Posted on 01/15/2019 6:03:03 PM PST by TigerClaws
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and her Republican critics have both called her proposal to dramatically increase America's highest tax rate "radical" but a new poll released Tuesday indicates that a majority of Americans agrees with the idea.
In the latest The Hill-HarrisX survey — conducted Jan. 12 and 13 after the newly elected congresswoman called for the U.S. to raise its highest tax rate to 70 percent — a sizable majority of registered voters, 59 percent, supports the concept.
Ocasio-Cortez has not introduced any legislation to enact the concept but the survey shows a broad cross-section of Americans supports it, at least presently.
Women support the idea by a 62-38 percent margin. A majority of men back it as well, 55 percent to 45 percent. The proposal is popular in all regions of the country with a majority of Southerners backing it by a 57 to 43 percent margin. Rural voters back it as well, 56 percent to 44 percent.
Increasing the highest tax bracket to 70 percent garners a surprising amount of support among Republican voters. In the Hill-HarrisX poll, 45 percent of GOP voters say they favor it while 55 percent are opposed to it.
Independent voters who were contacted backed the tax idea by a 60 to 40 percent margin while Democratic ones favored it, 71 percent to 29 percent.
Ocasio-Cortez is among a group of progressive legislators which includes Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) who have called for increasing federal income tax rates on wealthier Americans. The New York Democrat kicked off a debate within her party in a Jan. 6 interview with "60 Minutes" during which she said she would support setting the highest tax, which she said would kick in at individuals 10 millionth dollar of income, at 70 percent.
In her comments to the CBS show, Ocasio-Cortez referenced tax rates that had once been in place during the mid-20th century. During the 1950s and 60s, the wealthiest Americans were once taxed at a rate in excess of 90 percent.
"That doesn't mean all $10 million are taxed at an extremely high rate, but it means that as you climb up this ladder you should be contributing more," she said.
The proposal has been met with both criticism and acceptance within the Democratic party. Republicans and conservative commentators have been universally critical, some incorrectly implying that the congresswoman wants to tax all income of the richest Americans at 70 percent.
The latest Hill-HarrisX poll was conducted online among a demographically representative sample of registered voters and has a sampling margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
Did I just say “leaching”? Typo? Nope! Just not thinking while typing quickly. Leeching. Yeah,I think I got it correct this time.
“This is really a “jealousy cap” proposal to make sure no one makes outsize amounts of income.”
Excellent post. Most do not understand ‘marginal rates’ Since the proposal is to tax dollars over $10M at 70%, common sense would indicate the ‘tippy top’ would stop economic activity at that level. (or change manner of gain into other forms of compensation.)
If true, which I think it isn’t, most Americans don’t deserve the name.
“Fair share” is really 100%.
Showing what the current crop of Republicans/conservatives have done a crappy job of educating and persuading citizens about how our system of low tax rates and free enterprise has made us the envy of the world.
Venezuela here we come.
Russia has a 13% flat tax for all income levels. Russia’s debt muutiple levels are levels below ours. They learned from communism.
We will all pay, all of us its a lie, f them all! Try and take my money
No detailed methodology offered.
SNORT.
Pelosi will want an exemption. She had to build a gigantic wall around her mansion and now can’t afford her fair share.
“The Hill-HarrisX survey ...”
I’d give more credence to two whored advocating the virtues of chastity.
HARRIS X polling??
LOL. These clowns are the most left of all pollsters aside from Quinnipiac..
I agree, tax billionaires at 90 percent.
Suit yourself, as your job becomes more likely to be replaced by a robot so the rich and the corporate scum can save more money to park overseas.
(BTW, corporate scummery is why I do support a corporate tax, but nowhere near such a high level. Perhaps leaving the income tax in place for rich b*tches is wise, too, but I would prefer no more than 33 percent.)
I always believe that the bottom 1/3 want the top 1/3 to pay their share. Not their share as in fair share. Their share as in the bottom 1/3 want the top 1/3 to pay the bottom’s share.
I am absolutely convinced that the outcome of this poll was predetermined!
I cannot, and refuse to, believe that US citizens want to impose a 70% top federal income tax rate!
There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY this was a scientific poll!
Not a chance. The people who will be hardest hit will be small entrepreneurs with boom and bust business income. Without high priced accountants the money has to be turned into salary and taxed.
Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.