From these ref's, it's clear to see that the Federal tax code hardly put a damper on the average income of the top 1%, 5% and 10% - their average income rose (t

From these ref's, it's clear to see that the Federal tax code hardly put a damper on the average income of the top 1%, 5% and 10% - their average income rose (the "Top 1%" doubled!) from 1977 to 1995. Every household _not_ in the "Highest 20%" quintile, on the other hand, pretty much held steady (or decreased slightly). Perhaps the reason that "fully half the taxpayers contribute almost nothing in individual income taxes" is that their incomes are so low. In any case, the percentage of "income tax burden" borne by the "Top" (1%/5%/10%) will of course rise as their incomes rise at a rate which outpaces everybody's below.