Wax_off

I think I can speak about taxing the rich in a way few other here can. I am one of those 1% top earners. Whatever tax cut I got from Bush DIDN'T MAKE ONE BIT OF DIFFERENCE TO MY FINANCES. $10-15k more in the bank, great. Who gives a shit, I still have more money than I can reasonably spend. And I didn't spend the extra money, I saved it. I'm fairly certain that tax cuts for less wealthy Americans, people for whom a few hundered dollars is a big deal, would be felt in their pocket books, they would spend the extra money, contribute more to the economy.

Now it is true that I have become more philanthropic in the past few years, but it's not because of the extra Bush tax cuts, it's because I've become more aware of the vast and increasing gulf between the haves and have nots in this country. And not taxing people like me doesn't help. The reason you tax the rich is because we're the ones who can AFFORD IT.

Regarding a national sales tax, it would be unfair, as are all sales taxes. The poor spend a larger percent of their income on taxable goods, so they carry a heavier burden, a greater percentage of their income is taken by the govt.

[edit] To add to my own rant, rich people all know that not taxing them doesn't help. The only people who defend tax cuts for the rich are either 1. greedy and want more money or 2. too dumb/blinded to see the reality.