Income Tax

A good article on Tax rates.

The US Federal income tax in pictures

 

 

A couple things.

The middle classes that have been screwed by tax changes though the years.

The top rates have dropped dramatically and the lowest rates went to basically zero in the Nixon years.

The middle rates have dropped a little but really haven't changed much over time.

 

People don't understand taxes.

The working class people I hang around with in the redneck mid-west just don't understand how little income tax the rich pay on the enormous amounts they earn. 

The working class only knows that 

1. They pay taxes.

2. There are people out there that don't.

And they don't think that's fair.

 

Also, most think of taxes as the once a year "Income tax" and don't see all the other taxes out there, Social security, Medicare, sales, gas, car registrations, etc.

So, they are easy marks to be misled into believing income tax cuts are needed to make the system fair. 

If Democrats and progressives want to raise taxes on the rich they'll need to change the working class perception of taxes. 

It won't be easy.