political breakdown
@politicalbreakdown.bsky.social
Making political complexity understandable—one breakdown at a time.
Employers have huge leverage on workers in almost every aspect, including being the source of most worker's health insurance. How does that make sense?
May 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Employers have huge leverage on workers in almost every aspect, including being the source of most worker's health insurance. How does that make sense?
Have to say another Vietnam era level disrespect for the military is upon us when the US Air Force accepts bribes from Qatar that will cost the taxpayers billions. $. Shame on you, US Air Force.
May 22, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Have to say another Vietnam era level disrespect for the military is upon us when the US Air Force accepts bribes from Qatar that will cost the taxpayers billions. $. Shame on you, US Air Force.
Call it “fair share” or don’t. But this is a rigged system that rewards wealth hoarding, tax avoidance, and political influence — while working people foot the bill.
That's not efficient. It's exploitation.
That's not efficient. It's exploitation.
May 22, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Call it “fair share” or don’t. But this is a rigged system that rewards wealth hoarding, tax avoidance, and political influence — while working people foot the bill.
That's not efficient. It's exploitation.
That's not efficient. It's exploitation.
We don’t need a VAT. We don’t need austerity.
We need to tax billionaires and mega-corporations like we used to — and stop pretending the current system is “progressive” because it has brackets.
We need to tax billionaires and mega-corporations like we used to — and stop pretending the current system is “progressive” because it has brackets.
May 22, 2025 at 5:32 AM
We don’t need a VAT. We don’t need austerity.
We need to tax billionaires and mega-corporations like we used to — and stop pretending the current system is “progressive” because it has brackets.
We need to tax billionaires and mega-corporations like we used to — and stop pretending the current system is “progressive” because it has brackets.
“Turnover” in top earners doesn’t change the fact that income & wealth are massively concentrated. Whoever’s at the top, they’re paying less on more.
That’s not economic dynamism. That’s rigging.
That’s not economic dynamism. That’s rigging.
May 22, 2025 at 5:32 AM
“Turnover” in top earners doesn’t change the fact that income & wealth are massively concentrated. Whoever’s at the top, they’re paying less on more.
That’s not economic dynamism. That’s rigging.
That’s not economic dynamism. That’s rigging.
Corporate taxes used to fund 30% of the federal budget in the 1950s.
Today? Less than 8%.
📎 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Today? Less than 8%.
📎 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
www.cbpp.org
May 22, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Corporate taxes used to fund 30% of the federal budget in the 1950s.
Today? Less than 8%.
📎 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Today? Less than 8%.
📎 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Effective tax rate for top 0.1% has fallen from ~50% in 1960 to ~25% today.
That’s below the rate many middle-class households pay.
📎 Saez & Zucman (2019): eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-z...
That’s below the rate many middle-class households pay.
📎 Saez & Zucman (2019): eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-z...
eml.berkeley.edu
May 22, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Effective tax rate for top 0.1% has fallen from ~50% in 1960 to ~25% today.
That’s below the rate many middle-class households pay.
📎 Saez & Zucman (2019): eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-z...
That’s below the rate many middle-class households pay.
📎 Saez & Zucman (2019): eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-z...
Lary says “fair share” is subjective and points to deductions, turnover among the top 1%, and marginal vs. effective rates.
That’s spin. Here’s what the data actually shows:
That’s spin. Here’s what the data actually shows:
May 22, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Lary says “fair share” is subjective and points to deductions, turnover among the top 1%, and marginal vs. effective rates.
That’s spin. Here’s what the data actually shows:
That’s spin. Here’s what the data actually shows:
Yes, some of that is VAT — but that doesn’t erase the fact that we systematically under-tax income, capital, and corporate profits at the top.
We could raise $26 trillion in a decade just by matching the OECD average. No VAT required.
We could raise $26 trillion in a decade just by matching the OECD average. No VAT required.
May 22, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Yes, some of that is VAT — but that doesn’t erase the fact that we systematically under-tax income, capital, and corporate profits at the top.
We could raise $26 trillion in a decade just by matching the OECD average. No VAT required.
We could raise $26 trillion in a decade just by matching the OECD average. No VAT required.
In 2022:
🇺🇸 US tax-to-GDP: 26.6%
🇫🇷 France: 45.3%
🇩🇪 Germany: 39.5%
🇬🇧 UK: 33.5%
OECD average: 34.0%
📎 OECD Revenue Stats 2023: www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-...
