Wow! My numbers don't support my argument the the wealthy pay the majority of taxes? You mean top 5% pays 61% of all Federal taxes, top 1% pay 10X more than the bottom 50%, and millions of low earners pay ZERO taxes is me arguing against myself?

Wendy nailed it. The USA is a capitalistic society where education, hard work, and initiative are rewarded.

You apparently believe in the redistribution of wealth and draconian taxes upon those who are successful in order to "level your playing field". My grandparents immigrated(legally) to this country and each generation of my family, through education, hard work and a desire to better oneself, has been more successful than the prior generation. I'm sure there are thousands in the Butler area that have a similar story.

My son worked in the Silicon Valley with engineers from Russia, China, and India and they all told him the same thing: "You Americans have the greatest country in the world but many of you don't realize how wonderful you have it here."They were fearful of losing their green card, because they wanted to make America their permanent home. To me that's pretty persuasive evidence that, if you want to be successful here, you can, thus "a level playing field".

PS. I did look at the charts.

Maybe some who have read our last few days discussion would like to weigh in and share their thoughts.