This data is from the Congressional Budget Office(2009) and is the percentage of income Americans hand over to the government in the form of personal income,corporate taxes,social insurance and excise taxes.It also takes into account that many Americans use deductions to make the statutory rates lower. As we read the different quintiles(low to high),everyone pays taxes.The Republican propaganda machine always denies this fact and misinforms the populace with the notion that the lower two quintiles are freeloaders( as David Walker states in "Comeback America").They disparage the lower quartiles(lower making up to a whopping $17,200 average and the second lowest $39,400 per household...40% of all Americans) as drags on the fiscal viability of our nation.As you see, the very poor paid 10% in 1984.The percentage of their taxes have fallen more since 2005 with an increase in the earned income deduction(to ease the pain of the great recession),but they still pay taxes and strive to be decent citizens like the highest quintile($248,400 average)The 10%(Walker proposes) rate is $1,720 which is an enormous drain on the welfare of a family living in rural or urban areas of our country.That sum could be two months rent,heat for a winter,transportation repairs for a fragile auto, or new clothing for a growing boy.It is impossible to image the stress and worry a parent(parents) in this situation have concerning the welfare of their children.The second lowest quartile are in a little better situation but also struggle to survive in an ever growing price inflation environment.$39,400 isn't a lot of money for a household to survive on when food,clothing and housing/rental prices continue to rise.$2,576/month(after taxes) doesn't go a long way with children in the house.Most rentals with two bedrooms are around $1,000 at a minimum and that leaves $1,576 for everything else and that isn't enough with today's prices.Credit cards are used by these families to buy the basics to survive and saving is out of the question.Today,many social programs that aid both quintiles are coming under attack from Republicans who want to downsize the government and reduce the deficit.They want to decrease funding for Medicaid,reduce food stamp allowances and eligibility,close head start programs,curtail library hours,dwindle public transportation funding,shrink public safety in poor neighborhoods and cut education funding to the bone.Creating higher paying jobs for the lower quintiles are noexistent.(government must create export and domestic jobs because capitalism has failed this population..American consumerism for Americans)Both parties cater to the needs of the upper quartiles(especially the middle class) and ignore the lower ones because they don't vote as much as the higher ones(Republicans make concerted efforts to crush any organizing group).They also don't contribute to the political elections so they are rarely talked about by both parties.The Democrates support more programs for the poor but they don't make them the priority.Finally,the top quintile has an average income of $248,400.The total average incomes of the lower four quintiles comes to $206,100($17200,$39400,$60,000, and $89,500).This isn't the America I am proud of. This isn't the America many young people die for.Our country will continue to decline if the income inequality continues.Exploiting the poor with misinformation through public relation lies will bring hardship and instibility to our shores.It will tarnish the proud image of America in the eyes of the world.A world that needs us to care about the welfare of all citizens instead of our own self interest.
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