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The vast majority of state and local tax systems are regressive, or upside-down, requiring a much greater share of income from low- and middle-income families than from wealthy families, study says ( itep.org )

On average, the lowest-income 20 percent of taxpayers face a state and local tax rate nearly 60 percent higher than the top 1 percent of households, according to a study by the Institue on Taxation and Economic Policy....

Arkham ,

Every time I see news like this, I remember that Leona Helmsley quote:

We don’t pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes.

Arkham ,

Just as a possible counterpoint to this: Lebanon has been highly divided by sectarian conflicts, mainly between Christians and Muslims, but has managed to stay a cohesive state since its founding in the 40s.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t point to Lebanon as some beacon of stability or good governance. But despite decades of problems, including a long civil war, Lebanon’s government and civilian population still exist without a major external power forcing them to stay as a single cohesive state.

If they can do that, maybe a one-state solution for Palestine and Israel isn’t completely unworkable. If nothing else it sure seems like an improvement over the current situation.

Arkham ,

What exactly is your plan for the future, if you really believe it’s too late now? Just let the fascists take over and hope they don’t come for you?

Arkham ,

We can expect the anti-choice crowd to ramp this rhetoric up in the coming months and years. Lots of them already like to crow about how we’re a “republic not a democracy” (while having no understanding of what those terms actually involve, or the history behind them).

Once they realize how outnumbered they are they will absolutely abandon consent of the governed as a principle of legitimate government.

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