actually, how is anyone paying 41%? thats a lot. I dont see how a person who earns 40k gives up a number that's nearing 1/2. I give up 33% all in, gross to net, get nothing back in april since I usually owe another 500. This in itself keeps me pretty punchy when I sit down and pay bills and work out planning for the future.
Here's the thing that gets me. We claim 3 kids for dependants. In not too many years we wont have that claim. So I answered my one question cause I'll being 41% then. how nice!

That said, now we are up to 27% that is a far cry from the 5%-8% you claim the rich pay in income taxes.

You claimed that the richest in the country pay only 5%-8% in income tax because of shelters etc. Also while we are on the subject, just because something isn't taxed now doesn't mean it will not be taxed in the future such as 401K's etc. So I guess you will have to show that they never pay taxes on the money as well.

Let me say this; I don't care about proving anything, I set about doing this to see for myself and learn something; and boy have I learned something!

How a guy can ram through the congress a No Child Left Behind Act that cost billions/fund a war/fund a medicare drug bill and at the same time pretend to cut taxes. Does he think everyone is stupid?

My mom used to say; "Let me go outside and pick some leaves off the money tree", everytime we wanted something outside the budget. Mr Bush forgot that there ain't no money tree; it has to come from what you have.
If the feds don't pay then the states and locals pay; but someone pays.

Of course the wealthiest people will pay more taxes and their tax burden combined will also be a major portion of the total income.
lets not forget that 25% of 250k is 62,500 and 25% of 50k is 12,500.
My meaning is anyone who earns 250K will pay more in taxes than the person who earned 50k grossed. Even at a rate so small as 20%... and boy oh boy wouldn’t we all like to pay 20%.

This story holds true across the board. A person earning 1 million will pay more than the same guy who grossed the 250k. And lastly a persson who pays 25% of the lower limit to be in the top 5%, I think 128k is the number Mr. Vinyl mentioned, Will be paying out 32K which is what a lot of hard working people gross.

This isn’t on any web site. Its just simple math. I'm in favor of reducing shelters and other high brow forms of deception and everybody just pay the same rate. I'm all in favor of 'paying' more taxes if I earn more. I'm not in favor of being 'taxed' more if I earn more.

Think about it; have to pay 250,000 in income tax? More money than what 95% of the population will gross! According to your .gov numbers. They only have to pay alms of 25% on an earned 1 million. I say sign me up, where’s the line, how do I get into this pay 250k in taxes because I earned a million.

So then, it’s my sorrowful duty to have to inform you that both my mother and your mother were misinformed. Money does not under any circumstances grow on a tree. It comes from those little machines on the sidewalks everywhere...