Not April Fools: Americans support infrastructure spending IF more taxes are levied on the wealthy.

[oldsoftie]

7. And NOBODY ever paid that rate or even close to it. So what good was it?

Tax rates are meaningless. What you actually COLLECT is what matters. These multi billion dollar companies shouldn't be paying zero. Set a low rate and do away with deductions. Because of deductions, the average corporation doesnt even pay the Trump rate. In '19, they paid an avg of about 11%. So cut the deductions, make a "minimum tax" & make the rate 15% & we'll collect more revenue than when it was 20 or 35%.
And add in a sales tax to get the millions of people who arent paid by 1099s or W2s. Lord knows HOW many trillions of income are not taxed in that category. I'm in it, I know how it works. I dont know ANYONE who pays an accurate rate. And there's little to nothing that the IRS can do about it. Sales tax gets people like me & them too.
But again, we'll scream "Pay your fair share!" at a small portion of the earners & do nothing else. We always underestimate program costs & overestimate revenue. And it'll be happening when i'm 80 and the debt is 55T. Or 100. Or whatever.
Yes, I'm cynical. Because i've seen this act a dozen times in my life & the ending is always the same.