“There are two distinct classes of men in the nation, those who pay taxes, and those who receive and live upon the taxes.”

— Thomas Paine

1790s, Letter to the Addressers (1792)

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Thomas Paine 262

English and American political activist 1737–1809

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“We justify want of faith by saying, "I don't go to church, but I am better than those who do," as one might say, "I don't pay taxes or serve the nation, but I am better than those who do."”

Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) Catholic bishop and television presenter

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“We will not take money in taxes from those who work hard and pay it out to those who don't. We are trying to roll back the tide of Socialism. We must get ‘stuck in’ and sort out our problems in our traditional British way instead of asking the Government to intervene every time. Intervening means taking from people who work jolly hard and just manage to live within their means and make a profit, money in extra tax to pay for those who don't.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician

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“I intend to pass one of the biggest middle class tax cuts ever — paid for by making those at the top pay their fair share.”

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“Those too poor to own their own home pay no property taxes, but their rent reflects the taxes that the landlord must pay. The poor pay higher rents to subsidize inefficiency and waste.”

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Source: Healing Our World: In An Age of Aggression, (2003), p. 123

““Am I hired?”
“There is no legal way you can get me out of paying that much of my taxes.”
“On the contrary, Mr. Wiggin. The tax laws are designed to trick people into paying more than they have to. That way the rich who are in the know get to take advantage of drastic tax breaks, while those who don’t have such good connections and haven’t yet found an accountant who does are tricked into paying ludicrously higher amounts.””

Orson Scott Card Ender's Game hexalogy

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“I’m going to make those at the top start to pay their share in taxes.”

Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)

2021, September 2021

“What Senator McCain has lately been suggesting is that somehow I'm going to take money from people making over $250,000, and give it to people who "pay no taxes". What he's confusing is the fact that even if you don't pay income tax, there are a lot of people who don't pay income tax, but you're still paying a whole lot of other taxes. You're paying payroll tax, which is a huge burden on a lot of middle-income families. You're paying sales taxes. You're paying property taxes. There are a whole host of taxes that you're paying. So when we provide an offset to the waitress or the janitor, these folks are working.”

Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America

This isn't some giveaway to people who are on welfare. This is giving help to people who are working hard every day.
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“Transparency helps ensure that power is not abused or used to make the powerful, or their immediate families, rich. There is also a genuine public interest in ensuring that the people who make laws and levy tax are following those laws and paying their fair share of tax.”

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Attributed, In the Media

“There are two distinct classes of men in the nation, those who pay taxes, and those who receive and live upon the taxes.”

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Thomas Paine 262

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