47 year old United States Congresswoman Cori Anika Bush is the representative for Missouri's 1st congressional district. Her district includes all of the city of St. Louis.
In October of 2023, she was asked what exactly a “fair share” meant when it came to taxing the rich.
I often wondered how people like her would respond to a person challenging their call for wealthy people to pony up more money to the government. I think I have my answer.
What do people mean when they utter phrases like “tax the rich” or “the wealthy should pay their fair share!”
I always wanted to ask these people, well, how much should that be? What is wealthy? What is a “fair share?” Exactly how much more should they be paying?
According to what I’ve read, Rep. Bush has a base salary of around $174,000 and the average income for her Missouri district is $51,529. It certainly looks like she’d be “wealthy.” Maybe she should pay her fair share.
If you're in a position of power, especially one where you can shape or change the tax code, it's important to know what you’re talking about. For example; they must know what an effective and marginal tax rate actually means, or what the current tax brackets are. Don’t just talk about taxes without understanding them. This goes for anyone who's just parroting political soundbites to win brownie points too.
Tax laws are incredibly complex and have real effects on the lives of tax paying citizens here in the United States. If people in power are making decisions, or even just talking about these issues, they should really be comfy with the basics of tax law. It's better to be genuinely informed and thoughtful about these things. After all, we're talking about decisions that can impact everyone's wallet, not just abstract concepts.
For those who feel the “wealthy” should pay their fair share, explain what that means here:
Clayton Craddock is a devoted father of two, an accomplished musician, and a thought-provoker dedicated to Socratic questioning, challenging the status quo, and encouraging a deeper contemplation on a range of issues. Subscribe to Think Things Through HERE, and for inquiries and to connect, email him here: Clayton@claytoncraddock.com
I don’t think any tax amount is ok. It’s theft, and slavery. To take, by force, what isn’t yours, what others have earned.
And that’s only income tax people are talking about. There’s a whole lot more regressive taxes. Not only wealthy pay taxes.
Wealthy people also have the power to shape the laws to get around paying that “fair share” that’s talked about, leaving the poor to pay more in the long run.
The only people that make money off taxation?
The government. The regulators, public officials, the government is the largest employer
So she says the wealthy should pay 45%...is that really a "fair share?" She obviously hasn't done any homework and just threw out a number there. The tax rate for 2023 for over $578,125 is already 37%...it then goes to 35, 32, and 24% (which would be her tax rate) before "middle class" for someone making $44,725 to $95,375. The rate is 22% and only 10-12% for under $44,725. Yes, the wealthy also probably have more tax deductions, but they also are able to be more philanthropic and donate to keep many non-profit and the arts funded. There is no easy answer here...