Ignorance is bliss (for the Oklahoman)

Today, Bob Kellogg of Edmond betrays a total lack of understanding of the basics of how our tax code works. In his letter, he asks "Why should wealthy people pay a higher rate of taxes than me? Why should poor people pay a lesser rate of taxes than me?"

Uh, actually, everyone pays the same rates on the same dollar amounts. When you hear someone talk about the rich paying more in taxes, what they mean is "pay more on the highest parts of their salary." For 2012 here is the breakdown for a single person:

10% on taxable income from $0 to $8,700, plus
15% on taxable income over $8,700 to $35,350, plus
25% on taxable income over $35,350 to $85,650, plus
28% on taxable income over $85,650 to $178,650, plus
33% on taxable income over $178,650 to $388,350, plus
35% on taxable income over $388,350.

As should be clear, a person making $500,000 a year doesn't pay 35% on ALL of that $500,000. So it's not that the rich pay a higher rate than anyone else; a person making $500,000 pays the same on his first $100,000 as a person making just $100,000. It's not hard to understand, but the Oklahoman likes to peddle ignorance so as to better serve their plutocratic agenda. 

To be sure, a system that Mr. Kellogg envisions would be dramatically unfair and would create a rather complex system where someone would be hesitant to take a pay raise to, say, $179,000 if it meant their taxes on all income went from 28% to 33%! But again, that's what the Oklahoman wants you to think: the current system is unfair to the rich and much be changed to make it fairer for them.

Sadly, their propaganda seems to be working.