FAIR, SMART AND NOT VINDICTIVE TAXES

The top 1% pay over 40% of taxes.  The top 5% pay ~60% of income taxes. Fair enough?

NOT Fair enough. Add in property, sales, and payroll taxes.

Still not fair enough? Add in PHILANTHROPY!

Still not fair enough? Keep this in mind too.
The wealth of the wealth was ALREADY taxed while it was being accumulated.  In addition, much of the rich's wealth is held in businesses and investments which provide substantial employment and also pay taxes. Plus the wealthy's luxury purchases generate substantial sales taxes that supports local economies and provides a very meaningful section of the economy with jobs that pay good wages.  Someone has to build and maintain their mansions and yachts.

Still not fair enough?  The President's tax and regulatory policies have produced the highest employment in history and the greatest wage growth in over a decade.

WHAT IS THE END GAME?
Punitive taxes and wealth distribution for what?  To spend more??

There are some taxes and spending that do make sense:
- Higher gas taxes to fund transportation improvements.
- A special limited tax on air travel to fund air traffic improvements.
- A tax on oil and natural gas production to fund ports and waterway improvements in a public-private partnership.
- A national sales tax on Internet transactions that is distributed to local governments based on collections geography.
- Closing loopholes on offshore revenues by wealthy who use offshore shelters.
- Tax credits for businesses that employ people with high risks for unemployment, such as ex-cons, training programs for people who did not finish high school.

WE HAVE TO BE SMART, NOT JEALOUS AND VINDICTIVE!
Our National Debt is such that any new tax revenues have to be spent and invested very wisely. Those tax revenues must be targeted in ways that expand the GDP, and increase the productivity of labor, business and government!  We need to start digging ourselves OUT OF DEBT, publicly, privately and even personally.