Jim, in a typical capitalistic democratic country with a graduated income tax, the bottom 50% of earners make so little, and contribute so little to the tax base as to be next to meaningless from a government revenue standpoint.

They shouldn't pay income tax.

And please don't confuse who I'm talking about with those on the dole. I'm talking about low income earners.

They should pay no income tax.

The tax system should be vastly simpler, so that millions and millions of lawyers, accountants and IRS people need to use their considerable intellect in more useful ways.

The income tax system should NOT be an instrument of effecting government policy.

Simply not paying income tax is not a good measure of what you are trying to allude to.

A more useful number is who depends on the government for the majority of their monthly income. BTW, that would include ALL civil servants, at every layer of government. Probably a more scary number.

Last edited by canvasback; 09/07/16 04:42 PM.
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia