Tweet of the late night:

[applegrove]

Link to tweet

[BigmanPigman]

1. When is the last time it was 35%?

[peppertree]

5. 2017 - before Cheetolini signed his top-heavy tax cut that December.

It had been hovering around that level since 1986. Of course though, few actually ever pay that percentage - or any percentage, in some cases.



As you know, they've spent decades and millions lobbying for the tax code to be filled with corporate loopholes galore.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Wow, in 1960 it was 50%.

There was a major decline in 1987 too...Reagun.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Are any corporations in this country paying anywhere near that amount?

The last I checked most major corporations were paying a zero tax rate. And sometimes getting obscene refunds on top of that.

Heck, even a mandatory 10% would be a huge improvement.

Speaking only for myself, my income is a bit under the median income for a single person in my state. Or, if I'm reading things correctly, for the country as a whole. At the moment I am not paying federal income tax, but I certainly pay plenty of sales taxes and property taxes. I'm fine with those, as I'll be fine with federal taxes when they come due. Actually, it's a solar energy thing that has me currently not paying federal income tax.

Depending on how you define it, I'm rich or I'm not. I have the enormous good fortune to have an income that allows me to live frugally, but comfortably. I have a mortgage, but no other substantial debt. I'm able to pay my Visa bill in full every month. I'm able to put money into savings every month. I've needed to take that savings money to pay for things like dental surgery, but that's what it's for.

Meanwhile, a lot of other people are far worse off than I am.

I've thought for some years now that every single person in this country should get SNAP (food stamps). I'd appreciate it, because it would help my bottom line. For those who honestly don't need it, go to a homeless shelter and use your SNAP amount to buy food for the shelter. Or simply find some needy person, go with them to a grocery store, and use your SNAP amount to buy them food.

I used to work at the local hospital, and one of my benefits was that I could pay for stuff in the cafeteria or the gift shop with my ID, and the cost simply be deducted from my next paycheck. Every so often someone would come to me who was desperate for a meal, and I could point them to the gift shop right next to my desk (I worked the information desk) and tell them to go inside, pick out whatever they wanted, then get my attention, and I'd pay for it. I'd usually have to encourage them to buy more than they first started with. It cost me almost nothing, only a few dollars. I've been hungry in my past. I know what it's like. I can only say that I was more than glad to help those who asked me. There may have been many more who didn't ask. Which is a shame.

[everyonematters]

3. This never has as much impact on the enonomy as people think because corporations are taxed on

their profits. They are always trying to maximize their profits. Raising their taxes doesn't change that. If they raise prices, then demand goes down on the product.

[cadoman]

4. we poors focus on the rate, but it's the credits & exemptions that determine what is actually paid

Most of the largest and lobbyist-supported corporations just work the exemptions and credits till they're down to 0%.

The actual tax rate is for poors doing simple contracts or running a small business. Elites just call up the ways and means committee and have them create a bunch of loopholes that gives every element of their spending tax friendly status, and a huge slug of direct handouts.

They want us to focus on the rate and pretend like something is happening.