re: Income Tax, Quntiles and a "replacement" tax.
Taxes: Prior to 1915, the US did quite well and built enough wealth to fund a large portion of the Earth during and just after WW2.
Quintiles: The US Govt figures show that families in the bottom Quinile live on less than $20K per year; the top quintile families have roughly $240K. A "pure average" would be $70K per year, per family.
A Replacement Tax: We would improve things for everyone (except the top few %) by having an import tariff of 25-40% on ALL GOODS and services imported. Duties on goods would re-open our factories and create "living-wage" jobs. A duty on services could be in the form of NOT allowing corporations to deduct any wages paid to non-Citizens.
All of the above is ONLY POSSIBLE if we are able to rein in our top few % and the elected officials who now serve them by accepting their "bribes" and contributions and passing laws that severely deplete the weath of the bottom 4 Quintiles.
John Schuler
Portland, Oregon