🇺🇸 US tax-to-GDP: 26.6%
🇫🇷 France: 45.3%
🇩🇪 Germany: 39.5%
🇬🇧 UK: 33.5%
OECD average: 34.0%
📎 OECD Revenue Stats 2023: www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-...
Revenue Statistics 2023
This annual publication gives a conceptual framework to define which government receipts should be regarded as taxes. It presents a unique set of detailed and internationally comparable tax data in a ...
www.oecd.org
May 22, 2025 at 5:30 AM
In 2022:
🇺🇸 US tax-to-GDP: 26.6%
🇫🇷 France: 45.3%
🇩🇪 Germany: 39.5%
🇬🇧 UK: 33.5%
OECD average: 34.0%
📎 OECD Revenue Stats 2023: www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-...
🇺🇸 US tax-to-GDP: 26.6%
🇫🇷 France: 45.3%
🇩🇪 Germany: 39.5%
🇬🇧 UK: 33.5%
OECD average: 34.0%
📎 OECD Revenue Stats 2023: www.oecd.org/tax/revenue-...
The U.S. collects far less in tax revenue as a % of GDP than nearly every other wealthy country — and no, it’s not just because we don’t have a VAT.
May 22, 2025 at 5:29 AM
The U.S. collects far less in tax revenue as a % of GDP than nearly every other wealthy country — and no, it’s not just because we don’t have a VAT.
If we matched the OECD average tax-to-GDP ratio, we’d raise $26 trillion more in revenue over a decade. That’s not about fairness in theory — that’s fiscal reality.
May 22, 2025 at 5:25 AM
If we matched the OECD average tax-to-GDP ratio, we’d raise $26 trillion more in revenue over a decade. That’s not about fairness in theory — that’s fiscal reality.
We don’t need to copy Europe's VAT — we need to restore a tax code that expects billionaires and large corporations to actually pay. In the 1960s and '70s, top earners paid far more in real terms — and the economy still thrived.
May 22, 2025 at 5:25 AM
We don’t need to copy Europe's VAT — we need to restore a tax code that expects billionaires and large corporations to actually pay. In the 1960s and '70s, top earners paid far more in real terms — and the economy still thrived.
VAT is regressive, yes. But our problem isn't a lack of regressive taxes — it’s the lack of progressive taxation. Top marginal and effective tax rates have dropped for the wealthiest, even as inequality exploded.
May 22, 2025 at 5:25 AM
VAT is regressive, yes. But our problem isn't a lack of regressive taxes — it’s the lack of progressive taxation. Top marginal and effective tax rates have dropped for the wealthiest, even as inequality exploded.
International comparisons can be misleading if you don't account for structural differences like VAT. Here's the key point: the U.S. raises far less in tax revenue as a share of GDP than nearly every other OECD country, and that underfunds our infrastructure, healthcare, education, and safety net.
May 22, 2025 at 5:25 AM
International comparisons can be misleading if you don't account for structural differences like VAT. Here's the key point: the U.S. raises far less in tax revenue as a share of GDP than nearly every other OECD country, and that underfunds our infrastructure, healthcare, education, and safety net.
Disgusting plane. Having it steam cleaned from all the sex parties on that flying f palace will cost more than the plane and still leave a stench.
May 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Disgusting plane. Having it steam cleaned from all the sex parties on that flying f palace will cost more than the plane and still leave a stench.
True. One could ask why is Trump investing in real estate all over the world building luxury hotels overseas rather than in the US, but no one in MAGA seems to think about these simple questions.
May 22, 2025 at 4:59 AM
True. One could ask why is Trump investing in real estate all over the world building luxury hotels overseas rather than in the US, but no one in MAGA seems to think about these simple questions.
US Air Force not a military of the people. Corrupt military deserves no respect. Sold out to Qatar.
May 22, 2025 at 4:55 AM
US Air Force not a military of the people. Corrupt military deserves no respect. Sold out to Qatar.
May 22, 2025 at 4:54 AM
US Air Force not a military of the people. Corrupt military deserves no respect. Sold out to Qatar.
May 22, 2025 at 4:52 AM
US Air Force not a military of the people. Corrupt military deserves no respect. Sold out to Qatar.
May 22, 2025 at 4:51 AM