Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950

[kpete]

Source: USA Today

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950
By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY

Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found.

Some conservative political movements such as the "Tea Party" have criticized federal spending as being out of control. While spending is up, taxes have fallen to exceptionally low levels.

Federal, state and local taxes — including income, property, sales and other taxes — consumed 9.2% of all personal income in 2009, the lowest rate since 1950, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. That rate is far below the historic average of 12% for the last half-century. The overall tax burden hit bottom in December at 8.8.% of income before rising slightly in the first three months of 2010.

"The idea that taxes are high right now is pretty much nuts," says Michael Ettlinger, head of economic policy at the liberal Center for American Progress. The real problem is spending,counters Adam Brandon of FreedomWorks, which organizes Tea Party groups. "The money we borrow is going to be paid back through taxation in the future," he says.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm

[liberal N proud]

1. The cons just are not having a good century so far

3 terrorist strikes on their watch
2 unjustified wars on their hands
1 stupid President
1 criminal Vice President
2 Recessions at their hands
1 massive environmental disaster - Drill baby drill
Taxes are down and not up as predicted by the right.


WOW!

[high density]

2. OK, so now the "real problem is spending"

Except these same people certainly had been complaining about taxes, and were gleeful as Bush cut taxes and increased the deficit, debt, and spending. Suddenly a black Democrat gets in the oval office and a razor-sharp focus on deficit returns, amped up by the media which now talks about it constantly.

[activa8tr]

3. I wonder how widespread this information will be. We should make sure

it becomes well known among all the righties that they never had it so good, low-tax wise.

Why is this NOT known by ALL???

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Here is a little question that will lead you unerringly to the answer:

Whose interests are served by keeping the public ignorant?

[happygoluckytoyou]

6. i don't know... guess if my civics class had less than 73 students i might have heard the answer

[happygoluckytoyou]

5. guess you gotta have a JOB to pay much taxes... just circle the board and collect your $200

HOW DOES THAT GAME GO.... EVENTUALLY SOMEONE OWNS ALL THE STUFF AND YOU GET TO GO TO BED !

OR

YOU WANT TO KEEP PLAYING SO THE RICH GUY GIVES YOU A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS SO YOU CAN MINDLESSLY CIRCLE THE BOARD LOOKING FOR A PROPERTY WHEN THERE ARE NONE LEFT TO BUY

[jpak]

7. NOOOooo!!111 Glenn Beck says its not true

:cry:

[rantormusing]

8. I'm by no means rich, lol

but i notice the amount they take out of my check and it hurts. Not to mention seeing little positive effect for myself or the community leaves a guy to wonder where's the money going.

Anyways, reading this basic article i noticed they didn't count social security, did they count it when you collect it at least? Maybe I'm wrong, but couldn't one of the reasons tax receipts are down is because of the amount of people out of work? Wages fall/taxes fall! I didn't see that in the article. This may be a fluff piece.

[alp227]

9. And DURING the 1950s, the top tax rate=~90%!

And conservatives love love love love LOVE the 1950s, the decade when everything was all right and moral in America. The decade when every family had a hardworking father, a housekeeping mother, and polite, obedient kids. When Elvis couldn't shake his hips while performing on TV. Compared to the broken families, excessive taxes, and raunchy music videos of today.

I wonder how the Teabaggers live with themselves when they, not the "liberal media", are making themselves be the buttholes.