Listen here while I drop some knowledge on DOUBLE TAXATION, preferential tax rates for capital gains and investment income, and our progressive tax structure.
(1) Double Taxation - When a company earns income it is taxed at 35%. When those profits are redistributed to shareholders (owners) they are taxed AGAIN. At first glance, a person says "OMG they are only paying 15% of their income towards taxes." In reality of the dollar made in the business they are only able to keep about 55 cents [calculation: 1-.35=.65*(1-.15)=.5525]. HOWEVER, when a person is paid ordinary income (ie. wages) they are taxed at following the IRS progressive tax rates (see below). From the business perspective, compensation expense is fully detectable, and thus, NOT TAXED before being redistributed to the recipient.
(2) Preferential Tax Rates for Long-Term Capital Gains and Qualified Investment Income - In order to mitigate the effects of double taxation explained above, we allow preferential tax rates. If we didn't, profits redistributed to business owners could be taxed at an effective rate of nearly 60%. People say, "OMG this only benefits the rich!" WRONG! If you make less than $35,350 in taxable income (income after deductions and exemptions) you pay 0% tax on those gains. If you make over that amount you pay 15%.
(3) Progressive Tax Structure - Some one above mentioned a "flat" tax rate structure where everyone pays, for example only, 20% of their income to taxes. Rich people pay more, poor people pay less, but we all pay the same percent. That is NOT what we have, rather we use a progressive structure. The more you make, each additional dollar is taxed at a higher rate, according to the IRS tax brackets. Here is an example: We have John and Sue, both work normal jobs earning normal wages (ordinary income). After deductions and exemptions John is left with $5,000. Sue is left with $100,000. John ends up in the 10% marginal tax bracket and pays $500, or 10% of his taxable income. Sue ends up in the 28% marginal tax bracket and pays $21,460, or 21.4% of her taxable income. US voters and politicians have decided that it is more "equitable" (ie. fair) to have a proportionally larger portion of the tax burden paid by high income individuals.
/end tax lesson
I don't know if I have accomplished anything but I hope this at least opens one person's eyes to how tax is a little more complicated then he paid 14.2% and I paid 20% and made less money. If you have any other questions or intelligent discussion related to the issues I am happy to partake. And yes, I am bored as fuck.