Tax the Rich, Take Your Hands Off Medicare: US Majority

Jeanwah · November 2012

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/11/28-3

Published on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 by Common Dreams
Tax the Rich, Take Your Hands Off Medicare: Overwhelming US Majority
- Common Dreams staff

A large majority of US citizens would like to see higher taxes on the rich and oppose cuts to Medicare as an answer to the US deficit, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Washington Post and ABC News.

Roughly sixty percent of those asked stated that they would like to see higher income taxes on those in higher income brackets -- $250,000 and greater.

Only 37 percent opposed a progressive tax system.

Those who answered with “strong” support for raising taxes on the rich were roughly double the number with "strong" opposition: 42 percent for vs. 23 percent against.

Seventy-three percent of Democrats and 63 percent of independents support higher taxes on the rich. 59 percent of Republicans oppose it.

Additionally two-thirds of Americans oppose a raise in Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 as is proposed by many Republican lawmakers. Only 30 percent support it.

According to the Huffington Post, these numbers remain consistent with polls taken throughout the year. On Nov. 6, the same percentage of Americans sided with higher taxes on the wealthy, as well with a similar poll earlier in the year.

The poll arrives as lawmakers debate this week over next year's budget plan -- negotiating over public spending and taxation options. As politicians, along with corporate media outlets, raise fears over the so called "fiscal cliff," or sequestration that will occur if opposing forces don't make a "grand bargain," which could include potential cuts to Medicare and Social Security, the solutions provided by these national polls make clear what the majority of the American public would like to see happen instead.

aerial · November 2012

Jeanwah wrote:

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/11/28-3

Published on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 by Common Dreams
Tax the Rich, Take Your Hands Off Medicare: Overwhelming US Majority
- Common Dreams staff

A large majority of US citizens would like to see higher taxes on the rich and oppose cuts to Medicare as an answer to the US deficit, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Washington Post and ABC News.

Roughly sixty percent of those asked stated that they would like to see higher income taxes on those in higher income brackets -- $250,000 and greater.

Only 37 percent opposed a progressive tax system.

Those who answered with “strong” support for raising taxes on the rich were roughly double the number with "strong" opposition: 42 percent for vs. 23 percent against.

Seventy-three percent of Democrats and 63 percent of independents support higher taxes on the rich. 59 percent of Republicans oppose it.

Additionally two-thirds of Americans oppose a raise in Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 as is proposed by many Republican lawmakers. Only 30 percent support it.

According to the Huffington Post, these numbers remain consistent with polls taken throughout the year. On Nov. 6, the same percentage of Americans sided with higher taxes on the wealthy, as well with a similar poll earlier in the year.

The poll arrives as lawmakers debate this week over next year's budget plan -- negotiating over public spending and taxation options. As politicians, along with corporate media outlets, raise fears over the so called "fiscal cliff," or sequestration that will occur if opposing forces don't make a "grand bargain," which could include potential cuts to Medicare and Social Security, the solutions provided by these national polls make clear what the majority of the American public would like to see happen instead.

I would like to see cuts to congress....some one had a good idea on another sight. Any other income they have the amount of that income would be subtracted from there government pay check, or if they fail they get FIRED. There are plenty of others that would want the job only to help this country. They are Public Servants and they should be reminded of that!

Cosmo · November 2012

aerial wrote:

I would like to see cuts to congress....some one had a good idea on another sight. Any other income they have the amount of that income would be subtracted from there government pay check, or if they fail they get FIRED. There are plenty of others that would want the job only to help this country. They are Public Servants and they should be reminded of that!

...
Um... you know... YOU can fire them. It's called, 'A Ballot'.
But, as long as American public continues to re-hire these people whom the American Public is giving a 20% approval rating... nothing is going to change and we will continue to get the government we ask for... and therefore, deserve.
...
Now... cutting congressional pay will be a cup of piss in an ocean of urine. Where else would you cut... i remind you... the heavy hitters in the line-up are Social Security, Medicare and Defense.

brianlux · November 2012

I'm a 60 percenter.

Cosmo · November 2012

brianlux wrote:

I'm a 60 percenter.

...
I figure... based upon my current salary and the rate of my annual bonuses... I won't hit the $250,000.00 income range til about 2067. I'll be 111 years old and hopefully, retired by then.

catefrances · November 2012

Cosmo wrote:

brianlux wrote:

I'm a 60 percenter.

...
I figure... based upon my current salary and the rate of my annual bonuses... I won't hit the $250,000.00 income range til about 2067. I'll be 111 years old and hopefully, retired by then.

brianlux · November 2012

Cosmo wrote:

brianlux wrote:

I'm a 60 percenter.

...
I figure... based upon my current salary and the rate of my annual bonuses... I won't hit the $250,000.00 income range til about 2067. I'll be 111 years old and hopefully, retired by then.

I'll hit that figure sometime around the summer of 2150.

No, I mean 60 percenter as in: "Roughly sixty percent of those asked stated that they would like to see higher income taxes on those in higher income brackets -- $250,000 and greater."

