John McCain, income taxes and you

This is, after all, Tax Day, and many of you are probably in line at the Post Office, or still printing out your tax returns and planning the 11:55 p.m. drive to the drop-off box. But John McCain is thinking about you, and wants you to know that if a Democrat is elected president, "you can be certain your tax rate will increase across the board," according to a fund-raising pitch that went out this morning.

But according to the folks at the Gallup Poll, only about half of Americans feel they pay too much in taxes, raising questions about whether banging the tax drum will help McCain (though it could help pry a few more dollars from the hands of antitax supporters). The details are on the Gallup site, but this summary graph wraps it all up:

"Notably, the 10-point rise in the percentage saying their taxes were too high from April 1994 (56%) to December 1994 (66%) coincided with the 1994 midterm congressional campaign and election, in which the Republican Party championed an antitax theme in its successful 'Contract With America' strategy. Dissatisfaction with taxes remained high until January 2003 -- after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and just before the start of the Iraq war -- when it dipped to 47%. It has continued to remain relatively low (with no more than 53% saying their taxes are too high) in each subsequent year. However, whether that is because of the impact on public attitudes of 9/11, of the U.S. involvement in Iraq, or of recent tax policies is unclear."

The "recent tax policies" likely refer to the Bush tax cuts, which McCain initially opposed (as do both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) but that he now wants to make permanent. But the poll also reports that only 43% of respondents thought the middle class paid too much in taxes -- suggesting Clinton's and Obama's promises to lighten the middle-class tax burden might not resonate that well, either.

Overall, 60% thought that the amount of tax they were paying this year was fair, and 35% said it was not fair. So while the economy will likely be an issue through the fall election, it doesn't look like taxes will take up much debate time.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Taxpayer]

Of course only 50% of the people feel like they're paying too much in taxes.

HALF THE POPULATION DOESN'T PAY TAXES.

Morons.

[Tannim]

Taxpayer has it right, sans the namecalling. I'd much prefer to designate where my taxes go rather than the state and federal general funds.

Better yet, eliminate withholding entirely, as was supposed to have been done back in 1945...that $80B back in the economy every two weeks--one heckuva stimulus!

That and bring back the credit card interest deduction, remove the FICA cap, the 7.5% basement for medical deductions, and allow commuting costs to be deductible for regular work. Those would be big helps.

Oh yeah, exempt all military personnel below O-6 (Col) from income taxes as well. They deserve it for their service and it would get the enlisteds off food stamps.

[Taxpayer2]

Something tells me that they've only polled those that are getting a rebate not having to send money to the IRS.

And if 50% and I'd say even less than that, actually PAY on Tax Day rather than celebrate money THEY'RE owed, thinks its too high, then...maybe..perhaps....it is?

[Donald Oniel]

I am amazed how the republicans have been able to dupe so many lower/middle class americans into thinking that the republican party has their best interests at heart. Like cows at the slaughter house, these middle class americans are led into supporting tax cuts for the ultra rich! Even Warren Buffet has publically stated he pays a lower percentage of taxes than his secretary. Come on wake up! The tax cuts are for the RICH, not you.

[An INTELLIGENT Taxpayer]

You know what the REAL problem is with our country: guys like Taxpayer make idiotic comments, displaying his incredible ignorance, and then he calls others "morons".

The simple fact is that EVERYONE in this country who buys something or receives a (legal) paycheck pays taxes. Sales taxes, property taxes, auto registration taxes, and (the big one) PAYROLL TAXES!! If you actually counted ALL taxes (and not just the income tax), you'd find that the poorest American's shoulder a HUGE tax burden. (I quote: "The poorest fifth of working Americans pay 7.3 percent of their wages in payroll taxes, while the best-paid 1 percent of Americans pay just 2 percent in payroll taxes, according to the Tax Policy Center, a Washington think tank." You may think 7% is nothing, but when you're working at Wal-mart and making less than $20k a year, 7% is a ton - and that's just the payroll tax.)

Next time, engage your brain before you make such an ignorant statement.