Most Americans say the rich don't pay enough taxes

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Most Americans say the rich don't pay enough taxes
HOPE YEN, Associated Press
Updated 11:29 a.m., Monday, August 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the income gap between rich and poor widens, a majority of Americans say the growing divide is bad for the country and believe that wealthy people are paying too little in taxes, according to a new survey.

The poll released Monday by the Pew Research Center points to a particular challenge for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, whose party's policies are viewed by a wide majority as favoring the rich over the middle class and poor.

The poll found that many Americans believe rich people to be intelligent and hardworking but also greedy and less honest than the average American. Nearly six in 10, or 58 percent, say the rich don't pay enough in taxes, while 26 percent believe the rich pay their fair share and 8 percent say they pay too much.

Even among those who describe themselves as "upper class" or "upper middle class," more than half — or 52 percent — said upper-income Americans don't pay enough in taxes; only 10 percent said they paid too much. This upper tier was more likely to say they are more financially secure now than 10 years ago — 62 percent, compared to 44 percent for those who identified themselves as middle class and 29 percent for the lower class. They are less likely to report problems in paying rent or mortgage, losing a job, paying for medical care or other bills and cutting back on household expenses.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Most-Americans-say-the-rich-don-t-pay-enough-taxes-3817867.php

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. OK most Americans - prove it at the Voting Booth! n/t

[Scuba]

2. Oh, that.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Republican con game sells "You will be rich too!" so voters buy into high taxes for themselves. nt

[demosincebirth]

3. And who do us, stupid Americans, think can fix that inequity? It just pisses me off that

one third of Americans will vote against their own best interests

[closeupready]

4. Well that 58% can all just send in a check, if they

think they government doesn't have enough money.

So tired of that talking point.

[HughBeaumont]

8. "Society would be better if we just all volunTEERED to pay taxes!!1!!!1!"

See: The Gilded Age as to what happens when there's no taxation, no social services, no regulation, no oversight and everything's run for the Robber Baron's coffer inflation.

[AllyCat]

5. And all these Americans are un-American for not supporting the 1% with everything they have

[Doctor_J]

6. Most also want UHC. most want more money spent on roads in the US than roads

in Kabul.

Sadly, "our" government doesn't givea flying dump what we want.

[slackmaster]

7. Most Americans don't think of themselves as rich, and the rich are generally despised by many

A typical person is enthusiastic about raising taxes on the rich, until government decides that he or she is rich.

[liberal N proud]

9. We always here these figures but then the right seems to have support regardless

[FiveGoodMen]

12. The right has the media and the pulpits helping them corral the voters

[Ian_rd]

13. The Right is highly skilled in convincing people to vote against their own interest

Obama. Secret Muslim. Fraudulent birth certificate. Will surrender our sovereignty to the U.N. Wants to give your money to lazy black people. Commie-Socialist-Fascist.

The GOP has been fooling "some of the people, all of the time" for decades. These people regularly vote to lessen the quality of their own lives and the opportunities for their children because their worst instincts are channeled into voting against what's best for them.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. The right is too worried about abortion and guns

to even pay attention to these figures. And that is exactly what the GOP is betting on, and they whip up the fears and anger.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. Most Americans? What's the 3rd Way Centrists position?

[CanonRay]

15. The problem is, the rich don't give a rat's ass what we think

and they own/control the government.

[oldsarge54]

16. At a Loss, The Problem is not taxes, it's structure

I really don't know if there is an answer to the demise of the middle clas (whatever that was). The wealth was more evenly distributed after WWI not so much due to wages, put pent up money sitting in war bonds and war stamps, and the release of controls on the markets after rationing was relaxed. I think what we had was an artificial "middle class" that was fueled by that savings. Before WWII, we had two classes, and after a thirty year decline, I think we are back to two classes. The real debate is what is the role of government. The greatest good for the greatest number, or the greatest good for the ruling class. The Republican party, since right after the Civil War, has been of the latter school. The Progressives, represented by T Roosevelt, represented the first philosophy. The Democrats are what they have been what they are since the Civil War, a coalition of everybody who didn't like Republicans. All this philosophying only signifies, taxes are not the answer. What we are to do with ourselves, and what goals should we adopt, is the real question.

[iemitsu]

19. actually progressive taxation and union work places created the middle class after the second war.

republicans were the the original progressive party until after teddy roosevelt. most in the south were democrats because they hated lincoln and his party.
the democrats became the progressive party during the great depression and have played that role since, well at least until clinton, who sold the party to corporate interests.
obama does not push for progressive legislation.
but even progressive laws and ideas have a big problem if you ask me. we, in america, only measure progress by material gain when it is not things that improve our lives.
all must be understood in the context of a capitalist society.

[oldsarge54]

20. Actually No

The Republican were the party for big business ever since after the Civil War. T Roosevelt, a progressive Republican, was emplaced in the Vice Presidential slot to keep him out of trouble. Then McKinley was shot, and OMG, we have a progressive President. After leaving office, Roosevelt thought he was retired but Taft tried to undo what he accomplished. Hence the Bull Moose party splitting the Republicans and getting Wilson into the presidency. I tried to believe that union work places created the middle class, and had a lot to do with sustaining the period of prosperity, but the big explosion in consumerism when the war bonds started to mature was the actually starter.

[iemitsu]

21. ok, i'll accept that.

[Thrill]

17. So Im supposed to believe

that those same people want to vote for Mittens who wants them give the Rich more tax cuts?

How is he running so close in the polls. When this is what is inside the numbers.

[ELI BOY 1950]

18. Death and Taxes

Nobody wants to die..Nobody wants to pay more taxes (than their fare share)...But when i see a road crew fixing my road or my local public school keeping an arts or sports program...it makes me proud. I would NEVER vote for anyone who has their money offshore to avoid paying taxes...220 million dollars and this is what Romney wants to do...SAD.
I first voted in 1968 for Mc Govern and have never wavered since...I am in the 1%...but there policies are broken...the Bush v. Gore election was big ,,,but not a big as this...
When we win we can close out the right for a LONG time...the white aged majority will be a minority...Minorities, women , immigrants will replace at 1%...Hello Hilary...trust me this is big.