Dirtie_Frank · November 2012

I think $250, 000 is a low number to be considered wealthy. Are they well off yes, but someone making 250K in YC, DC or LA is not the same as someone making it in Boise, Des Moines, etc...

brianlux · November 2012

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

I think $250, 000 is a low number to be considered wealthy. Are they well off yes, but someone making 250K in YC, DC or LA is not the same as someone making it in Boise, Des Moines, etc...

That's an excellent point and maybe regional cost of living could be taken into account- which of course would complicate the issue quite a bit. Maybe a formula factoring in local cost of living would make sense except that somebody is going to say, ok, since the post office now allows the post office street address to be used to receive parcels I'm, guessing it could also be used to establish residency and people making a lot of money will just have a second address in a poorer neighborhood. Or they'll find some other loop hole. Or their financial adviser- one of those luxuries most of us can't afford- will do that for them. I don't see things changing anytime too soon.

riotgrl · November 2012

brianlux wrote:

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

I think $250, 000 is a low number to be considered wealthy. Are they well off yes, but someone making 250K in YC, DC or LA is not the same as someone making it in Boise, Des Moines, etc...

That's an excellent point and maybe regional cost of living could be taken into account- which of course would complicate the issue quite a bit. Maybe a formula factoring in local cost of living would make sense except that somebody is going to say, ok, since the post office now allows the post office street address to be used to receive parcels I'm, guessing it could also be used to establish residency and people making a lot of money will just have a second address in a poorer neighborhood. Or they'll find some other loop hole. Or their financial adviser- one of those luxuries most of us can't afford- will do that for them. I don't see things changing anytime too soon.

Maybe they aren't wealthy if they live in DC or LA but they're not destitute either. And my undestanding of this issue is that it would only increase the taxes on the amount they make beyond $250,000. So the utlimate tax would only amount to a couple of thousand dollars. Is that really going to hurt someone or keep them from hiring another employee? An overhaul of the entire tax code is really in order to close loopholes and to simplify our tax system.

EdsonNascimento · November 2012

$90 Billion in tax revenue with no cuts does nothing. And everyone here knows that money will get spent, too.

This is purely punitive. We need an overall solution that includes increased revenue and spending cuts. Without the latter, the former is useless. All you're doing is making people feel good. Which is all this poll proves.

Funny that Obama now says - let's complete the class warfare on the rich now, and I promise, we'll talk about spending cuts later. :roll: Yeah. Like that will ever happen.

I think if there's no comprehensive solution including spending cuts, we should go off the "cliff" instead of just pandering to the masses.

This is the best idea I've heard though - Republicans should offer up CUTS to the middle 2 tax brackets ("middle class") and let Obama respond to that.

riotgrl · November 2012

EdsonNascimento wrote:

$90 Billion in tax revenue with no cuts does nothing. And everyone here knows that money will get spent, too.

This is purely punitive. We need an overall solution that includes increased revenue and spending cuts. Without the latter, the former is useless. All you're doing is making people feel good. Which is all this poll proves.

Funny that Obama now says - let's complete the class warfare on the rich now, and I promise, we'll talk about spending cuts later. :roll: Yeah. Like that will ever happen.

I think if there's no comprehensive solution including spending cuts, we should go off the "cliff" instead of just pandering to the masses.

This is the best idea I've heard though - Republicans should offer up CUTS to the middle 2 tax brackets ("middle class") and let Obama respond to that.

You do need both increased revenue and spending cuts. But why completely cut welfare programs in a slash across the board method? Clinton had a great program that provided education and/or job skill traning to move people off welfare within 3 years, I believe. Why not TRULY reform welfare that way the rolls could be reduced for the long term? If we educate and train the poverty stricken then they will value education/job training and will teach that to their kids so we end the cycle of poverty through a long term solution. Just cutting spending on these programs only panders to the Republicans to make them "feel good" about increasing revenue through taxes, either tax increase or closing loopholes. Perhaps that's the conversation we should be having in Congress. I never could figure out why Bush felt it was a good idea to drop that program :fp:

Indifference · November 2012

Isn't just logical that a majority of people would support tax increases as long as it doesn't impact them!

EdsonNascimento · November 2012

riotgrl wrote:

EdsonNascimento wrote:

$90 Billion in tax revenue with no cuts does nothing. And everyone here knows that money will get spent, too.

This is purely punitive. We need an overall solution that includes increased revenue and spending cuts. Without the latter, the former is useless. All you're doing is making people feel good. Which is all this poll proves.

Funny that Obama now says - let's complete the class warfare on the rich now, and I promise, we'll talk about spending cuts later. :roll: Yeah. Like that will ever happen.

I think if there's no comprehensive solution including spending cuts, we should go off the "cliff" instead of just pandering to the masses.

This is the best idea I've heard though - Republicans should offer up CUTS to the middle 2 tax brackets ("middle class") and let Obama respond to that.

