and that number of %47 that you guys that know nothing about econ love to quote was another direct result of the recession, just like the annual budget deficit at 1.2T which started in Nov of 2009.
and that would be because 66% of the US workforce is making what the median wage was in 1990's wages or below and of that 25% is making $13k or less in 1990's dollars...ever heard of inflation? it not only erodes purchasing power but reduces effective tax rates
and that %47 pay plenty of taxes at the state and local level...
Wage Statistics for 2010
I'm ok with the 47% not paying taxes. we're almost half way there to everyone paying no fed taxes.