Rebuttal

So a writer at the left-leaning NYTimes felt he had to attempt to skew perceptions a little bit by writing a completely biased article in response to the 47% fed-tax-free article (prior posts). Also at CNBC (you have to give it to CNBC, they try to provide both sides to the issue).

Something I posted in the comments section:

The author himself is selectively reading the facts.
"Over the last 30 years, rates have fallen more for the wealthy, and especially the very wealthy, than for any other group"
But the fact remains, they are still paying most of the taxes!! A 35% Top federal (+ 7.5% SS + 3% Medicare/medicaid) is still higher than ZERO. It doesn't matter if tax rates have come down from 90%, they are still paying a 1) higher percentage and 2) higher absolute. Why do we have a problem with people's incomes growing? Obviously they have a useful skill and should be 'rewarded' by allowing them to keep more of the income that THEY earned.

Stop raising taxes, it just gives politicians more incentive to SPEND MORE! Across the board cuts need to take place including wiping out a large portion of the 57% of the federal budget that goes towards social entitlement programs.

Some selected quotes:
"There are also payroll taxes and capital gains taxes, among others. And, of course, people pay state and local taxes, too."
Yes, but did you read the article? It specifically mentions 'federal' not all taxes.

"If anything, the government numbers I’m using here exaggerate how much of the tax burden falls on the wealthy. "
The numbers are not exaggerated, the top 10% of earners pay about 90% of the taxes in this country. The burden falls on 'the wealthy.' Which by the way, I would expect a NY times columnist to expect anyone earning more than 100k a year to be wealthy.

"That is, middle-class and poor families may face higher tax rates than the wealthy"
This is consistently one of the most bogus Orwellian arguments ever. The sky is blue, but it is really green. If a tax is based on a fixed percent, or it is progressive, it cannot be regressive! By definition.

"Well, it’s hard not to notice that the talk show hosts themselves tend to be among the very wealthy. "
It's not hard to notice that the very ones promoting more taxes on the 'wealthy' are the ones who are not. Sounds like taxation without representation to me.

"They would prefer if other people had to pick up the bill for Medicare, Social Security and the military "
Wait, isn't this the attitude of the 'non-wealthy' Americans and the system currently in place (the 'wealthy' picking up the tab)?

Get rid of the free loaders in this country, support a flat tax. If everybody had to put some money into the pot they would stand up against the wasteful government spending of this country.