I consider myself reasonably aware of what is happening in the world but today I was caught off-guard. I was reading an editorial in the Visalia Times Delta and a Jerry Jensen, the author, made this statement, "Unfortunately, America has reached a tipping point--the 50 percent of households who pay no federal income tax now represent a voting bloc large enough to elect leaders who will maintain their benefits by increasing taxes on the other half."
I was shocked at the percentage and didn't believe it. A Google search found this article from last year about the 2009 tax season. 47% didn't pay income tax or received money back in excess of what they paid the government.
I believe in helping others, but I also know from years in education and watching people that those that have no buy-in to something give it little or no value. As a trivial example, last year during testing the school provided trail mix and drinks for the students. The idea was to keep their metabolism up so they test better. I had a class of good natured but somewhat less disciplined students. You know, young people used to getting their way. The trail mix was used to throw at each other on breaks. The mix was given to them and they had no attachment to it. But take away the chips they buy and you will see groveling of the basest nature to get those chips back at the end of the class.
Let's try some Math. (I did teach basic Math for a few years believe it or not, before No Child Left Behind.) This is going to be simplistic, but again it's a start. The basis is that everyone will pay at least 3% in taxes. Let's start with the know facts. I used the US Census Bureau and the New York Times for these statistics. The poverty level in the US for a family of four in 2010 was $22,314. The current US population is 312,420,867. Subtract the 25% that are under 18 and you get 234,315,650 adults.
234,315,650--Adults
x .47--Percentage that don't pay taxes
110,128,356--Number of non-tax paying
$22,314 2010--Poverty level income
x .03--3% tax (Set minimum tax for all, let's start at 3% for argument.)
$669--3% of poverty level income. Some of the 47% will be lower, some higher.
110,128,356--Number of non-tax paying citizens
x $669--3% of poverty level
$73,675,870,164--Money generated by a 3% minimum tax on people currently untaxed
That's $73 Billion. That would be a start towards the $1,300 Billion ($1.3 Trillion) debt the US is going to have to borrow this year to operate. There will be a bigger benefit though, I believe.
Now everyone will be paying a share. Everyone can feel a part of the group. No one will be left out. No one will be throwing trail mix at others because they paid for the mix. Even those saying they are occupying Wall Street.
110,128,356--Number of non-tax paying
$22,314 2010--Poverty level income
x .03--3% tax (Set minimum tax for all, let's start at 3% for argument.)
$669--3% of poverty level income. Some of the 47% will be lower, some higher.
110,128,356--Number of non-tax paying citizens
x $669--3% of poverty level
$73,675,870,164--Money generated by a 3% minimum tax on people currently untaxed
That's $73 Billion. That would be a start towards the $1,300 Billion ($1.3 Trillion) debt the US is going to have to borrow this year to operate. There will be a bigger benefit though, I believe.
Now everyone will be paying a share. Everyone can feel a part of the group. No one will be left out. No one will be throwing trail mix at others because they paid for the mix. Even those saying they are occupying Wall Street.
1 comment:
One of the misnomers about the statement that they don't pay federal tax is that if they have a job they do pay...social security and medicare. They don't pay income tax. In fact, most get money back from Earned Income Credit...a kind term for Federal Welfare Payment.
People are not going to vote for any change because they do not believe that THEY should have to pay. They depend on the Welfare Payment to buy big ticket items each year. Between earned income credit and credits for children three out of four of my grown kids didn't owe federal income tax and got credits up to $7,000 to boot! They've used it to buy big screen TVs, cars, etc.
Give up THEIR check? Never!
Post a Comment