Reply #5: it's not just the rates, but what is taxed

[alc]

It's easy for CEOs to have $1/year income so tax that at 100% and they won't care. Corps can find ways to "loose" money in a year but gain value. I'm for a VERY simple but comprehensive tax system. I'd like to see some out-of-the box thinking rather than continuing to debate a few percentage points modifications (or even 10+%) at different income levels.

A flat rate that results in someone who "makes" 10x the money actually pays 10x the taxes is probably better then what we have now (for some definition of "make") Exempt the first $50K for everyone and those making under $50k pay 0 (so there are 2 levels)

Or base cap gains taxes on the number of "quality US" jobs added/lost. I know it's not simple like I'd prefer, but give a billionaire a 5% rate if they are creating lots of jobs like they claim and a 95% rate if they are shipping all jobs overseas (20-50% is probably the realistic range and it needs to be over multiple years, not something that can be gamed each year). Those making $1 million+ aren't getting it from "income" (or they won't be if that rate goes up).