Didnt anyone watch Michelle Obama? Did anyone care?

[pk92108]

I make over 250K and don’t feel rich at all..Actually, at the end of the day I just live a middle class lifestyle….Why should hard work and productivity be penalized….The liberal whiners should have spent years of post grad education, working weekends and holidays to get to 250K….Why is that some magic cutoff where you get royally dinged??….

[CA renter]

Warren Buffett is often referring to capital gains tax and the 15% cap on dividends and LT gains. He’s said it should be taxed at the same rate as earned income.

Also, advocating for a progressive tax is NOT advocating for 100% taxation on wages.

The question is whether or not concentrating wealth in fewer hands is a good thing for a society. Show me ONE country that has low/no taxes and is prosperous. I can show you many countries that have high tax rates and have the best healhtcare, life expectancies, literacy rates, lowest poverty rates, etc.
——————-

Life expectancies (if you’re trying to find the U.S., look next to #47):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

Literacy rates:

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=10&v=39

Poverty rates (interesting, as it looks like mixed results):

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-economy-population-below-poverty-line

Current account balances (guess who’s worst!!!):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html

Quality of living survey (looks like “higher taxes” win here, too):

http://www.finfacts.ie/qualityoflife.htm

[CA renter]

Warren Buffett is often referring to capital gains tax and the 15% cap on dividends and LT gains. He’s said it should be taxed at the same rate as earned income.

Also, advocating for a progressive tax is NOT advocating for 100% taxation on wages.

The question is whether or not concentrating wealth in fewer hands is a good thing for a society. Show me ONE country that has low/no taxes and is prosperous. I can show you many countries that have high tax rates and have the best healhtcare, life expectancies, literacy rates, lowest poverty rates, etc.
——————-

Life expectancies (if you’re trying to find the U.S., look next to #47):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

Literacy rates:

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=10&v=39

Poverty rates (interesting, as it looks like mixed results):

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-economy-population-below-poverty-line

Current account balances (guess who’s worst!!!):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html

Quality of living survey (looks like “higher taxes” win here, too):

http://www.finfacts.ie/qualityoflife.htm

[CA renter]

Warren Buffett is often referring to capital gains tax and the 15% cap on dividends and LT gains. He’s said it should be taxed at the same rate as earned income.

Also, advocating for a progressive tax is NOT advocating for 100% taxation on wages.

The question is whether or not concentrating wealth in fewer hands is a good thing for a society. Show me ONE country that has low/no taxes and is prosperous. I can show you many countries that have high tax rates and have the best healhtcare, life expectancies, literacy rates, lowest poverty rates, etc.
——————-

Life expectancies (if you’re trying to find the U.S., look next to #47):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

Literacy rates:

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=10&v=39

Poverty rates (interesting, as it looks like mixed results):

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-economy-population-below-poverty-line

Current account balances (guess who’s worst!!!):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html

Quality of living survey (looks like “higher taxes” win here, too):

http://www.finfacts.ie/qualityoflife.htm

[CA renter]

Warren Buffett is often referring to capital gains tax and the 15% cap on dividends and LT gains. He’s said it should be taxed at the same rate as earned income.

Also, advocating for a progressive tax is NOT advocating for 100% taxation on wages.

The question is whether or not concentrating wealth in fewer hands is a good thing for a society. Show me ONE country that has low/no taxes and is prosperous. I can show you many countries that have high tax rates and have the best healhtcare, life expectancies, literacy rates, lowest poverty rates, etc.
——————-

Life expectancies (if you’re trying to find the U.S., look next to #47):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

Literacy rates:

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=10&v=39

Poverty rates (interesting, as it looks like mixed results):

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-economy-population-below-poverty-line

Current account balances (guess who’s worst!!!):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html

Quality of living survey (looks like “higher taxes” win here, too):

http://www.finfacts.ie/qualityoflife.htm

[CA renter]

Warren Buffett is often referring to capital gains tax and the 15% cap on dividends and LT gains. He’s said it should be taxed at the same rate as earned income.

