A few more stats to throw into the discussion, from an article dated Sept. 2003. Again, I think these stats are fairly similar to Canada:
In California, taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of more than $100,000 make up the top 11 percent of taxpayers. This highest-earning group reported 54 percent of the total income in the state and paid 80 percent of the state’s income taxes. Taxpayers with incomes over $500,000 account for less than 1 percent of total tax returns filed but pay about 40 percent of the personal income taxes paid in the state.
Tax returns at the federal level reveal a similar, though slightly less skewed, pattern. According to the Tax Foundation, the top 10 percent of U.S. taxpayers earned more than 46 percent of the adjusted gross income in 2000. These same households paid 67 percent of federal personal income taxes.
The article says a "liberal" arguer might say: The rich make 46% of all income, therefore we have to tax them more."
A "conservative" might answer: "Sure they make 46% of all income, but they pay 67% of all taxes so they're already paying more than their fair share."
Which side is right?
http://www.hooverdigest.org/034/morse.html
Cowperson