TEA PARTY - TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY?

The name of this group automatically shows their ignorance. We have very low taxes compared to those in the past. Look at the 1950s! See at data below, gleaned from the National Taxpayers Union website (http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/history-of-federal-individual-1.html).

LOWEST TAX BRACKET

1950 = 17.4% up to $4000 - Truman

1951 = 20.4% Truman (3% higher)

1952-53 = 22.2% Truman (2.2% higher)

1954-63 = 20% Eisenhower (1.8% lower)

1964 = 16% Johnson up to $1000 - (4% lower)

1965-80 = 14% but in 1979 up to $2100 - Johnson (2% lower)

1981 = 13.825% - Reagan (.175% lower)

1982 = 12% Reagan (1.825% lower)

1983-87 = 11% in 1987 up to $3000 - Reagan (1% lower)

1988-2001 = 15% but up to $29,750, - Reagan (4% higher - highest since1965!)

"Up to" level raised by G. H. W. Bush, Clinton, G. W. Bush until $45,200

2002-10 = 10% up to $12000 - G. W. Bush (5% lower)

Federal income tax rates went down with Eisenhower 1954, Johnson 1964 and 1965, Reagan 1981, 1982, 1983. Effectively down with G. H. W. Bush, Clinton and G. W. Bush due to raising the "up to" level. Down with G. W. Bush 2002.

Up with Truman 1951 and 1952 (Korean War), Reagan 1988 to a rate higher than when he took office.

HIGHEST TAX BRACKET

1950-63 = over 90% Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy

1964 = 77% Johnson (13% lower)

1965-67 = 70% Johnson (7% lower)

1968 = 75.25% Johnson (5.25% higher)

1969 = 77% Nixon (1.75% higher)

1970 = 71.5% Nixon (5.5% lower)

1971-80 = 70% Nixon (1.5% lower)

1981 = 69.125% Reagan (.875% lower)

1982-86 = 50% Reagan (19.125% lower)

1988-92 = 28-31% Reagan (average 20.5% lower)

1993-2002 = 38-39% Clinton (approximately 9% higher)

2004-10 = 35% Bush (4% lower)

The highest tax bracket went down with Kennedy (20% lower), Johnson (14% lower), Nixon (5.25% lower), Carter (another 20% lower), Reagan (approximately 20% lower) - but only for a while, Clinton (approximately 8% higher), G. W. Bush (4% lower).

Up with Johnson 1968 and Nixon 1969 (Vietnam War), and with Clinton (to reduce the national debt).

Then there is the deficit and national debt. The Republicans look horrifyingly bad there in comparison to the Democrats (and to their own tax behavior). A lot of the national debt came from the Reagan and G. H. Bush tax relief - but somehow not with the tax relief provided by the Democrats. Better budget management? Can we afford to turn the government back over to the Republicans now?