Eliminating The Federal Income Tax
The progressive income tax has been a source of heated debate in this nation for over eighty years. There exists people for and against the tax, and usually opinions are strong and difficult to change. The tax was originally unconstitutional, but the 16th Amendment, ratified in 1913, changed that. Since then, liberals, conservatives, and everyone in-between have been bickering and debating the legality and usefulness of the direct capitation. It is an issue that is difficult to build a consensus on, therefore it seems that every year Congress endures a battle over taxes and whether to raise them, lower them, or keep them the same.
Advocates for the progressive income tax believe that most tax cuts benefit the wealthy more than the common citizen. President Bush's latest tax cut plan has come under fire from numerous economically liberal groups, including the Citizens for Tax Justice. Robert McIntyre, director at the organization, has this to add:
The administration's attempt to use the current crisis as an excuse for further tax breaks for the wealthy is economically indefensible and a slap in the face to ordinary, patriotic taxpayers who are willing to sacrifice for the good of America. Showering new tax breaks on the wealthy would be ineffective as a demand stimulus, and would make our future fiscal problems even worse. (Administration proposal)
People who hold these beliefs think that the more money one makes, the greater percentage should be taken out for tax. Says Conrad Schuler, economist with the German Communist Party, "The essence of the tax reduction programs are benefits for the rich, decorated with a slight improvement of the very poor. The great mass of the taxpayers, the people with average income, get nothing" (Schuler). With a progressive income tax, Americans are theoretically on a more level playing field, and the government has plenty of funds to carry out its duties.
Democrats and economic...
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