carey9 wrote, " the richest 20% of Americans, by far, pay the most in income taxes, forking over nearly 87% of all the income tax collected by Uncle Sam."

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Ironically the richest among us pay the least in taxes based on wealth, carey9.  Another interesting number is that the vast majority of the very rich - well over 90% as I recall - inherited their wealth, rather than earning it;  remember the old saying about rich folks being "born with a silver spoon in their mouth."  No wonder the Republicans were so eager to abolish the "death tax," so as to spare their primary constituents and benefactors from having to pay their due.  It is worth noting too, that the rich get to pay a lower federal tax rate on their incomes from investments (usually more than 50% less), than than the tax rate those of us who really do work pay for the income earned from our labor.  I guess it's tough for the rich, they are after all, just gett'n by.  :)