Robert Reich's Blog: A Short Citizen's Guide to Kooks, Demagogues, and Right-Wingers On Tax Day

[jennythereader]

Robert Reich's Blog: A Short Citizen's Guide to Kooks, Demagogues, and Right-Wingers On Tax Day

Robert Reich points out some common misconceptions about taxes.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Thanks, good link!

[nounsandverbs]

I think I feel a post of my own coming on. :)

[siegerat.livejournal.com]

Where's the *tall* citizens' guide? ;-)

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I love Reich's blog.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

And a very good post it was. :-)

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

:-) Silly.

[nounsandverbs]

Why, thank you.

[curlyeric.livejournal.com]

It would be nice if he could keep his facts stright. He claims it's misleading to say that 70% of the taxes are paid by the "rich" but then goes on to claim that the after tax income of "rich" families has gone up 150%. If that is due to reduction in taxation he would have a point, if it's from earning more money he really doesn't have a lot to stand on.

In one paragraph he is touting how low the tax rate is and in another he is saying how deceiving the low tax rate is because of all of the "hidden" taxation that goes on in America.

Don't get me wrong I'm not an extremist on either end of the spectrum, but I do believe that the average American is being taxed (both directly and indirectly) far more then they should be *for the level of services that the government provides*. Sure other countries get taxed more but they have things like medical coverage, better unemployment benefits, better family leave policies, etc. I personally don't think we are getting a good value for our tax dollar spent.

As for the debt, it doesn't matter until it does. To carry such a high debt load is a risk that I don't believe is justified. It's not like the government is paving the way with some breakthrough infrastructure project that will yield dividends down the road.