I’m okay with that label. At the same time, if SS payouts are welfare, FICA/Medicare is a tax. So, when Rush Limbaugh and others claim that 50% of the country don’t pay taxes (referring to income taxes only), that is misleading. Between the employer and employee (or self-employed) 15% or so is taken off the top as a tax. Because this tax ends somewhere around $100,000, it is truly a regressive tax.
“So, when Rush Limbaugh and others claim that 50% of the country don’t pay taxes (referring to income taxes only), that is misleading.”
His statement is not misleading. Federal income taxes are the largest source of revenue for the federal government. Almost 50 percent pay no federal income tax with a large part of this group receiving tax welfare (refundable tax credits). This group is the SS winners, whose payroll taxes are small, yet SS benefits are relatively large. SS has a progressive benefit structure in which low paid workers receive benefits similar to higher paid workers. A major part of our debt problem is tax freeloanding. Refundable tax credits should be time and amount limited. All welfare should be time and amount limited except for truly disabled.
Are you a tax freeloader? I find individuals defending tax freeloaders are either committed leftists or receiving tax welfare themselves.
Both fair points.