bottom 50%" gets) of the taxes.

So... If you think about it, the US Government (meaning the taxpayers) cannot do any more to alleviate the tax burden on the lowest 50% of income earners. They have no tax burden.

Do I mind that ? As someone who spent the first 1/2 of his life there in the lower 50%, no.

Another stat ... The top 1 % pays 38 % of all taxes on 20 % of income. In other words, for every $1000 that top guy makes, he pays 7 times as much in taxes as the average bottom 50% guy.... Note, that is for EVERY $1000 ...

It seems to me that there is plenty of competition between the different congressional districts to bring home the pork and keep the home voters voting to re-elect. Competion between the parties to redistrict and control the election outcomes. Is that what you meant?

I think he is referring to the lack of market pressures on gov't, resulting in inefficient bureaucracies. IOW, if the gov't had to compete with other, non-gov't entities in the delivery of goods and services, they would have to be more efficient - less wasteful of taxpayer dollars - if they wanted to stay in business.

. . . has anyone else read David Baldacci's "The Winner"? It deals with this exact topic - great read.

I've read all of Baldacci's books. He's one of my favorite authors.

I apologize if my cynical sarcasm was not evident enough. It is clear what the doctor meant. I am not inspired by the ways in which our tax dollars are spent and the ways in which our votes are manipulated in the competition for control by the political parties.

My local district was represented by a polition spouting fiscal conservation and supporting anything that brings federal dollars back to the district without much regard for the overall philosophy he purports to support.

Aha, I see that now.
Of course, pork barrel stuff isn't the exclusive domain of either party. Arnold has been attempting some reforms here in Calif and the legislature (and those who own the legislators) is going after him. It is very tough to buck the system - even in little baby steps like Arnold is taking.