[thackney]

If two people make $20 gross, one a federal employee and one private, they both pay the same rate of income tax. The both get to keep the same amount of dollars afterwards.

[gov_bean_ counter]

... and since everything we have is God’s does any of us really pay taxes?

[mamelukesabre]

What’s your point? I don’t think you have a clue.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Welcome aboard. We are happy to hire you as a new federal worker. Now, first, let me say that your salary will be $50,000 a year, and you will be expected to pay $10,000 a year in taxes.”

“Oh, that’s going to be a problem. That would leave me with $40,000 a year, and I know I can’t live on that. I really need $50,000 a year for my family to survive.”

“Hmmmmmm. That is a problem, isn’t it? See, we’re really depending on you sending us $10,000 a year in taxes. Hmmm. Let’s see – how about we give you a salary of $60,000 a year, and you can send us $10,000 a year in taxes. That will leave you with $50,000 and you can live on that. Sounds fair?”

“You bet!”

Is the worker paying taxes? It's just government shifting money from one pocket to another. Now, if you, as a worker at a manufacturing facility, pay $10,000, then the govenrment is actually getting revenue. YOU are paying taxes. Federal workers? I don't think they really pay taxes.