my connection with the tea party

[GhastMaster]

I'm not sure I would agree that their core issue is correct. Yes, we need to cut spending, but at the same time, we have to increase revenue. The fact that you have a large number of the top 2% income earners in the US saying that they should be paying more in taxes is incredible that the Tea Party is so blantantly going against what they say on taxes. I saw an article from the WSJ a couple months back that looked at the amount of taxes paid by the top 2% as a function of what percentage of income they pay against what percentage of income the middle class (those making $25k to $75k for a family of four per year) and the top 2% were paying between 18% and 22% of their income in taxes where as the middle class was paying between 25% and 28%. As it goes, the fact that the Tea Party, and the Republicans as a whole, can't recognize that taxes have to be raised against this top 2% (and, as I said, a number of the top 2% are boggling over why their taxes aren't higher) is astounding.

I think you are referring to taxes other than that on income. Sales tax, gasoline tax, property tax, and various other taxes do end up consuming a larger percentage of a persons gross income when they make less. Income tax on the other hand is(should be, IMO) simply(or not) a percentage of your income no matter what amount you gross.

Lower earners do have the option of not consuming products and avoiding sales tax. That would mean they would have to make everything on their own(or black market purchases). They do not have to buy gasoline and can avoid that tax. The list can go on and on.

Not every low wage earner pays a higher percentage. Some must pay a negative percentage, considering all the welfare programs that exist.

I like turtles.