[jethropalerobber]

while no one would disagree that our current tax system is progressive, these numbers exaggerate reality by comparing tax burdens in terms of dollars instead of in terms of percentage of income.

as a percentage of their income, the rich still pay more in FIT, but not dramatically more than the middle income brackets, especially after bush collapsed the topmost bracket (the poorest brackets do indeed get a free ride, God bless them).

BTW, democrats used this same slight of hand (refering to dollars instead of percentage of income) to exaggerate the extent to which bush's tax cut favored the rich.

these numbers are also misleading because they only look at FIT. when medicare, soc. security, state, local, and sales taxes are factored in, the difference in percentage of income paid in taxes is further narrowed.

[cidrasm]

these numbers are also misleading because they only look at FIT. when medicare, soc. security, state, local, and sales taxes are factored in, the difference in percentage of income paid in taxes is further narrowed.

Remember, Medicare and Social Security "taxes" are really premiums payed to an insurance program. As such they are not supposed to be "progressive", just like any other insurance policy. If you want coverage you pay to get it.

Local and sales taxes affect everyone and is the method the states fund their budgets. Are you suggesting the poorer folks shouldn't be on the hook for services they benefit from at the local and state level?