Open Thread
Need a Hand?
Your Next Project Starts with BrownstonerMost Recent Articles
Need a Hand?
Your Next Project Starts with Brownstoner
Dirty, that story was kind of amusing. I’ve known a number of people like that woman, most of them men. What about you? I’m just curious why they published it though. Because she had tattoos?
So what’s your point? Is NYC going to collapse into fiscal oblivion??
“BRG…my Mexican bf brings me cactus pear or cactus apple. The Mexicans call then “tuna.”
When he gives it to you make sure you don’t get pricked.
DIBS;
I can’t believe you asked me to cite a reference on the fact that only 50% of the population pays income tax,since it is discussed so much these days (the latest case being in this past Monday’s WSJ). Anyway, you asked, I respond:
http://kenhoma.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/everyone-should-pay-income-taxes/
Allow me to define the point further. The 41,000 people paying taxes number comes from Mayor Bloomberg. he stated that this is the number paying 50% of NYC taxes. (not the 100% I initially stated). However, the larger point remains valid. Assuming the sliding tax scale, we know that the top 1% of earners pay 50%, this is even cited in the NYTimes articles on the subject. The top 2% accordingly pays 50-80%, by the time you get to the top 5%, you pretty much have all the taxes paid. So by my math you have to conclude that the tax bill is being carried by about 100,000-200,000 people.
Take into account the number of people you personally know receiving refunds. The number of illegal aliens in the city. The number not employed. The number off the books. The number not filing returns. The number of students, etc. etc. It should not be so surprising.
benson and legion,
We’ve had welfare reform since 1996. Public assistance rolls are nothing like they used to be. Who are the overentitled untaxed masses you are talking about? People who work but whose income is offset by the EIC? Those who became unemployed during the recession? Children? College students? Or is this a point about undocumented immigrants? I assume you are not talking about people who avoid taxes through offshore accounts. Let’s get specific about who you are talking about and what you think should be done about it.
BRG…my Mexican bf brings me cactus pear or cactus apple. The Mexicans call then “tuna.”
One of you rich bastards should treat me to a fancy dinner. You can write it off next year’s taxes as a donation to charity 🙂
Yes, it is the case, throughout the country that the very top wage earners who comprise less than 5% , probably closer to 1% of the population pay the lions share of the taxes.