How does the government tax different income levels in the USA?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jackson6612
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Taxes
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the taxation system in the USA, particularly how different income levels—poor, middle class, and rich—are taxed. Participants express curiosity about the rationale behind high taxation and the various channels through which taxes are imposed.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the extent of taxation and suggest that it is pervasive, affecting everything from food to infrastructure.
  • One participant argues that the government owns significant portions of the economy, including roads, education, and utilities, which justifies extensive taxation.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that the complexity of the tax system prevents public awareness of the true tax burden, potentially averting civil unrest.
  • There is a mention of a "reverse tax" for the poor, implying they receive financial assistance rather than paying taxes.
  • Participants discuss the middle class being taxed based on income, while the rich may pay a lower effective tax rate to encourage capital retention in the economy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various opinions on the taxation system, with no consensus reached regarding the fairness or effectiveness of the current tax structure. Multiple competing views on how different income levels are taxed remain present.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the tax system and the potential lack of transparency regarding the actual tax burden on individuals. There are also assumptions about the definitions of "poor," "middle class," and "rich" that remain undefined.

jackson6612
Messages
334
Reaction score
1
I was wondering why the governments impose so much tax on us, they tax us through every channel available from the food we eat to the very roads we travel on. Even that is not enough for them, they also tax our remaining income. Why do they impose so much tax?

Other side question is about how the government such as in USA tax different layers of their society, that is, poor, middle class and rich. I'm sure they don't tax everyone at the same rate.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jackson6612 said:
I was wondering why the governments impose so much tax on us, they tax us through every channel available from the food we eat to the very roads we travel on. Even that is not enough for them, they also tax our remaining income. Why do they impose so much tax?

Other side question is about how the government such as in USA tax different layers of their society, that is, poor, middle class and rich. I'm sure they don't tax everyone at the same rate.
I'll bet you could do some research on this and find out a lot.
 
Thanks for the advice, Evo. But it would be very much helpful if someone could answer it in a few lines. I'm an English learner, so reading articles takes a lot of time, have to use dictionary several times. I hope you would understand. I also understand that everyone's time is precious and valuable and I respect it, and people who help me I owe them a lot.
Best wishes.
 
jackson6612 said:
I was wondering why the governments impose so much tax on us, they tax us through every channel available from the food we eat to the very roads we travel on. Even that is not enough for them, they also tax our remaining income. Why do they impose so much tax?
They tax everyone because half the country is owned by the government. Governments own most of the roads, bus systems, train systems, coastal regions used for shipping, land used for airports, parts of the power grid, parts of the telephone grid, the water and sewage systems, education, the military, police, and in some countries they control health care.

The reason they put taxes on everything instead of just having a simplified tax is because it prevents a revolution from happening. Most people really don't have a clue how much tax they pay. An example of this is the hidden tax on alcohol. Politicians were talking about ethanol fuel for your car costing $5 per gallon, so why is store vodka like 100x that price? Taxes. It's all taxes. It doesn't say on the bill that 99% of that vodka's price is tax, but it is. If you don't know you're getting taxed like crazy, you won't start a revolution :wink:
 
jackson6612 said:
...But it would be very much helpful if someone could answer it in a few lines. I'm an English learner, so reading articles takes a lot of time, have to use dictionary several times. I hope you would understand. I also understand that everyone's time is precious and valuable and I respect it, and people who help me I owe them a lot.
Best wishes.

But tax is not English related... You're saying there is no information on tax in your own language.

But in a single line: Tax pays for all the problems that are solved without you ever having to know they exist. (hopefully!)
 
Dr Lots-o'watts said:
But tax is not English related... You're saying there is no information on tax in your own language.

But in a single line: Tax pays for all the problems that are solved without you ever having to know they exist. (hopefully!)

And the real argument comes over whether they were problems in the first place or if they actually get solved :biggrin:
 
ShawnD said:
They tax everyone because half the country is owned by the government. Governments own most of the roads, bus systems, train systems, coastal regions used for shipping, land used for airports, parts of the power grid, parts of the telephone grid, the water and sewage systems, education, the military, police, and in some countries they control health care.

The reason they put taxes on everything instead of just having a simplified tax is because it prevents a revolution from happening. Most people really don't have a clue how much tax they pay. An example of this is the hidden tax on alcohol. Politicians were talking about ethanol fuel for your car costing $5 per gallon, so why is store vodka like 100x that price? Taxes. It's all taxes. It doesn't say on the bill that 99% of that vodka's price is tax, but it is. If you don't know you're getting taxed like crazy, you won't start a revolution :wink:

Yours is a much better answer than I would have given, ShawnD. Thank you.

I'd have started my answer with another question, mocking Jackson's rhetorical introduction; "I was wondering why the governments impose so little tax on us..."

Though we have not addressed the second question;


jackson6612 said:
Other side question is about how the government such as in USA tax different layers of their society, that is, poor, middle class and rich. I'm sure they don't tax everyone at the same rate.

Jackson,

The poor here have what I would call a reverse tax. Because they are so poor, and would resort to violence to feed their young, we give them money.

The middle class pays a tax, based roughly on their income.

The rich, depending on your definition of rich, pay a bit less then the middle class. This is due to the fact that we do not want to scare them away, and want them to keep their capitol, aka dollars, in the system.

Was that few enough lines? :wink:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 95 ·
4
Replies
95
Views
10K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
11K
  • · Replies 85 ·
3
Replies
85
Views
13K
  • · Replies 69 ·
3
Replies
69
Views
10K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
12K