I think this summarizes why we will never agree on this. We have a fundamental disagreement. It's also the difference between the rhetoric/philosophy of Obama vs. McCain. What you're saying is you can work hard, make money, but just not too much or the government will take it from you and give it to someone else. That's not how government should work.
We've had progressive income taxation for almost a 100 years in this country.
You are proposing a radically different approach with your presumed flat-tax approach to governmental revenue.
Your paraphrase of my view on the matter is wrong. Here is my view: under a progressive tax everybody pays the exact same rate of tax at the same bracket. Warren Buffet pays the same tax rates I do.
10% on the income between $0 and $11,450
15% on the income between $11,450 and $43,650; plus $1,145.00
25% on the income between $43,650 and $112,650; plus $5,975.00
28% on the income between $112,650 and $182,400; plus $23,225.00
33% on the income between $182,400 and $357,700; plus $42,755.00
35% on the income over $357,700; plus $100,604.00
See? Buffet pays the same rate I do for every dollar earned up to the 25% bracket limit. He pays a higher rate of tax on the dollars earned in the 28, 33, and 35% brackets.
I'll have to find the quote from Bork's "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" book. It sounds like you fall into that category of people who are jealous of those who make a lot of money. I don't know if that's true, but that's the impression I get.
It sounds like you've rationalized your understanding of progressive taxation to the extent that you demonize it and the people supporting it. You can't make a sound argument based on the merits of the tax itself, instead you impugn the motives and character of your philosophic opponents.
To paraphrase you: "If one supports the progressive income tax, he/she must be jealous of rich people."
I've pointed out that the PT treats all americans equally and that it is predicated on the basis of ability to pay.
You respond by calling me 'jealous' and restating your irrelevant hatred for redistribution of money by the government.
Do you hate the redistribution of the income tax dollars earned in the 35% bracket or all brackets (which include payments by the working poor to bail out millionaire bankers)?