Myth - 50% Pay No Taxes
This is a common mantra among the "true believers" and associated conservative knuckle draggers. Of course, since 50% of the country doesn't pay taxes that means they are all deadbeats (or so goes the implication). Let's look a little closer
A "household" includes every 90 year old person living in a nursing home as one household. So if 20 old people live in a nursing home you get 20 households. Of these 50% that don't pay income taxes, about 33% are on Social Security or some form of pension. About 8.2% are unemployed. Unemployed people and those living on social security don't have much to cover standard living expenses so how much do you really think a government could squeeze out of them anyway before they were forced to use a public relief program like food stamps, welfare, etc. THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR EXPENSES AS A NATION.
That leaves about 9% of the total as working poor who don't pay taxes.These "deadbeats" barely have enough money to pay bills, operate a vehicle, or save for furthering their education and breaking the cycle of working poor. They also pay fees and sales taxes. Working poor and elderly also pay SS and Medicare taxes.
EVERYONE in the us is paying taxes in some form or another. This myth is often cited by those who are defending the 1% and their continued paratisation of our economy. Don't buy it. It's another myth.
