“Because taxpaying is seen as an emblem of civic worthiness, denying the poor the status of taxpayers has the effect of denying their political standing. Classing a large percentage of the populace as a kind of second-class citizenry is genuinely toxic for democratic norms.” PoliticsPovertyDemocracyTaxesAmericans Book:Read My Lips: Why Americans Are Proud to Pay Taxes Source: Read My Lips: Why Americans Are Proud to Pay Taxes