I am very thankful to the rich who pay 85% of the taxes in this country. I personally don't believe that anyone should pay more than a total of 30% in local, state, and federal taxes combined. Giving more than a third of your income to government each year goes beyond good citizenship. It approaches usury.
So I was surprised when I heard this story - a resident living in a very pricey apartment complex in Washington DC with units costing 1.2 million dollars pays only 15% in federal taxes thanks to IRS loopholes, deductions, etc,, but the janitor working in that same building earning $35,000 annually pays a tax rate of 25% in federal taxes alone. The janitor also pays local taxes and FICA taxes on his entire income. The resident also pays local taxes on his adjusted gross income and FICA taxes on the first $106,800 of his income.
This inequity bothers me. I'm not looking to milk anyone dry, but a flat tax and an elimination of loopholes, deductions, and exemptions might actually bring in more revenue, give a break to the lower income people, and not overtax those earning higher incomes.
