The top 10% earned 43% of the income in 2009 and paid 70% of the income taxes according to several websites I've looked at (ntu.org, heritage.org). The bottom

The top 10% earned 43% of the income in 2009 and paid 70% of the income taxes according to several websites I've looked at (ntu.org, heritage.org). The bottom 50% paid 2% of federal income taxes. I was responding to this IMF report which says, in effect, that more holdings of the rich should be confiscated and redistributed. Arguably, the U.S. already has fairly progressive taxation. The payroll tax a.k.a. FICA is a slightly different story since, theoretically, we all get that money back eventually. As I understand it, the government's huge size and credit utilization encroaches on private sector investment and expansion. Simply put, if it didn't soak up $1T/year in loans, that loan money could be invested privately and put to more productive and efficient use. I didn't know that companies are sitting on cash. It was my impression that money is being put to use no matter how it is stashed, except under a mattress.