orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (03/25/86)
Earlier I promised to show the effects of Reagan's policies on actual taxes of Americans in different income groups. Here are some facts to ponder: (From Thomas Edsall's "The New Politics of Inequality",p. 205) Income Tax Increases from Tax reduction Net gain(+) Group Social Security from 1981-82 or Loss(-) and inflation tax bills ------ ------------------ ------------- ----------- < $10,000 $ 153 $ 58 $ -95 $10-20,000 573 387 -186 $20-30,000 1,020 882 -138 $30-40,000 1,587 1,465 -122 $40-50,000 2,346 2,210 -136 $50-75,000 3,407 3,305 -102 $75-100,000 4,855 5,258 +403 $100-200,000 5,979 8,248 +2,269 Above 200,000 7,579 24,982 +17,403 In other words, unless you were making over $75,000, any tax reductions from the 1981 tax cuts were wiped out by inflation and regressive Social Security tax increases. As one enters the truly wealthy income group then taxes were *enormously* decreased. I would expect that the great preponderance of people on the net are in the middle income groups which actually saw their taxes increased under Reagan. How the middle class was bewitched into thinking it was benefitting substantially from Reagan's tax cuts for the rich is one of the marvels of modern politics. tim sevener whuxn!orb