Most Americans seem unaware that individual and corporate tax rates are the lowest in 75 years

Below is a clean, data-driven summary (1950–2026, USA) using representative benchmark years (since yearly statutory structures are complex and bracketed).

1. A table (individual vs corporate rates
2. A middle-class share table + graph
3. Key interpretation

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1) US Tax Rates (Top Marginal) — 1950–2026

Key Takeaways

• Individual rates dropped dramatically from ~90% → ~37%
• Corporate rates dropped from ~50% → 21%
• Biggest structural break: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) → flat 21% corporate rate 

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3) Middle Class Size (Share of Population)

Trend:

• Peak: post-WWII (~1950–1970)
• Steady decline since ~1980

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4) 📉 Graph: Middle Class Shrinkage

% of Population
70 |  ████████████
65 |  ███████████   (1950 peak)
60 |  ██████████
55 |  █████████
50 |  ████████
45 |
    ----------------------------------------
     1950   1970   1990   2010   2026

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5) Interpretation (Important Context)

🧾 Taxes vs Reality

• While statutory rates were extremely high in the 1950s, effective rates were much lower due to deductions and loopholes 
• Example: top earners paid closer to 35–45% effective, not 90%+

🏢 Corporate Taxes

• 1950s–60s: high statutory rates + war taxes
• Post-1980: steady decline
• Post-2017: flat 21% (historic low)

👨‍👩‍👧 Middle Class

• Strongest when:
  • Taxes were more progressive
  • Unions stronger
  • Wage growth broad-based
• Decline correlates with:
  • Globalization
  • Automation
  • Tax + policy shifts

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6) Big Picture

Trend Direction (1950 → 2026)

Individual top tax rates⬇️ Huge decrease

Corporate tax rates⬇️ Large decrease

Middle class share⬇️ Moderate decline

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