I agree with you in spirit, but would make one point. The “50% pay no taxes” is hogwash. Now, 50% of people may pay no Federal Income tax, and in fact receive a tax credit, but that doesn’t mean they don’t pay taxes. There’s probably a limited number of people that do get back more than they paid in all other taxes (gas tax, phone taxes, etc. etc.) combined, but I remember reading a few years back that after all levels are accounted for, the average (I believe median was used in the study, but it could have been the mean) person paid roughly 46% of all their income in taxes at some level. And that’s not to mention the hidden inflation tax, as our Government’s debt spending, causes the Fed to print money, thereby robbing (taxing) purchasing power.
Still, having said that. I agree with you completely on what your point was, and that is that there’s a real disparity in who pays for what. The politicians rob the middle class and pay of the elite (with sweetheart deals, subsidies, and bailouts), and pay of the welfare class (in exchange for their freedom). So those on both ends of the spectrum are playing against the ever shrinking middle. Government self preservation requires that all people by on the dole (whether through the bailouts, etc. or through welfare), which we all know, never lasts.
The true Fair Tax would be 0%, but I know we’ll never see that, too. Here’s my feeling: I don’t think God will let the con go on forever. It’s just my gut instinct, but the Founders were inspired, and I think that the U.S./”America” is special. America was founded upon the principles of Freedom, and even though I believe that God allows us to make mistakes and reap what we sow, I also know that He won’t be mocked. This level of corruption has never before awashed the Earth. But I know that good things are in store, because God loves us and wants us to be free. Sometimes He makes miracles happen for the righteous’ sake, even if a lot of people are bad. That’s my hope, belief/faith, but I may be getting off on a tangent.
In any event, I don’t need 0% in taxes (0% income tax sure!), but it should be so small and with such a huge rate of return for what I pay, and a necessity for our security and liberty, that I gladly pay for it. That’s my take.
would that 46% also include the corporate taxes imbedded in the prices of everything we buy?