Must See Chart: Tax Breaks for the Rich Versus Budget Cuts

Those social programs we can't afford? They could be complete paid for if we just got rid of tax breaks for the wealthy.

By Liz Dwyer

March 14, 2011

Posted March 14, 2011

Need a stark breakdown of just why it is that attacks on public employees in Wisconsin and beyond are striking such a nerve? Take a look at this chart from the Center for American Progress comparing tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy to budget cuts to 10 social safety net programs.

Combine this visual depiction of our supposed "shared sacrifices" and "painful cuts" with the extremes of wealth and poverty our culture editor, Cord, shared yesterday—how the 400 wealthiest Americans are now richer than the bottom 50 percent of citizens—and it's not hard to understand why people are protesting.

Must See Chart: Tax Breaks for the Rich Versus Budget Cuts

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