Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
HALF of Americans don't pay income tax despite crippling government debt
Topic Started: Feb 23 2012, 08:51 PM (1,548 Views)
Jim Miller
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
You left-wing loonies need to get your idol to do something about this and perhaps more of us righties would support your vendetta against the rich.

Quote:
 
HALF of Americans don't pay income tax despite crippling government debt

151.7m people - 49.5% of the U.S. population - paid no federal income tax in 2009, figures show

Only half of U.S. citizens pay federal income tax, according to the latest available figures.

In 2009, just 50.5 per cent of Americans paid any income tax to the federal government - the lowest proportion in at least half a century.

And the number of people outside the tax system could have climbed even higher since as the economic downturn has continued to bite and unemployment has remained high.
Figures: This graph from the Heritage Foundation shows that half the population of the U.S. pays no federal income tax at all

Figures: This graph from the Heritage Foundation shows that half the population of the U.S. pays no federal income tax at all

The decreasing number of taxpayers threatens government revenues, and could also cause resentment from those who believe that welfare recipients are taking money out of the economy.

151.7million U.S. citizens paid no federal income tax in 2009, according to figures compiled by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank.

In 1984, the middle of the Reagan era, 85 per cent of Americans paid federal income tax, meaning just 34.8million people did not.

Posted Image

The figures include children, the retired and others who do not participate in the labour force.

Nonetheless, they largely reflect the sudden jump in the unemployment rate after the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession.

Unemployment rose from around five per cent at the beginning of 2008 to a high of 10 per cent in October 2009.
Crisis: Unemployment has declined slowly under Barack Obama

Crisis: Unemployment has declined slowly under Barack Obama

As well the increased number of jobless people, the reduction in the number of taxpayers is a result of low-income workers taking pay cuts and reduced hours, and therefore slipping out of the tax system.

It also includes people who illegally fail to file a tax return even though they might have earned enough money to do so.

Another finding by the Heritage Foundation shows that 21.8 per cent of U.S. citizens receive financial assistance from the federal government.

This means that 67.3million people - a record high - are 'dependent on the federal government', excluding government employees who rely on the public sector for their salaries.

The conjunction of fewer taxpayers with higher welfare payments has led to intense pressure on the public purse, with the national deficit running at $1.3trillion per year.

The Heritage Foundation argues that the reduction in the number of taxpayers will create an electorate dominated by non-taxpayers, who will always support higher taxes and spending because their own money is not at stake.
LINK
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Brewster
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Still waiting for someone on the US Right to explain why paying income tax is so much more painful than paying any other tax.

Lower middle class, who pay little or no income tax, pay much higher percent tax than the very rich.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jim Miller
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
No need to wait, Brew. It is none of your business.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
colo_crawdad
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
From-the OP:
Quote:
 
The figures include children, the retired and others who do not participate in the labour force.


Edited by colo_crawdad, Feb 23 2012, 10:39 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
" according to the graph, the percent of Americans paying income tax increased by about 10 percent in the first year of President Obama's Presidency"

Opposite, nonpaying Americans increased 10%.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
"Lower middle class, who pay little or no income tax, pay much higher percent tax than the very rich."

Interesting diversion from what the OP demonstrates.

First thing I'd ask is for some data.

Second thing I'd ask is for additional data on what % those contribute to wealth, say % of say GDP, compared to the very rich.

Third thing I'd ask is why the incessant fixation on class warfare?

I would but you have me on ignore.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
colo_crawdad
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Chris
Feb 23 2012, 10:34 PM
" according to the graph, the percent of Americans paying income tax increased by about 10 percent in the first year of President Obama's Presidency"

Opposite, nonpaying Americans increased 10%.
Yep, I misread the graph. I have edited my post to reflect such.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
colo_crawdad
Feb 23 2012, 10:40 PM
Chris
Feb 23 2012, 10:34 PM
" according to the graph, the percent of Americans paying income tax increased by about 10 percent in the first year of President Obama's Presidency"

Opposite, nonpaying Americans increased 10%.
Yep, I misread the graph. I have edited my post to reflect such.
Cool.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Yes lets worry about a few sheckels we can get from the middle class, this way it diverts the attention on the fact that the rich pay a very low tax rate


And Roomney buries his money in the Cayman islands..................but 36% of the right love him
Quote Post Goto Top
 
colo_crawdad
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
If I read the data provided by the U. Census Bureau, 12.5 percent of the population in 2009 was over the age of 65 (24% over 55) and about 25% were under the age of 19. That seems to account for most of the near 50% not paying any Federal Income tax in 2009.

LINK

LINK
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fire And Ice General Discussion · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Website Traffic Analysis