Polls show most Americans support raising taxes on wealthy

On Monday, President Obama unveiled his deficit reduction plan which, in addition to spending cuts, included $1.5 trillion in new tax revenue.

According to the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll, conducted before the president announced his plan, the public supports increasing taxes in order to help reduce the budget deficit - at least on those with higher incomes.

Fifty-six percent of Americans think taxes should be increased on households earning $250,000 a year or higher to help lower the deficit, while 37 percent say taxes should not be raised on those households.

There is a partisan divide here with most Democrats and independents in favor of increasing taxes on this group, while 56 percent of Republicans are opposed.

Still, support for a hike in taxes was slightly higher back in August on the heels of the debt ceiling agreement - 63 percent of Americans favored raising taxes on households earning $250,000 or more, including 52 percent of Republicans.

There is some division within the Republican Party on this issue. Seventy-one percent of Republicans who support the Tea Party movement are opposed to tax hikes on households making $250,000 or more, but among those Republicans who do not support the Tea Party, only 43 percent hold that view. Fifty-two of this group actually supports tax increases on those with higher incomes in order to reduce the deficit.

Historically, Americans have frequently favored increasing taxes on those with higher incomes (often people other than themselves) in the name of deficit reduction. There has been some reluctance on the part of Americans, however, to support increasing their own taxes. For example, in April of this year, 52 percent were unwilling to have their own taxes raised in order to reduce the deficit, according to a CBS News/New York Times Poll. But in a separate question, 72 percent approved of a tax hike starting in 2013 on households earning $250,000 or more.

During the 1990 budget battle, when George H.W. Bush was president (and ultimately broke his "no new taxes" pledge), 86 percent of Americans, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, were willing to have taxes raised on people earning over $100,000 to help reduce the federal budget deficit, but far fewer - 43 percent - were willing to pay $100 more a year in taxes themselves.

However, in 1993, during Bill Clinton's presidency, there was more willingness on the part of Americans to pay more in taxes to help reduce the deficit - 55 percent were willing to pay $100 more in taxes to reduce the deficit. Still, Gallup Polls conducted that year found far more support for raising taxes on those with higher incomes.

[hkestes]

While it is true that polls show American support tax increases on the wealthy, it is in reality a MYTH created by Leftist Liberal leadership and their surrogates in the media.

The MYTH is exposed when you ask the public what the top tax rate should be, you get a completely different picture of reality.

In a survey conducted by The Hill in February, 61 percent of likely voters said the top tax rate should be 25 percent or less, a rate that is substantially lower than the present top rate, demonstrating majority support for lowering taxes below what they are today. Fully 88 percent said the top rate should be at the current 35 percent, or less. Only 4 percent supported a top tax rate of 40 percent, which is closest to the proposal of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats to increase the top rate to 39.6 percent.

This is worth repeating: Only 4 percent of the public supports the tax rate Democrats are trying to force successful small businesses and individuals to pay. This finding destroys the myth that Obama's election was primarily a mandate for higher taxes.

[anebt]

If Congress would actually take that extra revenue and pay down the debt, I would support it. The problem is that they find more creative ways to blow it. Meanwhile the debt grows.

[magnumdr]

Everyone that works for a living is struggleing with money problems. I would like to know why our elected people don't get any pay cut's. These people thrive on our tax dollars and at the same time make our lives even harder to live by adding more taxes on us. It is time for our elected people to take pay and benefit cuts along with the rest of us. Maybe if these jobs didn't pay so much we would have a whole differant group of people running for public office. It is time for budget cuts for our public paid leaders!

[wfw3536]

Yes, just what we need, lets tax folks who create jobs more. I sure that will help us from going into a second recession.

[1_Wendels]

Everyone who makes $1,000,000 or more a year do not create all of the jobs! Period. Why is being rich associated with creating jobs? Many of the Rich have NEVER worked a day in their lives while some who live below the poverty level work hard and still need help through no fault of their own. Most if not all of the wealthy could afford to pay more!
I would like to see any tax increase on the wealthy go directly to pay off the national debt and not for any pork barrel causes.

[Centrist001]

I laugh every time I hear that fallacy, that the rich create jobs. Need creates jobs, not the rich. And most of the jobs created in the U.S. are from small businesses and entrepeneurs, who are NOT largely affected by taxes on the rich. If you need proof of how the wealthy do not create jobs, come out of hibernation and look at the recent recession. Most of the wealthy kept their money intact, but when unemployment went up, where were the jobs?

