A Truly Loaded Question
A Question Of Fairness?
As I read along, I have to remember that Obama is a demagogue and this is an election year where the Democrats are intent on playing the envy card at every turn. That's the card that is played just prior to the race card hitting the table. I keep reading polls where the question is being asked if Americans think the rich are paying enough income taxes. That is an entirely loaded question. If you're one of the 50% who aren't paying a dime of federal income tax then just the sheer psychology of answering such a question comes into play. Of course you don't because you aren't paying anything. Rather than require the 50% to pay their "fair share" lets point to the people who are paying more than their fair share and claim that their paying what they presently pay is "unfair." That doesn't make a lick of sense to me but liberal logic never does.
An examination of those pesky things called "facts" seems secondary to the discussion when the question is asked. If you don't give people enough information to make an intelligent stab at answering any question, you should expect a nonsense, emotional only answer. Such is the case here so lets exam the facts.
The question Obama likes to beat to death is, "Are the rich paying their fair share?" The question that really needs to be examined is really, "Are the 50% who aren't paying a lick of federal income tax paying their fair share?" Of course the left wing media giants aren't going to ask that question. I don't expect political hacks to ask the right question.
The use of data comes into question about who is paying what. Team Obama knows full well what the present IRS data says about who is paying what but they fail to use that data. I'll get to the bottom line question at hand after reviewing the "facts." Liberals will argue that the "facts" are misleading because the 50% of don'ters in question pay other taxes. Well guess what? So do the wealthy and in a higher proportion again than the don'ters. What a lame argument.
This is IRS data for you fact checkers. In 2007 the wealthiest 1% of Americans earned about 22% of "personal income" but paid in 40% of personal income taxes. Aren't you glad that wasn't you? When you raise that number to the top 5% of income earners the tally jumps to a 61% pay out. Jump the percentage to the top 10% and 71% of all personal income taxes is the magic number. Still glad you aren't there aren't you? Many would rather pay nothing to use the same services as those who do. Maybe it's human nature you say?
The data presented begs two questions really. The first is the most obvious. Listening to Obama explain it can anyone reach the conclusion that the poor and middle class are bearing the lion's share of personal income taxes while the wealthy are being given a free pass? The next question has to do with fairness. What standard is being applied when the top 10 percent pay 71% of the income taxes collected while 50% of income earners are don'ters? The standard being applied is the ignorance of the American people about federal taxation standard actually.
The Tax Policy Center points out that what it terms the "working class" pay 3% of federal taxes, the middle class shells out 11%, upper middles fork over 19% and the wealthy shoulder the bulk of the shellacking at 67%. Notice that I said "federal taxes" and not "personal income taxes." Be aware that the infamous "Earned Income Credit" is what allows the don'ters to avoid paying their fair share. If Obama had his way the top 10% of income earners would pay 100% of the taxes and the rest of us would enjoy a free ride. That's the nature of class warfare and the politics of envy which aren't going to solve diddly squat concerning fiscal responsibility
The danger of this form of demagoguery is pointed out by Scottish historian Alexander Tyler when discussing survival and democracy. I quote:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."
Goes back to asking that lead in question about taxing the rich. If one has no liability to pay income taxes would you view any discussion of raising income taxes, or lowering them for that matter, as a threat? A threat to what you ask? A threat to those handout programs they have been feeding you to get you to vote for fiscal insanity.
As our national debt approaches $16 trillion rapidly many questions need to now be addressed. Do you really think this nation is immune from the economic chaos we are seeing throughout the EU? If so, what makes you think that? Have you bought into the "too big to fail" philosophy? Our nation is NOT too big to fail.
Remember In November!
The obvious is staring right at us.
Percentage of debt to Gross Domestic Product:
- Greece - 160%
- Italy - 120%
- Portugal - 106%
- Ireland - 104%
So it can't happen here? Is that what I hear you saying? I suggest you get rid of that sort of stinkin' thinkin' because our ratio has moved from 35% of GDP in the 1970's and is now sitting at 106% of GDP. What that means, in layman's terms, is that our debt is now larger than this nation's entire gross domestic product. And guess who wants to keep on spending and running it up higher.
I don't care what your party affiliation is. Think of yourself as an American from this point forward. Start asking yourself - WHY?
As Always,
The Frog Prince