New report shows Americans earning less

It's interesting what one can do with statistics. What the report doesn't disclose is that people who make under $40,000 per year pay no income taxes at all. They, of course, receive no benefit from tax cuts since they pay no taxes to begin with. The upper 10% of all taxpayers pay almost 100% of all taxes. If there is a tax cut, of course, they will benefit the most. Duh! Also, incomes have risen every year in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The report is flawed in comparing the present with the year 2000, which is when the dotcom boom was on just before it tanked at the end of the Clinton administration. So much for misinterpreting the statistics to create class envy.

The first paragraph of this article set the standard for the rest of it. How do you figure $55,238 to be 1% of $55,714. As a long time banker, I always figured when I discovered one mistake in a financial statement, there were probably more. I bet if you dig deeper, you'll find those who earned nothing didn't get a tax break at all.

George Bush should NEVER have been reelected as our president. The ONLY reason this jerk was voted in was because nobody wanted his opponent. HE IS RUINING OUR COUNTRY....he can't hold a candle to Bill Clinton. If I could reelect Clinton, I would in a heartbeat. He cared about the middle class because he was one of us. I only hope that whoever is elected can FIX this mess Bush has our country in.

Think our salaries are getting smaller, just wait until the tax cuts expire and the democrats get ahold of the taxes. Charlie Rangel promised increased taxes last year during the elections. I, for one, am not looking forward to the loss of the tax cuts that Pres. Bush put into effect and I am not looking forward to the democrats raising my taxes.

oh linda-- what a joke, Clinton did not care for the middle class- if he did he would not be accepting 150,000 from the boys and girls club of LA for a speaking engagement. The fact is Bill and Hillary only cared about themselves. You fell for the act. G. Bush pulled us out of the 911 aftermath, the drop in the stock market, loss of jobs, lives and business throughout this country as a direct effect of 911. I would bet, Linda, that you don't even know that Feinstein, on the committee giving out contract on rebuilding Iraq, was handing out multiple million dollar contracts to her husband's company. And you all complain about D. Cheney. No one really heard about it because our lovely liberal media kept it quiet. Bill's only concern what what skirt was around for him to fondle.

Oh Lee! Where did you get your data? I make way less than $40,000 a year, and I can assure you I pay plenty in income taxes. I am at the point where I think both sides only care about themselves, and are way out of touch with what is actually going on with the working people in this country.

I am making less than I did last year. I received no increase from my employer and the bonus program from my company was less than previous years. The cost of living is on the rise and my income is just not keeping up. I am having difficulty keeping up with the monthly bills with nothing to spare.

One of the biggest problems in our country today is that we allow the media to print bad information. When you manipulate words and statistics you are allowed to get away with stating what is not technically a lie...but it is not truth. All perspecitive is lost. The wealthiest 1% of tax payers in our country pay 28% of their salary to the federal government alone and in NYS about 40% when state and other taxes are added. Those who make less than the median of about $40,000 pay much less than 14%. The system has tradionally bent over backwards in exploiting those who know how to make money. Our society has it backwards. We should be bending over backwards thanking the wealthy and making their life less burdensome....for without them we would lose over 80% of our tax revenues and our economy would collapse.

We are a middle income family who has benefited from the tax cuts. It is NEVER good to pay more taxes. These statistics are incomplete. Those who earned over a million received 62% of the savings. And what percent of the tax burden do they carry? How many of the government services do they benefit from? The statistics also show that more millionaires were created during this time. This is hardly a fluke. Maybe since people who earn under $40,000 dollars pay no taxes we should make the wealthy pay them their portion of the savings.

When i made 40,000 a year i paid taxes as well,therefore Lee you dont have a clue as to what you are saying,as far as Bill Clinton being the little guys friend i used to think that too until NAFTA came along.George Bush cant admit when he is wrong about Iraq,he should have taken AL-Queida out period and being in Iraq is not getting it done,it has created more enemies and cost the us taxpayer billons.Sadam was the only man that could handle those people and you see where that has gotten us.Joe i think you may be right ,those people only care about themselves and a few friends.We need someone in Washington who is a people person and cares about Health care ,drug prevention(which has gotten way out of control)and securing our borders and getting the illegals out.That is our biggest national security threat at this time,anyone can come thru Mexico into the US and get away with anything.Just look around you will see them anywhere you go,bilking the american system.

Yes, Lee, I'm with Joe. I have grossed less than $40,000 consistently since 2000 and, even with educational tax credits, usually end up having to supplement in April the percentage that was taken out of my gross pay for IRS taxes...not to mention state taxes, Medicare and Social Security. As a single person, I have the minimum amount of tax withheld so I can afford day-to-day living expenses. Believe me, April is a time of "sweating bullets" to figure out how to come up with extra money to supplement the thousands I have already paid. Would LOVE that those receiving less than $40K paid NO taxes....LOLOL....would absolutely LOVE that!

It just amazes me when the wealthy propagate the notion that those earning under $40,000 pay no taxes. Please.
The Bush-Bots are out in force.

Under Bush I have a college degree and can't find a decent job. As of now I am a houskeeper making less than 8.00 dollars an hour, in Ohio

Ron,
The difference between $55,238 and $55,714 is $476. 1% of $55,714 is $557.14. The article stated that the difference was 1% less, not that $55,238 is 1% of $55, 714. Don't let all those big numbers confuse you. This was basic math and reading skills. We know it's not exactly 1% less, but it's close enough for an article clearly stating "roughly".
PS...I'm glad you aren't my banker. My 13 year old was even able to figure it out.

JUNK MAIL AGAIN.....
The article talks about tax on long term capital gains, NOT earned income tax. How many Americans who are earning less than $100,000 are making investments that yield capital gains? So what? The cuts on capital gains go to those that invested? I don't see the issue. Is this just Bush-bashing again?

A lot of the new higher incomes are from contractors working overseas. As we see these jobs start to decline so will the average income as well, as the new over a million will decrease unless they have invested accordingly.
A large part of our problem is jobs being outsourced to India and Pakistan. These jobs paid well and there were Americans that wanted these jobs. It is ashamed that the government and corporate America are pushing companies to do this.

people under $40K pay no taxes? My two step-sons make well under that and pay taxes! Where do you people get your info? the tax rates obviously increase as does salary - different brackets. The wealthy though have the ability to use the newer tax cuts where they do not help out the middle or lower classes. If you are making $2 million or something, and then "hiding" portionos of it legally and taking tax cuts the lower classes can not take, do not cry to the rest of us if your after tax net is something like $1.2 million!! Please - we have tons of people making less than $10 an hour in the country, people who can not even afford a doctor. If you are that damn greedy (obviously that is the case) just do us a favor and leave the country if you do not like the taxes..... yourself.

Your comments: JUNK NEWS AGAIN.....The article talks about tax on long term capital gains, NOT earned income tax. How many Americans who are earning less than $100,000 are making investments that yield capital gains? That information is missing from the article. So what? The cuts on capital gains go to those that invested? I don't see the issue.

I am in education. Nothing has changed for me in the 12 years since I received my degree. Expectations/responsibility increases as do my loans for continued education which is mandatory....but pay stays the same except for cost of living increases which are a joke. Someone needs to start giving people in education their due. The candidate that accomplishes this is the one who has mine as well as all the educators across the country's votes.

It's not about Bush, it's about the last 7 presidents and corporate America...and how this country sold it's birthright for a bowl of soup. This country no longer have heavy industry, we gave that to other countries to help them get on their feet, now they stab us in the back with contempt. No Heavy Industry, no "real" Economy.