I just looked at the data. I know where you found it. I will concede that $388,805 in AGI puts you in the top 1%. I will also concede that my $108,904 actually puts you in the top 10%. Fair enough.

Now then, to the rest of the numbers (which you conveniently left out):

PERCENTAGE OF PERSONAL FEDERAL INCOME TAXES PAID:

Top 1% (AGI $388,806)- 39.89%

Top 5% (AGI $153,542) - 60.14%

Top 10% (AGI $108,904) - 70.79%

Bottom 50% (AGI of $31,987 or less) - 2.99%.

SO, based on YOUR data, the top 1% pay nearly 40% of all personal income taxes, while the bottom 50% pay about 3%.

Would the bottom 50% be able to pay for our debt, welfare, the military, roads and bridges without the "evil" corporations and "greedy" rich? No, they wouldn't. Without people smarter then themselves, they would live in 3rd World poverty. That's just a fact.

everybody talkin' to their pockets, everybody wants a box of chocolates and a long stem rose.. and everybody knows" - Leonard Cohen (Hebrew songmaster 1990)

Lets flip that around genius. Where would higher income people be, without the lower income folks that provide the services, manufacture the items, buy the items, etc. etc. etc.

This reminds me of the writings of Cicero in ancient Roman times. He said, in effect, that the average Roman citizen was not concerned with what the wars being won by the legions in far off lands. They did not care about politics, new territories, treaties, etc. Their only concern was what they were going to have for dinner, what they would do for fun later on and so forth. More immediate concerns.

When the people stop caring, a nation crumbles. The Supreme Court has a major effect on all our lives. It is good to know who they are and what they do.

As for the wealthy paying taxes, you made my point for me. Yes, they hold assets. But do you know that "the rich" (the top 1%) are those who earn about $108,000 per year, or more? Why should a guy who earns $125,000 pay a top rate of nearly 40%, or $50,000 in taxes, when a guy who earns $12,000 pays $300?

Where would lower income people be without higher income people to finance all their goodies?

Today's kids are too busy texting and displaying their illiteracy. They are not taught anything. They are "social promoted" and passed on to the next grade. Teachers get paid to spend time in a classroom. They do not get paid based on the success of their students.

Go up to ANY person, of any age, and ask them to name 5 Supreme Court Justices. Most will not be able to answer this.

Ask the average person who pays the bulk of the taxes and they will say "the middle class" or "the working man". They will say "the little guy gets ****** by the rich". They have been brainwashed into thinking they are victims of the top 1% who pay 35% of all taxes. They don't understand that the bottom 50% of taxpayers pay just 4% of the total tax bill.

Most people think Social Security is a pension fund, invested in their name. The average taxpayer doesn't know that every dime you pay today is spent today and that there is no trust fund.

Sad.

Of course, an educated population is a dangerous population. I don't mean educated like a college professor who has never held a job. I mean educated as in understanding where how the economy and the government works.

We should also teach kids that, Obama's actions notwithstanding, contract law is one of the foundations of our great country. Teach kids to read what they sign, and to understand it before they do so. Also teach them that, once signed, it must be upheld. Contracts are not just a piece of paper. If you agreed to pay $2,000 a month for 30 years, you must pay it.

This nation was built on freedom, contract law, capitalism and morality. The lack of these cornerstones is evident in our decline.