Response to a conservative asking me to explain why it's fair to the top 1% to have to pay 21%

[ehrnst]

of Federal Taxes in a facebook faceoff.

First I told her her information was both wrong and incomplete. Yes, 45% don't pay Federal INCOME taxes, which includes senior citizens on social security, teenagers with part time jobs, people on unemployment, etc. However, 85% of those filing taxes paid some sort of federal tax via payroll tax. Federal Income tax is only one federal tax paid.

Then I asked her if she knew the percentage of all income that the top 1% or even 2% make.

She said that she had no idea.

Then how could anyone know if their paying 21% of all income tax was 'fair or unfair?' - I asked.

I told her how when I was in high school one summer, I made $400 (before taxes) at a local theatre which reported it and was enough to require me to file, but I didn't owe any federal income tax. My mom (single at the time) was a public school teacher and made $14,000. She also filed, and owed federal income tax.

I then asked her to explain to me why it was fair that the top earning 50% of those in my household filing for taxes paid 100% of the total federal income taxes collected.

Silence.


(Edit for typos)