'Tax the Rich' kiosk gets positive response

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4615

8 September 2010

ST. PAUL - This year, AFSCME Council 5 used its kiosk at the Minnesota State Fair to advance its “Tax the Rich” campaign – and the message resonated with many fairgoers, the union said.

Seventy-five volunteers distributed 4,800 “Tax the Rich” buttons and 6,500 “Tax the Rich” wallet cards, AFSCME reported.


Fairgoers read about the "Tax the Rich" campaign at the AFSCME kiosk.

Photo courtesy of Council 5

More than 700 people filled out cards describing their funding priorities if the rich paid their fair share of taxes. Services that were cited included early childhood and K-12 education, higher education, health care, General Assistance Medical Care, public housing, parks, community centers, libraries, public safety, environmental protections, property tax relief and many more.

FULL story at link.

[dkf]

1. When does this become simply "make the other guy pay"?

Isn't this really mostly about not wanting to have to foot the bill for anything?

I see so many demands for services yet minimal volunteering to help pay for those services. Yet as we pay less, what is our investment in our society? Accountability is a funny thing. It is more relevant to individuals if they pay for it. Otherwise there is no skin in the game.

[Salviati]

2. When we get back to tax rates on the higest income brackets...

that were not seen last just before the great depression. (a bit of an exaggeration, but not much of one...)

I'm all for people paying their fair share, it's just that the wealthiest among us, and the corporations operating in our country, haven't been for decades.

[dkf]

3. Are we also going to the same tax rates for the lower end?

Half this country doesn't pay taxes and that too is a record. Basically no one pays the taxes they used to. That is why we have a deficit.

Moreover the rich didn't really pay that much. They used a ton of available loopholes to get around it.

[trotsky]

5. "Half this country doesn't pay taxes"

That is a right-wing lie and it is an insult to see it repeated on DU.

[dkf]

6. Federal income taxes I should say.

www.csmonitor.com/Business/2010/0412/Tax-day-101-Who-pays-no-income-taxes-on-April-15

[LiberalFighter]

11. It still is a lie.

Everyone has income that they don't pay taxes on.

Everyone can claim the same exemptions based on their family size and status.

There are deductions that only low income can use and there are deductions that low income cannot use.

Employed low income have to pay Social Security taxes on 100% of their income.

Employed earning over $106,800 don't pay a cent over that amount.

[trotsky]

14. Payroll taxes are federal taxes on income.

And the poor and middle classes pay more, as a share of their total income, than the highest earners do.

So do you just rely on the Heritage Foundation for your information on taxes or what?

[trotsky]

4. We *all* have "skin in the game."

Some individuals may not pay income taxes, but if they have any kind of job, they pay payroll taxes. If they buy anything at all, they are paying sales taxes. If they live somewhere other than in a cardboard box or on a bench in a park, they are paying (directly or indirectly) property taxes.

The richest Americans benefit the most from our government, in terms of protecting their assets. Therefore they should be paying the most in taxes.

[dkf]

7. What do state and local taxes matter for federal policy?

That isnt the taxes we are talking about. Why do people always try to obfuscate the issue by throwing local taxes into the picture? Is "tax the rich" pertaining to state taxes? I hardly think we are addressing state policy in this debate.

[Better Today]

8. Because as the repubs were giving the rich such gargantuan tax breaks

they simultaneously withdrew much state and local funding. So I am pretty sure I can safely say that every state and local tax was increased dramatically during the past 20-30 years. My property tax doubled during GWBs reign, our sales tax went up 1%, state income tax went up about 45%. They are linked due to the fact that the feds generally subsidize federal requirements, well until NoChildLeftBehind and everything else GWB did.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Here in Indiana it makes a difference now.

The governor took the school portion out of the property taxes and raised the state sales tax. Now we have less to deduct for property taxes on our federal return which means higher taxes to the federal government.

A taxpayer can deduct state sales taxes or property taxes on their federal return. But not both.

[trotsky]

13. Payroll taxes are federal taxes.

You didn't know that?

[Better Today]

9. You're wrong. The rich benefit the most in this country, they get better

and faster local services, like police. They have better roads on their side of town, better traffic monitoring and organization (ie when a rich neighborhood wants an extra traffic sign or light or school crossing light, they get it in short order compared to everyone else), the rich don't end up paying their fees and fines related to traffic and many other offenses because they hire high price lawyers, conversely they jam up our civil courts with tons of lawsuits because they can afford to, they are the ones that use public venues like airports most often, etc. Are you really this naive that you don't get it?

[Better Today]

10. Excellent post Steve.