Income tax day now divides Americans into two classes: Those who pay, and those who don’t.
As tax day approaches, more Americans will not pay anything into the federal coffers.
The Tax Policy Center, an independent tax research organization, estimates that 47 percent of all U.S. households will pay no federal income tax for 2009. The center speculates that it’s a result of a large number of low-income families and those getting tax credits.
Phyllis Schlafly, founder of Eagle Forum, said the disparity is turning the U.S. into a two-class society.
“There are the people who pay taxes to run the government and the people who don’t pay federal income taxes to run the government,” she said. “The ones who do not pay taxes have the same vote as the people who do, so it doesn’t cost them anything to vote ‘bigger-spending’ and ‘spread-the-wealth.’”
According to The Heritage Foundation, the top 1 percent of income-earners paid 40 percent of all federal income tax, in 2007. That number is expected to rise.
Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, said that means a select group of Americans is shouldering an incredible financial burden.
“Does it make sense to have a majority of Americans get more from government than they’re paying in taxes — to have no skin in the game anymore?” he asked. “I think that that has all the makings for a lot of social discontent.”
A Gallup poll released today shows 48 percent of respondents said they pay too much in income tax. Surprisingly, 45 percent said the amount they pay is about right.
“Essentially we’ve turned the IRS into a giant ATM machine for Welfare benefits,” Hodge said. “Far too many Americans now get tax credits. They get a check back even if they don’t pay any income taxes.”
Schlafly said the Obama administration’s policies are not providing any relief for those who continue to pay into the system.
“On the eve of Obama’s election, he said he wanted to engage in fundamental transformation of the United States,” she said. “I think that’s what he is doing through the high taxes.”
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