Anger is High but Tax Rates Aren't

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Fix Social Security?
Quit paying college kids to go to college from Social Security (6% of Social Security goes to them).
Reduce Federal Politicians' pay 5% a year in any and all years that the budget is not balanced, or people are losing their jobs.
Eliminate lobbying by any and all organizations.
Freeze federal and teacher pay for 4 years.

Wayne of TX 1:25PM May 28, 2010

Speaking personally as an American who supports the Tea Party movement, it's not just the current federal income tax rates that cause anger at the government. Other contributing factors include the TOTAL tax burden levied on Americans by all levels of government, including property taxes (municipalities are quick to reassess property values upward during good times but slow to assess them downwards during bad times,) fuel taxes, sales taxes, FCC fees, FAA fees, etc.
In addition, anger comes from the ANTICIPATION of future higher taxes due to federal spending that many perceive as reckless and irresponsible. As you said in the article, "we will need to figure out a way to raise taxes, not lower them, if we're going to make any serious dent in our horrendous budget deficits." That particular prospect has many people angry at the government, because we feel that these inevitable tax increases would not have become necessary had the federal government exercised greater fiscal discipline in the first place.

Lee Coursey of GA 5:17PM April 25, 2010

Speaking personally as an American who supports the Tea Party movement, it's not just the current federal income tax rates that cause anger at the government. Other contributing factors include the TOTAL tax burden levied on Americans by all levels of government, including property taxes (municipalities are quick to reassess property values upward during good times but slow to assess them downwards during bad times,) fuel taxes, sales taxes, FCC fees, FAA fees, etc.
In addition, anger comes from the ANTICIPATION of future higher taxes due to federal spending that many perceive as reckless and irresponsible. As you said in the article, "we will need to figure out a way to raise taxes, not lower them, if we're going to make any serious dent in our horrendous budget deficits." That particular prospect has many people angry at the government, because we feel that these inevitable tax increases would not have become necessary had the federal government exercised greater fiscal discipline in the first place.

Lee Coursey of GA 5:16PM April 25, 2010

So, since the majoirity of big, intrusive government spending is due to Social Security, Medicare, and the Dept. of Defense, which of these do the Tea Party citizens want to cut? I'd love to find a party, any party, which seriously debates and discusses how to cut these "big spenders". Certainly Republicans and Democrats in Congress seem to ignore these 3. Supposedly the Health Care reforms are trying to reduce growth in costs of Medicare, but I'll believe it if I see it. Meanwhile we seem to have this aversion to raising taxes to pay for increased spending due to the War on Terror. Why? Both parties vote to spend money on it, but neither has voted to raise revenue to pay for it. Is the Tea Party any different?

Ron of MD 3:29PM April 25, 2010

Then you will understand, have you been under a rock?.
You will be lucky to be able to remain in your home, IF you have one.
Energy surcharges will be astronomical.
You will be fortunate to drive a car, because of the price of fuel.
Wait till the VAT Tax is implemented..............
Our collective tax rates will take approx 60% + of all you make.

Doszap of TX 11:08AM April 22, 2010

So the Tea Party rallies are scary to you? Why? What are you afraid of? Surely you don't fear ordinary citizens that are fed up with huge deficits, ever bigger and more intrusive government and finally have decided to demonstrate their feelings? You may be right that taxes aren't all that high compared to past rates, but I think it is just the spectacle of the out of control spending that is resulting in unsustainable levels of debt that is driving people to call for some fiscal sanity. I have attended two Tea Party rallies and those calling for a tax reduction were in the minority. Most were opposed to ever expanding government spending, bailouts and other proposed programs that intrude on what they see as their rights.
Relax and enjoy it. Even if you disagree with what they are demonstrating for (or against), there is nothing to be afraid of.

Burt Widener of NH 7:19PM April 21, 2010