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October 20, 2005
A Leaky Raft Of Ignorance
Larry Elder had an experience that was familiar to me. A fellow dinner party guest, who did not know that Elder was a conservative radio host, trotted out the worn-out liberal canard that Republicans care only about tax cuts for the "rich". First the woman actually tried to argue that GWB claims that "people shouldn't pay taxes." After Elder carefully lead her to the realization of the impossibility of funding a two-and-a-half trillion dollar budget without people paying taxes, she changed her approach:
"Oh," she said, "I see what you're saying. Let me clarify. Bush says, 'Rich people should not pay taxes.'""Oh, really? And when did he say that?"
"Well, he implies it -- he's always seeking to cut taxes on the rich."
Elder pointed out that he was a member of the so-called "rich", and his tax bill was most definitely not zero.
"Well, it's obvious," she said. "We see things differently.""We most certainly do, and I think it's pretty much fruitless for us to continue the conversation. But, if you don't mind, I have a brief question for you."
"OK," she said.
"Of the top 1 percent of taxpayers, what percentage do they pay of federal income tax revenues?"
"What do you mean?"
"Assume this is a pie," I said, cupping my hands in a circle. "The top 1 percent contributes what size slice -- by percentage -- of that pie?"
"Oh, I see," she said. "Virtually nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Maybe 1 percent, maybe 2 percent."
This is a normal, articulate, presumably well-educated American--and she's a participant in the same kind of "ignorant herd" mentality that I wrote about yesterday. The leaders of the Democratic party know the truth about who really funds the government, but they willfully continue to spread the lie that the wealthy pay no taxes. Their power base depends upon the ignorance of people like Elder's dinner acquaintance. Elder gives the facts:
For the record, since my table companion doesn't know or doesn't care, the top 1 percent -- the taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) over $295,495 -- paid, for 2003, 34.27 percent of federal income tax revenues. The top 10 percent (with an AGI over $94,891) paid 65.84 percent, the top half (AGI over $29,019) paid 96.54 percent. The bottom half? They paid 3.46 percent.
I never cease to be amazed at the extent of liberal/Leftist ignorance on this topic. A dear friend of mine who is highly intelligent, observant, and thoughtful also happens sit rather far to the left of the political spectrum. During the pre-election madness of last fall, we debated through email the merits of John Eisenhower's endorsement of John Kerry. In refuting Eisenhower's claim that present-day Republicans want to "cut taxes for the rich", I cited the same evidence that Elder quotes. My friend expressed amazement and vowed to look into it--but I could tell he remained skeptical of my claim (after all, he'd never heard anything about it from his side of the fence).
I do hope he did some further investigation. Radical excising of long-held personal beliefs is a process that must come from self-realization. It's a lot more likely that he will discover the truth for himself than it is that he will hear it from Democratic party.
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