>This is not a rich-hating thing. The wealthy can afford to pay more.
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>Really? How much more? What I do not understand is how you can believe that, in a free society, if you want to work 18 hours a day to accumulate wealth, that the governemnt should be able to say "We are taking more away from you because you already have too much.
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>The crux of it is I do not believe we should as a matter of policy redistribute wealth from the middle class to the already wealthy.
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>Ah, but you think that it is fine to redistribute wealth from the middle class to the poor (and/or lazy). You make this kind of statement quite often but with nothing to back it up. Please provide evidence that wealth is being redistributed from the middle class to the wealthy.
>
>You also have not addressed my statement that everyone should pay some federal income tax. Do you think that it is fair that almost 50% of the population does not pay anything?

I don't know the percentage (nor am I inclined to accept numbers from the conservative spin machine on faith) but yes, I think it is fair. First of all, it is estimated that only half of those on welfare are even employable due to mental or physical disabilities. The other half are barely eking by, living hand to mouth. And you want to tax them so the taxes on the rich can be reduced? No, we are definitely not on the same page.

I am all for the hard-working succeeding without having to hand over the new income to the government. It is part of what has made this country great. I already said I am not for a punitive European style tax on the top end, which you conveniently snipped from your reply (as is your wont). But I believe in a progressive tax system, absolutely. It's quite an old tradition. I mention only in passing that like you I have always paid more than my "fair" share. IMO it is the price of living in a free and prosperous society.