You do need both increased revenue and spending cuts. But why completely cut welfare programs in a slash across the board method? Clinton had a great program that provided education and/or job skill traning to move people off welfare within 3 years, I believe. Why not TRULY reform welfare that way the rolls could be reduced for the long term? If we educate and train the poverty stricken then they will value education/job training and will teach that to their kids so we end the cycle of poverty through a long term solution. Just cutting spending on these programs only panders to the Republicans to make them "feel good" about increasing revenue through taxes, either tax increase or closing loopholes. Perhaps that's the conversation we should be having in Congress. I never could figure out why Bush felt it was a good idea to drop that program :fp:

Who said anything about willy-nilly cuts? I love how tax the rich folks like to turn the discussion.

And that program really didn't work. But, that's an entirely other argument. The best way to get people back to work is to have work for them to have and not create a dependency (again - to save the spin - I am not saying EVERYONE is lazy, or that we don't need a safety net, or whatever you like to spin this as. But, Giuliani proved in NYC that you CAN get folks off welfare by disincentivizing that way of life - which his predecessor David Dinkins thought impossible - Dinkins espoused - you have to expand the "safety net" because these poor people couldn't help themselves.).

If you expand the tax base, as opposed to the welfare base, things work better.

gimmesometruth27 · November 2012

isn't it just like our elected officials to do what the people want them to do?

EdsonNascimento · November 2012

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

isn't it just like our elected officials to do what the people want them to do?

Yep. So, you don't think part of the result of this poll is what Indifference mentioned above?

Though, it is part of the reason Obama won - class warfare against the smallest class. It's easy to pander to the masses. It's what many despots do. It's harder to do what is actually right. Unfortunately, by the time the masses realize wtf is going on, it's too late. Fortunately, for us, we have a governmental set up that allows for resistance. The framers look more genius every day. Don't they?

dancepartner · November 2012

This thread began with polls saying what WE want. Then, we question if anyone in Washington listens to what WE want. Then, we agree we need a comprehensive approach which includes an overhaul on our tax code (I use a reference of over 5000 pages) but I keep reading about just how tricky it is to put real numbers to. Washington Post says 70,000 pages and the absurd numbers quoted just go higher. I say that even at 5000, how many of us even use 100?
Here's my question: how do you guys think (other than splatting ourselves off the cliff) that WE can effect real change?

gimmesometruth27 · November 2012

EdsonNascimento wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

isn't it just like our elected officials to do what the people want them to do?

Yep. So, you don't think part of the result of this poll is what Indifference mentioned above?

Though, it is part of the reason Obama won - class warfare against the smallest class. It's easy to pander to the masses. It's what many despots do. It's harder to do what is actually right. Unfortunately, by the time the masses realize wtf is going on, it's too late. Fortunately, for us, we have a governmental set up that allows for resistance. The framers look more genius every day. Don't they?

class warfare

just like a republican to want taxes to raise on 98% of the population just to protect the top 2%. who is waging class warfare and holding tax cuts hostage again?

you can not reduce a deficit by cutting spending alone. simple math dictates that.

gimmesometruth27 · November 2012

if the super rich top 2% are so concerned about their taxes going up, then why did they overwhelmingly support obama in the election a few weeks ago?

EdsonNascimento · November 2012

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

EdsonNascimento wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

isn't it just like our elected officials to do what the people want them to do?

Yep. So, you don't think part of the result of this poll is what Indifference mentioned above?

Though, it is part of the reason Obama won - class warfare against the smallest class. It's easy to pander to the masses. It's what many despots do. It's harder to do what is actually right. Unfortunately, by the time the masses realize wtf is going on, it's too late. Fortunately, for us, we have a governmental set up that allows for resistance. The framers look more genius every day. Don't they?

class warfare

just like a republican to want taxes to raise on 98% of the population just to protect the top 2%. who is waging class warfare and holding tax cuts hostage again?

you can not reduce a deficit by cutting spending alone. simple math dictates that.

Where did I say that? The fact is, OBama has already raised taxes on the Middle Class via Obamacare (see the indirect "taxes" - Jimmy John's is being lauded for not specifically naming the tax on their bill like Papa John's. Yet, how is that owner going to turn a $500,000 expense that will turn profitable location to non-profitable? Raise prices - there's the additional hidden tax. Do you think Romney is eating at Jimmy John's).

Again - $90 Billion does nothing. What's the point of that? I'm not against increased revenue. But, I am against indiscrimant taxation just to garner favor with the public. Do what is right. Get folks back to work, so the base is larger. That will increase revenue 10 times faster than picking a segment of the population and pointing fingers.

Simple math also dictates that taxing the so called "rich" (I am not talking about the Warren Buffets here) does nothing either.

We SPEND too much as individuals. We SPEND too much as a collective. That needs to stop, or there's not enough tax dollars in the world to fix the problem.

EdsonNascimento · November 2012

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

if the super rich top 2% are so concerned about their taxes going up, then why did they overwhelmingly support obama in the election a few weeks ago?

What years were tax revenues the highest?

2006, 2007 and 2008 are still the title holders.

Who was President?

What were the tax rates?

What was (true) unemployment?

What was the deficit?

Spending and (true) unemployment are the problems. Not revenues.

Tax the Rich, Take Your Hands Off Medicare: US Majority

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