I cannot dispute your numbers; nor can I verify them.
I can verify them: (AP) "Two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to a new (GAO) report from Congress."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4342535.shtml
As a right-wing populist, I can assure you that I have no love for large corporations, or for those who profit hugely from them. But neither do I care for the idea of a system that approaches the European model; which is to say, democratic socialism. (In fact, of the two, I would much prefer the former.)
I have never described the Clinton-era top marginal rate of 39.6 percent as "socialistic"; so that is a red herring.
Certainly, the top rate of earlier times--which ranged between 91 and 92 percent between the years 1951-1963, and was as high as 94 percent near the end of WWII--was clearly confiscatory:
http://www.truthandpolitics.org/top-rates.php
The tax rate for highest income bracket between 1940 - 1980 averaged 80%.
Higher marginal rates do not automatically produce a greater revenue stream to the government. There is--somewhere--a point of diminishing returns, beyond which higher rates simply depress economic activity, and actually
reduce government receipts.
Funny, I didn't see that in Clinton's time or during the period of 1940 - 1980!
I confess that I am not smart enough to know precisely the point at which this optimum point occurs.
I venture to say its not at the Clinton rate of 39% since we survived quite well for 40 years averaging 80%.
Nonetheless, one should be very wary about beginning with the bold assumption that an increase in rates will necessarily yield more in tax receipts.