A column by Paul Krugman added a bit more to the non-taxpayer   
    theme of the republicans. As you may recall, Mitt Romney made a   
    big deal about 47% of Americans paying no taxes. Which was a lie   
    to begin with, but that's another matter.   
      
    However, that figure included those who don't hold jobs so they   
    don't have to pay income taxes, including those retired on   
    social security with low incomes. Then there are those like   
    military personnel in the war zone, but a lot of them will start   
    paying income taxes under republican rules if they get passed,   
    as only those in combat units will be exempted.   
      
    I knew Paul Ryan wanted to reduce taxes for the rich, including   
    eliminating the estate tax. What I hadn't known is, Paul Ryans   
    tax plan included eliminating capital gains taxes, and taxes on   
    dividends. Since the very rich seldom are very rich because of   
    earned income, those changes could lead to the .1% becomeing   
    part of those paying no federal taxes on their incomes.   
      
    Now right wingers like to tout the rich as paying most of the   
    income taxes, yet Paul Ryan wanted to wipe out all taxes on   
    income for the very rich. Even those who hold positions as   
    executives in companies could chose to receive a token salary,   
    thus avoiding taxes even on that income.   
      
    Imagine the Walton family, whose entire fortune is built on   
    inherited wealth, and Forbes, and how many others, never paying   
    another penny of tax on their incomes, and then passing that   
    same benefit to their heirs.   
      
    OTOH, maybe that's a good idea, maybe that will be what it takes   
    to get it through to the American people that the rich are   
    actually drastically under taxed.   
      
      
   BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn   
      
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