The one difference I have noticed between “liberals” and “progressives” on one hand, and “conservatives” and “neocons” on the other is that the former really don’t want to call Social Security withholding a “tax” when they talk about why the population is not overtaxed.

The confusion is, in my view, deliberate. The three main taxes, in order of regressivity are:

Social Security / Medicare (FICA) – even the poorest minimum-wage worker has this 16% slice taken off the top of every dollar they ever make in their lives, which statistically are so short (against the ever-rising retirement age) that they will never ever get out of it their principal, much less any “interest”. Meanwhile, the tax zeroes out at $90,000, so the truly wealthy see this tax disappear on virtually all their earnings.

The Income Tax – Progressives and conservatives note, somewhat approvingly, that most poor people pay little of this, due to the EITC and such. Middle-class people get a small break if they buy a house, that is until they run smack into the AMT. Really rich people have the bulk of their compensation given in the form of participation (stocks, options, etc), taxed at the top capital gains rate of 15%, if at all.

The Inflation Tax – Progressives and liberals, along with neocons
completely ignore this tax, along with most conservatives. The poor and middle class see this steal any savings (along with other taxes) making saving a losing proposition and increasing the attractiveness of debt, since debts incurred today are paid off later (if ever) with depreciated future dollars. Meanwhile, the bankers, Wall Street, and the Merchants of Death (sorry guys) all reap fantastic rewards from this tax because they get the new money first before it is depreciated.

The bottom line is that the poor ARE regressively overtaxed, and so are the middle class, the wealthy (while, I will note, pay the bulk of the DOLLARS of tax) are much more lightly taxed, while enjoying benefits unavailable to the masses.

Of course, this is interpreted by the progressives, liberals, and neocons as an excuse for even more tax depredations.

(image from this very good explanation of money creation by Mia at a good human)