Fievel,

You are once again making my case for me! Do you think Kerry is unique? Do you think that there aren't any Republicans out there in the same boat, never mind the direct comparison between Kerry and Bush (BTW I'd like to see the same comparison for Cheney; and I wonder how much of Bush's income is kept seperate under daddy's various corporate interests?)

"...their effective tax rate was a whopping 12.8%.... "Under the current tax system the middle class pays far more than the ... tax rate (that the wealthy pay). In fact, the average federal tax rate -- combined payroll and income tax -- for a middle-class family is closer to 20% or more"

That's exactly what I've been saying all along! It doesn't matter WHO the specific tax payer is. That is how the system works! They all do the same thing!

"I don't hate the wealthy, nor do I blame them for operating within the existing laws and framework. I don't expect them to charge the Capitol, bags of money in hand, and say, "Please, take this, the country needs it more than we do!"

And Kerry and Edwards are the ones who want to change all that, knowing full well that the changes they propose will effect them as well as the rest of the very wealthy. And they still want to make those necessary changes.

Bush and Cheney and the republicans and all you conservatives are the ones saying, "no, no, the wealthy already pay more than their share, if you tax them more they'll close down their businesses; if you make someone who makes 6 million dollars a year and already pays a million in taxes pay another million he'll close his company and stop working and won't earn or produce anything because it won't be worth it if you take away the incentive and he only walks away with a measly 4 million dollars a year!".

Can't you see that what you just posted proves my point and contradicts everything you and your cohorts have been saying throughout this thread?

Read what you post, and listen to yourself!!