[amerilatino]

The U.S. government has been digging itself in deeper and deeper since 2001 so that the rich can have more leftover money to invest overseas. Unemployment is increasing and working-class buying power is waning. Corporations will not hire, when they do, they kick two out for every one they take on. In the meantime, corporate shareholders and investors are taking a beating as they can't swell up the value of their stocks no matter how hard they try, and they wonder why. Now we have a GOP Obama-me-too puppet telling us that if we've come onto hard times it's all our fault and proposing a ludicrous 9-9-9 plan which is nothing more than another break for the rich and professional aid recipients. Mr. CEO, if you're counting on me spending any of my savings buying your junk any time soon, you'd better have a good story to tell your company's shareholders. I expect to be stingy as a Scotsman this next year, my family and I are planning to tighten our belts and do as much we can to curtail our spending however we can. If many more working Joes and Janes are sharing my mindset out there, you'd best find some way to sell your cr@p to the same third-world indentured sweatshop servants that make it if you want to look good come the next shareholder's meeting.

[1_Wendels]

I believe it was Herman Cain who proposed the 9-9-9 Plan NOT President Obama. As for the Government digging a deeper hole it has been happening since President RONALD REGAN since 1980,Check out the stats and see how much HE raised taxes and raised the debt ceiling and the National debt!

[magnumdr]

I would just love our Government to raise my taxes by 100%. Comon, these people need the money so they can learn how to spend it. The common citizen don't need any money. If we all do without food for 2 weeks our Government might get the money they need so they can spend it again?

[Alex_Votocracy]

What is everybody's thoughts on Greece raising property taxes based on electrical usage? Would this effect the wealthy or the poor more? Should the U.S. adopt it? Come discuss on a political platform and discussion poll: http://www.votocracy.com/poll

[AngryMobVoter]

It is time for Obama to stop his class warfare rhetoric. The people he is talking about taxing did not get some windfall for no reason. Most of these people worked hard, got educated, had great and innovative ideas, took risks, and invested capital. At The same time they created jobs and economic growth. They believed in The American Dream and made it happen. Obama's "tax The rich" rhetoric is a slap in The face to anyone who is a real American and believes in The American Dream.

Obama's plan IS class warfare. This plan raises taxes on the very people who create jobs and provide investment capital. Not only that, these are people who achieved The American Dream. Clearly Obama is an enemy of The American Dream. This is not a plan to create jobs and grow The economy, this is a campaign stunt to try to get reelected after a failed first term.

This plan is ANTI-GROWTH and ANTI-JOBS. Raising taxes on ANYONE with a WEAK ECONOMY is RECKLESS. This plan will send more investment and jobs out of The country. The only thing this plan will accomplish is extending The government's intrusion into The economy and it is The AVERAGE AMERICAN who will SUFFER.

More CLASS WARFARE from Obama. Obama will continue his SOCIALIST AGENDA until The AVERAGE AMERICAN votes him out of office.

Obama must realize most of his policies are temporary in nature. They will not fix The economy. What is need is a permanent FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH. If Obama wants to keep The wages of his union buddies ARTIFICIALLY HIGH, he must come up with other ways to lower The cost of production in The United States. If it costs more to produce a product in The US, companies will expand and add jobs outside The country. It is that simple. If Obama does not want to deal with The labor cost issue, The only other tools he can use to lower The cost of production are LOWER TAXES and LESS INTRUSIVE REGULATION.

Obama needs to stop pushing for alternative energy because it costs more to produce than it costs to produce conventional energy. That means The taxpayer pays an added cost twice: once for The money The government gives to The alternative energy companies and again because The energy produced by them costs more.

Instead of The government doing more and spending more, The government must stop The spending that only has a temporary effect, cut taxes, reduce The unsustainable public debt, and eliminate The oppressive regulation.

Obama also needs to do something about The culture we are breeding in The US which encourages people to depend on The system to survive. 46 million on food stamps and The millions who do not pay income taxes is more than we can afford.

When will Obama deal with The 46 million on food stamps or The millions who PAY ZERO INCOME TAX?

We must continue to VOTE THEM OUT!!!

[1_Wendels]

I didn't see W deal with the millions on food stamps and paying Zero taxes, he helped to raise the national debt by starting a war that we NEVER should have been in because he got wrong information.

[rayz28-2009]

So what part of this survey don't the politicians get? Oh that's right they do not care! It is that simple America. The Career political terrorist, (GOP & Tea Party) don't give a damn what surveys say or anything else about True American Patriotism. These hippocrits only care about their greedy, opportunistic, pockets. Nothing more. So impeach all of them sign petitions and vote them all out of office. Grow a pair! Do something instead of complaining and stand up to them as our fore fathers did who have gone this way before. They stood up to the French, the British and the English! When are you going to do something about it?

[GeeWiz2356]

So far there ae 403 Comments. Of all of you who have commented how many were polled by CBS to raise your tax? My guess is they poll each other as I have never meet anybody that has been polled.