Aeryn is forgetting that the NY State and City taxes allow for a high standard deduction that would offset the tax rates such that the effective rate for someone making only $15,000 would be at or near 0%. In fact, someone making only $15,000 would probably be getting an EITC to supplement that income, rather than paying tax at any level.
However, in New York state, sales tax is on EVERYTHING - clothes, food, you name it. This is why cost-conscious people often go to New Jersey, where clothes are not subject to sales tax. And it is high, so there is a tax on consumption that they have to pay.
Of course, that doesn't help the Federal government at all, it just helps the state pay for the overpaid transit workers and teachers in rubber rooms that they can't fire due to union contracts.
However, in New York state, sales tax is on EVERYTHING - clothes, food, you name it. This is why cost-conscious people often go to New Jersey, where clothes are not subject to sales tax. And it is high, so there is a tax on consumption that they have to pay.
Of course, that doesn't help the Federal government at all, it just helps the state pay for the overpaid transit workers and teachers in rubber rooms that they can't fire due to union contracts.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Why Joel is CRAZY - Nearly Half of All Americans Don't Pay Federal Income Taxes
- 23/02/2012 04:43:15 AM
1417 Views
Income taxes are not the only kind of taxes. 86% of Americans pay payroll or income tax.
- 23/02/2012 09:51:50 PM
987 Views
A not so hypothetical situation...
- 23/02/2012 05:46:44 AM
843 Views
Your paying more money now than then. Lower rate but more money *NM*
- 23/02/2012 07:52:51 AM
511 Views
Why the heck do you think the current tax system is skewed to the rich?
- 23/02/2012 03:18:43 PM
982 Views
Once again, poor people have no money with which to pay taxes.
- 23/02/2012 06:23:07 AM
1001 Views
50% of America is not "poor" or too poor to pay federal income taxes.....
- 23/02/2012 01:01:24 PM
899 Views
You base that statement on what, exactly? Fervent desire that it be true?
- 25/02/2012 12:43:30 AM
1369 Views
2009 (the year cited for this claim) was an outlier because of temporary tax cuts and the economy.
- 25/02/2012 01:14:01 AM
1142 Views
Interesting, but lacking the data I consider critical; FICA etc. should not be counted, IMHO.
- 25/02/2012 02:10:45 AM
998 Views
It's a phrasing thing, permits more bullshit
- 25/02/2012 04:41:06 AM
976 Views
Maybe I am just playing the same game,but I find stats from "the other side" compelling in some ways
- 25/02/2012 10:36:40 AM
1416 Views
You're operating under the same fallacy he does - that people should pay income taxes.
- 23/02/2012 12:05:52 PM
1037 Views
In much the same way
- 23/02/2012 01:40:58 PM
992 Views
Joel is crazy, but I highly doubt that this is "why"
- 23/02/2012 01:36:37 PM
1029 Views
I see your point, but not how it changes much in the conversation where we discussed that
- 25/02/2012 01:49:29 AM
813 Views
You mention this statistic all the time.
- 23/02/2012 02:16:47 PM
716 Views
Obviously, we are talking about the bottom 50%.....
- 23/02/2012 03:22:43 PM
752 Views
I wonder how much of that statistic is students
- 23/02/2012 02:22:58 PM
979 Views
The number "paying taxes" should include dependents of those paying
- 23/02/2012 02:39:21 PM
946 Views
yah I read the link, but apparently I just didn't understand their explanation.
- 23/02/2012 05:40:54 PM
758 Views
Federal taxes
- 23/02/2012 04:18:22 PM
841 Views
Your figures are fairly unrealistic
- 23/02/2012 04:54:44 PM
1038 Views
Not entirely.
- 23/02/2012 06:30:18 PM
789 Views
Yeah I don't normally assume NY as a baseline 
- 23/02/2012 06:41:37 PM
889 Views
- 23/02/2012 06:41:37 PM
889 Views
It probably isn't. We even tax delivery fees, gardening services and other things with sales tax.
- 25/02/2012 07:03:46 PM
839 Views
We don't tax transport of property either 
- 25/02/2012 08:16:53 PM
890 Views
- 25/02/2012 08:16:53 PM
890 Views
Places usually get around it with free delivery. A tax on a $0 item is still $0. *NM*
- 25/02/2012 09:12:22 PM
381 Views
Income taxes are not the only kind of taxes. 86% of Americans pay payroll or income tax.
- 23/02/2012 09:51:50 PM
987 Views
And give the riff raff a reason to become involved in politics? Are you daft? *NM*
- 24/02/2012 05:04:51 AM
534 Views
25% of america is under 18, that means ~25% of the rest are not working or paid very little
- 25/02/2012 08:17:52 PM
992 Views