Majorities of Americans say the federal government does not provide enough help for older people (65%), poor people (62%) and the middle class (61%). By contrast, nearly two-thirds (64%) say the government provides too much help for wealthy people.
Most Americans say they have achieved the "American dream" or are on their way to achieving it. Yet, the American dream means different things to different people.
Taxpayers with incomes of $200,000 or more paid well over half (58.8%) of federal income taxes, though they accounted for only 4.5% of all returns filed (6.8% of all taxable returns). By contrast, taxpayers with incomes below $30,000 filed nearly 44% of all returns but paid just 1.4% of all federal income tax.
As the congressional debate over Trump's tax overhaul begins, more Americans say tax rates on corporations and higher-income households should be raised rather than lowered.
Women's contributions to U.S. household incomes have grown. Yet, men contribute more of the income in most couples, and this reality aligns with public sentiments.
Millennials trail Baby Boomers and Generation Xers in the number of households they head. But Millennial-run households represent the largest group in some key categories, such as the number in poverty or the number headed by a single mother.