The Reaganomics Fraud:

[musclemom]

I actually have no problem with taxes, per se, I've NEVER really complained about that.

The problem comes from how much, and how it seems to get easier to get out of paying your taxes as you go up the ladder.

Back to my household (since it's the only one I know): 21% of our gross income is going to federal taxes, add in the state and local taxes (never mind sales tax) all together 30%+ of our gross income goes to taxes. Nearly one third of your income, when your income is UNDER $90k, is a HUGE chunk of change.

I realize people in the upper bracket may be paying the same percentage, but what I've said from the very beginning is that it's a proportionately LARGER hit for those of us lower on the ladder. It's back to the difference between a new Rolex and a new roof. The upper bracket feels they work hard and they deserve that new watch (or whatever) but realistically, it's not something they NEED, whereas the lower brackets are trying to figure out how to reduce on necessities just to keep gas in the car. It gets hard to have sympathy for upper tax bracket people, that's all. And when you hear about big corporations getting refunds, the reason behind it has ZERO relevance. The fact is, it is impossible to read that some corporation is getting a refund in one year for 100x more than you'll earn in your entire lifetime and not go "fuck me, why do I even bother?"

 

[Mr. dB]

Also, and Digi can vouch for this, very few people making under $60k pay taxes these days.

Whoah, I sure do.

 

[mrplunkey]

I actually have no problem with taxes, per se, I've NEVER really complained about that.

The problem comes from how much, and how it seems to get easier to get out of paying your taxes as you go up the ladder.

Back to my household (since it's the only one I know): 21% of our gross income is going to federal taxes, add in the state and local taxes (never mind sales tax) all together 30%+ of our gross income goes to taxes. Nearly one third of your income, when your income is UNDER $90k, is a HUGE chunk of change.

I realize people in the upper bracket may be paying the same percentage, but what I've said from the very beginning is that it's a proportionately LARGER hit for those of us lower on the ladder. It's back to the difference between a new Rolex and a new roof. The upper bracket feels they work hard and they deserve that new watch (or whatever) but realistically, it's not something they NEED, whereas the lower brackets are trying to figure out how to reduce on necessities just to keep gas in the car. It gets hard to have sympathy for upper tax bracket people, that's all. And when you hear about big corporations getting refunds, the reason behind it has ZERO relevance. The fact is, it is impossible to read that some corporation is getting a refund in one year for 100x more than you'll earn in your entire lifetime and not go "fuck me, why do I even bother?"

Look at it from the other perspective: Picture some surgeon 7-10 miles from your house. He's turning-and-burning patients day-in and day-out. He made a big bet on 14+ years of post-high school education and faced staggering debt his first day on the job.

Let's say he knocks-down $700k per year and pays 35% of it in federal tax (thanks to the Bush tax cuts, or it would be more).

Now he's paying 35% x 700 = 245k per year in taxes. Your household is paying only 20k. You drive on the same roads. You are being defended by the same military. At most you are the same load on the government but in practice, he's probably a lighter load (I seriously doubt he'll draw on social security or medicare, and he sure won't use medicaid or any other social services).

Now why in the world would he be expected to pay over 12x your household load?

 

[mrplunkey]

Whoah, I sure do.

What do you do?

I've seen you infer you worked in a club or bar. I remember some comment you made about acts or performers that passed through where you work.

 

[Mr. dB]

Now why in the world would he be expected to pay over 12x your household load?

He has more to lose if society collapses.

 

[mrplunkey]

He has more to lose if society collapses.

That's ridiculous.

If that's the case, let's tax people who are well-adjusted more. And people who grew-up in happy homes. And nicer-looking people. And people with attractive spouses and nice children. And people who have good dogs/cats.

After all, don't they have more to lose as well?

 

[musclemom]

Now why in the world would he be expected to pay over 12x your household load?

Because our hypothetical surgeon was gifted with the intellectual capacity and physical and physiologic stamina to do what he does, it also means he will probably never have to worry about stupid things, like filling the oil tank or how to make the co pay on imaging studies, that leave the rest of us, who were not so physically and intellectually blessed, terrified and lying awake at night because we don't know what we're going to do when we're too old to work. I don't know about you, but from this end of the world there is nothing secure about Social Security.

The fact is, there are plenty of industrialized countries where the haves do not resent paying a larger share than the have nots.

 

[75th]

Let's say he knocks-down $700k per year and pays 35% of it in federal tax (thanks to the Bush tax cuts, or it would be more).

Now he's paying 35% x 700 = 245k per year in taxes.

Holy lack of understanding of tax brackets, batman!

He doesn't pay 35% on the entire $700k. Without any digimon trickery whatsoever, the most he's paying at the end of the day is perhaps 29-31%.

That additional 4% or so adds up to what - $25k?

 

[PICK3]

If that's the case, let's tax people who are well-adjusted more. And people who grew-up in happy homes. And nicer-looking people. And people with attractive spouses and nice children. And people who have good dogs/cats.

After all, don't they have more to lose as well?

I'm still in the clear unless they make a proportionate cawk size tax.

just sayin'

 

[billfred]

I actually have no problem with taxes, per se, I've NEVER really complained about that.

The problem comes from how much, and how it seems to get easier to get out of paying your taxes as you go up the ladder.

Back to my household (since it's the only one I know): 21% of our gross income is going to federal taxes, add in the state and local taxes (never mind sales tax) all together 30%+ of our gross income goes to taxes. Nearly one third of your income, when your income is UNDER $90k, is a HUGE chunk of change.

I realize people in the upper bracket may be paying the same percentage, but what I've said from the very beginning is that it's a proportionately LARGER hit for those of us lower on the ladder. It's back to the difference between a new Rolex and a new roof. The upper bracket feels they work hard and they deserve that new watch (or whatever) but realistically, it's not something they NEED, whereas the lower brackets are trying to figure out how to reduce on necessities just to keep gas in the car. It gets hard to have sympathy for upper tax bracket people, that's all. And when you hear about big corporations getting refunds, the reason behind it has ZERO relevance. The fact is, it is impossible to read that some corporation is getting a refund in one year for 100x more than you'll earn in your entire lifetime and not go "fuck me, why do I even bother?"

I would agree with that. Any double earning household earning under $100k should not be paying over 10% of gross in income taxes.