Read my lips : why Americans are proud to pay taxes / Vanessa Williamson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Williamson, Vanessa, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Taxation--United States.

Taxation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (304 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2017]

Language Note:

In English.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

A surprising and revealing look at what Americans really believe about taxesConventional wisdom holds that Americans hate taxes. But the conventional wisdom is wrong. Bringing together national survey data with in-depth interviews, Read My Lips presents a surprising picture of tax attitudes in the United States. Vanessa Williamson demonstrates that Americans view taxpaying as a civic responsibility and a moral obligation. But they worry that others are shirking their duties, in part because the experience of taxpaying misleads Americans about who pays taxes and how much. Perceived "loopholes" convince many income tax filers that a flat tax might actually raise taxes on the rich, and the relative invisibility of the sales and payroll taxes encourages many to underestimate the sizable tax contributions made by poor and working people.Americans see being a taxpayer as a role worthy of pride and respect, a sign that one is a contributing member of the community and the nation. For this reason, the belief that many Americans are not paying their share is deeply corrosive to the social fabric. The widespread misperception that immigrants, the poor, and working-class families pay little or no taxes substantially reduces public support for progressive spending programs and undercuts the political standing of low-income people. At the same time, the belief that the wealthy pay less than their share diminishes confidence that the political process represents most people.Upending the idea of Americans as knee-jerk opponents of taxes, Read My Lips examines American taxpaying as an act of political faith. Ironically, the depth of the American civic commitment to taxpaying makes the failures of the tax system, perceived and real, especially potent frustrations.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Preface: The Tax Revolt Was a Long Time Ago

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Pride and Prejudice and Taxes

2. How the Taxpaying Experience Obscures Low- Income Taxpayers

3. Where Should Tax Money Go?

4. How the Taxpaying Experience Shapes Attitudes about Progressivity

5. (How) Is Tax Money Wasted?

Conclusion

Appendix A. The U.S. Tax System: A Brief Introduction

Appendix B. Meet the Interviewees

Notes

Index

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 23. Mai 2019)

ISBN:

9780691191607

0691191603

OCLC:

972955105