Income Inequality In The United States

We have heard recently from Republicans that the rich pay too much in taxes while many in the country pay no taxes at all. They want to cut taxes for the rich and raise it for everyone else, including making the poor pay at least some amount.

The chart above shows the income distribution per quintile of the population. Note that the bottom 60% of Americans have only about a quarter of the nation's income (25.9%) -- about equal to that of the top 5% (23%). And the top 20% of Americans get over half of the nation's income (51.4%).

That bottom 60% is struggling to pay their bills and keep up with inflation. It makes no sense to tax them more, and make their lives even harder.

Meanwhile, there are some among the super-rich that pay no income taxes at all, and many others that pay a smaller tax rate than the middle class. This is the group that needs to be taxed more. Those with the most income should bear the largest burden of taxes. That is called progressive taxation, and it's supposed to be the way income is taxed in this country.

Besides, it is not true that many in this country pay no taxes. While the working poor may not have to pay an income tax because they don't make enough to be taxed, everyone in this country pays taxes -- and the poor and working classes pay a much larger percentage of their income in taxes than do the rich. They pay property taxes (even when they rent), sales taxes (the most regressive tax), and fees (just taxes by another name).

The Republicans have made it clear that they only care about the rich. They must be voted out of office, so a fairer tax and economic system can be restored.