Edit:also look at the economic system practiced in the United States that led up to the introduction of trickle down economics. That happened in the 80’s and there’s 4/5ths of the 20th century that happened prior to that

Every single of the thousands of innovation that goes into an iPhone was subsidized by rich venture capitalists and rich early adopters who were willing to plonk large sums of money to a 'gadget' that only showed promises of work.

It wasn't because the Indian Government Taxed the Rich and made a mandate that everyone should have an device-in-their-pocket-that-carries-all-the-worlds-information-and-productivity-tools

I don’t think finding a silver lining in the end results of a process counts as it succeeding.

Don't forget the governments which helped fund the basic research used to make such things, the middle and lower classes that pay more in property taxes so companies can be bribed to build factories, and other such things.

Put another way it's a much more complicated picture than just those two.

Only if you ignore sales tax, car tax, property taxes, and other such taxes.

The top 10% typically included major corporations but without a source I don't know if the percentage you use does.

Saying that I'd be all for a Federal sales tax of 20% if we could nearly eliminate income taxes.

Contrary to popular belief, the so called utopias like Sweden, tax the poor at almost comparable rates as the rich.

The poor already spend all their money on necessities. If you go to a flat sales tax it will hurt them more than the current progressive regime and favor the wealthy.

#define WEALTHY

Wow, this is pretty eye-opening.

The bottom 50% contribute nothing and in fact are a net negative contributor when you consider welfare, housing, etc, and other benefits. Of course, this doesn't stop certain scumbag pols like Warren from lying to them that it's the other half that's ripping everyone off.