Since this article is about percentages. Lets play.. : )
Capital gains has been lowered to a point where those who sit in front of a keyboard, on Etrade pay less of a percentage in tax then a full time (would you like fries with that) McDonald’s employee.
So either have the investor class pay as much of a percentage of their income as that Mcdonald’s employee or lower the taxes of the McDonald’s employee to be the current tax rate of capital gains.
Apples and oranges. Capital gains and earned income are completely different and should be treated differently.
Secondly, your example is incorrect, a mcdonalds burger flipper is likely taxed at 10% or 15%, and a slew of deductions are applied to their earnings. I am sure many of these folks fit into the 47 percent not paying any income tax.
The typical McDonald's employee pays NO federal income tax at all, and many get an "earned income credit" welfare check as well. Precious few of them, most likely managers, dip into the lowest marginal tax bracket.