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The Rich Can't Pay for ObamaCare
Wall Street Journal ^ | March 30, 2010 | Alan Reynolds

Posted on 03/30/2010 7:35:12 AM PDT by reaganaut1

President Barack Obama's new health-care legislation aims to raise $210 billion over 10 years to pay for the extensive new entitlements. How? By slapping a 3.8% "Medicare tax" on interest and rental income, dividends and capital gains of couples earning more than $250,000, or singles with more than $200,000.

The president also hopes to raise $364 billion over 10 years from the same taxpayers by raising the top two tax rates to 36%-39.6% from 33%-35%, plus another $105 billion by raising the tax on dividends and capital gains to 20% from 15%, and another $500 billion by capping and phasing out exemptions and deductions.

Add it up and the government is counting on squeezing an extra $1.2 trillion over 10 years from a tiny sliver of taxpayers who already pay more than half of all individual taxes.

It won't work. It never works.

The maximum tax rate fell to 28% in 1988-90 from 50% in 1986, yet individual income tax receipts rose to 8.3% of GDP in 1989 from 7.9% in 1986. The top tax rate rose to 31% in 1991 and revenue fell to 7.6% of GDP in 1992. The top tax rate was increased to 39.6% in 1993, along with numerous major revenue enhancers such as raising the taxable portion of Social Security to 85% of benefits from 50% for seniors who saved or kept working. Yet individual tax revenues were only 7.8% of GDP in 1993, 8.1% in 1994, and did not get back to the 1989 level until 1995.

Punitive tax rates on high-income individuals do not increase revenue. Successful people are not docile sheep just waiting to be shorn.

From past experience, these are just a few of the ways that taxpayers will react to the Obama administration's tax plans:

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial
KEYWORDS: alanreynolds; capitalgains; capitalgainstaxes; laffercurve; obamacare; progressiveincometax; taxes; taxincreases
Report from the Tax Foundation: Can Income Tax Hikes Close the Deficit?
1 posted on 03/30/2010 7:35:12 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

The Hollywood and limousine liberals will be outraged by this.


2 posted on 03/30/2010 8:00:52 AM PDT by Tempest (I believe in the sanctity of life... As long as you can afford it.)
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To: reaganaut1
From past experience, these are just a few of the ways that taxpayers will react to the Obama administration's tax plans:

Cheap tease. Not going to subscribe just to get the list!

3 posted on 03/30/2010 8:12:55 AM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: reaganaut1

I am no mathematician.

I am presently earning 1.5% interest on my CD’s

Slapping a 3.8% Medicare tax on 1.5% interest, aint gonna make Obama rich.

These people are insane.


4 posted on 03/30/2010 8:28:43 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Venturer

Congress has a nasty habit,no matter how much revenue the governments receives it will spend at a 2:1 ratio.


5 posted on 03/30/2010 8:59:53 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: Vaduz

“By slapping a 3.8% “Medicare tax” on interest and rental income.”

FUBO! Why are you jacking up my rent?


6 posted on 03/30/2010 9:00:52 AM PDT by BenKenobi ("we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be")
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To: Venturer
I am presently earning 1.5% interest on my CD’s Slapping a 3.8% Medicare tax on 1.5% interest, aint gonna make Obama rich.

It's not CDs they're interested in. It's capital gains.

7 posted on 03/30/2010 9:01:43 AM PDT by kevkrom (De-fund Obamacare in 2011, repeal in 2013!)
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To: reaganaut1
Punitive tax rates on high-income individuals do not increase revenue. Successful people are not docile sheep just waiting to be shorn.

That was my experience. As soon as I realized the percentages I was paying in taxes I walked out of my high-paying corporate job and started my own company.

I'll spend my time on the tennis courts before I give a substantial percentage of it away to the "ne'r-do-well" class.

8 posted on 03/30/2010 9:17:02 AM PDT by The Duke
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To: reaganaut1

bttt


9 posted on 03/30/2010 9:19:12 AM PDT by petercooper (Ignorant Obama Voters: Happy Now?)
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To: BenKenobi

Wait until december the the tax train will go full speed.


10 posted on 03/30/2010 9:28:40 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: reaganaut1

bttt


11 posted on 03/30/2010 9:42:01 AM PDT by snowrip (Liberal? YOU ARE A SOCIALIST WITH NO RATIONAL ARGUMENT.)
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