[Paul C. Jesup]

They put a lie to John Kerry's contention that the rich are not paying their fair share and should be taxed more.

The Kerrys consider themselves super-rich, therefore they believe that they don't need to 'pay their fair share". While on the other hand, they consider anyone, with less wealth than themselves, who are not on welfare or social sercurity to be 'rich' (E.I the middle class).

[Myrddin]

Kerry/Heinz don't care about increasing income tax rates. Income tax is assessed against earned income. The only earned income in their household is Kerry's salary as a Senator. His salary is a small fraction of the household income. People in the Kerry/Heinz wealth class live on income from investments. That income is not taxed as ordinary income. Much of it is tax free or dividends that are subject to capital gains taxes.

[Polybius]

The Kerrys consider themselves super-rich, therefore they believe that they don't need to 'pay their fair share". While on the other hand, they consider anyone, with less wealth than themselves, who are not on welfare or social sercurity to be 'rich' (E.I the middle class).

Exactly.

The Teresa Heinz is estimated to be worth anywhere from $550 Million to $1 Billion. Yet, Teresa Heinz paid less than 8 times more Federal taxes than I did for 2003.

The "progressive" nature of the tax system only applies to those individual who earn more and not the individuals who own more. The concept of "paying their fair share" as an excuse for raising taxes only applies to earners and not to the truly wealthy such as Teresa Heinz.