is it just me or does  the trust one has in our system of gov't increase only with income?
349620
It appears that way and makes perfect sense! Why wouldn't they trust? Those with the big bank accounts feel safe with our money hungry govt.- they all on the same page- allow the rich to get richer, provide them with the tax breaks. It's all about the "in group" and the middle class gets left out.
39396
Making money for these two doesn't apply in the same sense that it does for the rest of us.\n\nThe both have very large trusts which generate very large amounts.
613502
yes it is true. another way our govt. is taking care of others ahead of it's own.
948274
Every time you spend money which is a government entity there is no separation. Every piece of money says IN GOD WE TRUST. It's what this country was built from. There should be no separation.
993116
In theory it is, but in practice, it doesn't work that way. The government has become self-serving. One might argue that the government looks at the bigger picture and therefore can not make decisions based on what the people want. Also, at times, the government only knows what the people with the largest influence and the biggest wallets wants.
1157144
It is just part of the typical liberal mantra... tax, tax, tax. Tax everyone else but me. Raising taxes is NEVER the answer. \n\nHowever, to counter the liberal "tax more" mindset, I think we should set up a volutary fund. Anyone who feels that they do not pay enough in taxes can voluntary contribute more. \n\nHow much do you think THAT would raise? LMAO.\n\n\nTo Answerbot:  Why should the "rich" have to supplement someone else's income? Why should they have to foot the bill for someone else who decided to not pursue education, or chose to have a couple of kids? This country is about OPPORTUNITY not forced obligations.\n\nTo Tamtam:  Uh, our education system gets SOOO much money every year. Instead of faulting the AMOUNT, fault the system. Our schools spend so much time teaching "tolerance" and "sex-ed" and "feelings" instead of teaching math, reading, writing, and geography. Again, thank your local liberal for that.
977790
It should be above bare subsistence, and then indexed to inflation. Then politicians would not have to seek increases every few years, and it would not matter which party was in power; people in covered jobs would have a living wage.
811201
I think this country has gone over the edge as far as helping others.  My tax dollars go to pay for other peoples education and when I need money there is none for me.  I knew someone who got flown in from a different country to have heart surgery completely free of charge.  Would anyone in this country who works and pays takes get that for free ?? Hell no.  My own grandmother got money from the govt for being old.  She had never worked a day in this country.  I think those things are wrong.  The people who live here and pay taxes dont get as much as people from other countries do.
898834
It doesn't change it by much.  The only way it will change is by the amount of state income tax that you can deduct if you itemize your deductions.
1113387
For those of you who don't belive this, it is true.  The facts are roughly right.  I also did calcs based on data from IRS Site (2003 data) \n\nThe top 1% of taxpayers by income pay 33% of all individual income taxes, and 22.7% of all federal taxes. \nThe top 5% of taxpayers pay 54.5% of all individual income taxes, and 38.5% of all federal taxes. \nThe top 10% of taxpayers pay 67.4% of all individual income taxes, and 50% of all federal taxes. \nThe top quintile (20%) pays 82.5% of all individual income taxes, and 65.3% of all federal taxes. \n\nFor you class-war mongers--the top 20% of Individual tax returns include people who make over $75k per year.  Hardly "Rich"\n\nThose who make < $75k per year account for 37% of total income\nThose who make >$75k per year account for 62% of total income\n\nThe lower 80% of returns had roughly 38% of the income but paid 27% of individual taxes.\n\nSo even taking income into account, those who are in upper quintile STILL pay more than their "fair share" as compared to the income the receive.\n\nI really would like somebody to explain how this constitutes "fair".\nBecause somebody went to school, worked hard, got a good job, they should pay more as a percentage of their income?   Those who didn't work hard to get ahead should pay less (as a percentage of their income)?\n\nSo, not only do higher wage earners pay more in tax rates, they pay more in absolute terms.\n\nFor those of you who don't belive or discount, you should do your own research.\n\nOur tax system is most definitely progressive not regressive.\n\nNow, we haven't even touched on Sales taxes-- those are for the most part regressive.  But that's another debate.
314452
The more populated states (NSW and Victoria) have historically always helped fund the less populated states (WA, SA, Qld, Tas) and now that GST revenue pays for state expenses that's where the money comes from. It's not excactly fair but it has certainly helped the 'smaller' states in the past - now that Queensland is the biggest growth state in the country though it does seem ridiculous to penalise NSW so much while the banana-benders swim in a GST surplus. We urgently need more spending on health and public transport in NSW!!
371545
The government’s average employment share increased from 5.2 percent in 1937 to 12.3 percent in 1960 to 18.4 percent in 1994. The rate of increase of this ratio has declined during the past couple decades in most countries, but one ought not to make too much of that deceleration.  The difference shows that we have grow to have more money and just overall more economically smart. \n\nhahaha i found the anwser =]
109564
because it is only give and take in govt. \nb'coz money can do anything\nit can change govt. also
381336
Oh damnit, a political question, I was tricked. I think the main problem with the trust issue is mainly due to the iffy criminal justice system. In order for law to work it must be swift, severe, and gauranteed: People sit on death row for 15 years, child rapists have been released with simple probations for treatment and no punishment, and you can commit the same crime in 2 places, one gets you probation and the other gets you 20 years. I believe that until these issues are better delt with, people will not be able to believe that our justice system is efficient enough to "correct" anyone. Unfortunately our justice system is unique in the world, it is a system that would literally let 10 guilty people go than send one innocent person to jail, which I can't argue with, but hopefully in the future people will realize that it's a mess and someone will fix it.
411870
Sure I do. Income tax is usually geared to help the wealthy, the people in power. If government income was to come from sales tax alone, and on everything except food it would much more fair for the poor. The more you buy, the more taxes you pay, what could be more fair?
331332
Let see, we can trust them to short-change the American public, we can trust them to use way more money than is needed and to spend it on useless stuff....\n\nNo seriously, I agree with you, I can not think of 1,2,3,4,or,5 things to trust the government on, we know you coat everything to make it smell or sound sweet, then turns out it was rotten all along, we know they seek to disperse benefits, or profits from here to others first, rather than the citizens here. I dont know, I dont think there is one good thing that we can trust the government on. But I bet you would have a much easier time thinking of what we cant trust them on or with.\n\nThank you
52261
I trust the national government!\n\nI trust them to infringe on my rights, squander money, resist change until the crisis has happened, worry more about how their plans sound than whether it is really the correct course of action, pretend to accomplish stuff, lie to the people, claim to be representing the people when they represent the 25% or so of the adult population that actually bothered to vote for them, and care more about their career than the people of their nation and the world.\nis that enough trust? lol.\nlocal government is more trustworthy than federal government i think, because on the local level there is less money and power involved, the politicians have more difficulty hiding misdoings since they are personally involved with their constituents, the politicians must answer directly to the people, and there are fewer scapegoats available when things go wrong.  On the national level i think the whole system is inherently corrupt, for the opposites of the reasons why local is more trustworthy.