Also, advocating for a progressive tax is NOT advocating for 100% taxation on wages.

The question is whether or not concentrating wealth in fewer hands is a good thing for a society. Show me ONE country that has low/no taxes and is prosperous. I can show you many countries that have high tax rates and have the best healhtcare, life expectancies, literacy rates, lowest poverty rates, etc.
——————-

Life expectancies (if you’re trying to find the U.S., look next to #47):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

Literacy rates:

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=10&v=39

Poverty rates (interesting, as it looks like mixed results):

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin-economy-population-below-poverty-line

Current account balances (guess who’s worst!!!):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html

Quality of living survey (looks like “higher taxes” win here, too):

http://www.finfacts.ie/qualityoflife.htm

[PatentGuy]

Yojimbo, well said.

CA Renter, there is “progressive” and there is “punative”. We already have progressive. A much higher percentage of our household income is paid in state/fed taxes (including counting property and sales taxes) than 98% of the country.
I’m ok with that. But not the punative levels that Obama seeks. And I admit I have a thin skin with all the constant, unchallenged press that the “rich” somehow do not pay their “fair share” or have some magic loop holes. More than 40% of our total household income for 2007 went to fed/state taxes. Obama wants to push that number close to 60%, and the California legislature wants in on a few more percent as well.

But just for the over $250K crowd. No one else should pay anything more – in fact, they should pay less!

I don’t know if Obama will win (although I assume he will), or whether Congress will ultimately give him all the increases he wants, but if so, I’ll think we’ll see some of the Lauffer curve action take place. I know we will in my household. Working 60 hour weeks is no fun, but when you give most of the proceeeds to thge government, forget it. And, again, so what if it costs some jobs, because this is not about good economic policy; this is about class envy.

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now. Nothing is stopping them. Gates has already accumulated his wealth, and is no doubt doing a much better job spending it through his charities than the U.S. and Washington state governments could possibly do. The higher the tax rate, the more he gives away to offset the difference.

Talk is cheap.

[PatentGuy]

Yojimbo, well said.

CA Renter, there is “progressive” and there is “punative”. We already have progressive. A much higher percentage of our household income is paid in state/fed taxes (including counting property and sales taxes) than 98% of the country.
I’m ok with that. But not the punative levels that Obama seeks. And I admit I have a thin skin with all the constant, unchallenged press that the “rich” somehow do not pay their “fair share” or have some magic loop holes. More than 40% of our total household income for 2007 went to fed/state taxes. Obama wants to push that number close to 60%, and the California legislature wants in on a few more percent as well.

But just for the over $250K crowd. No one else should pay anything more – in fact, they should pay less!

I don’t know if Obama will win (although I assume he will), or whether Congress will ultimately give him all the increases he wants, but if so, I’ll think we’ll see some of the Lauffer curve action take place. I know we will in my household. Working 60 hour weeks is no fun, but when you give most of the proceeeds to thge government, forget it. And, again, so what if it costs some jobs, because this is not about good economic policy; this is about class envy.

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now. Nothing is stopping them. Gates has already accumulated his wealth, and is no doubt doing a much better job spending it through his charities than the U.S. and Washington state governments could possibly do. The higher the tax rate, the more he gives away to offset the difference.

Talk is cheap.

[PatentGuy]

Yojimbo, well said.

CA Renter, there is “progressive” and there is “punative”. We already have progressive. A much higher percentage of our household income is paid in state/fed taxes (including counting property and sales taxes) than 98% of the country.
I’m ok with that. But not the punative levels that Obama seeks. And I admit I have a thin skin with all the constant, unchallenged press that the “rich” somehow do not pay their “fair share” or have some magic loop holes. More than 40% of our total household income for 2007 went to fed/state taxes. Obama wants to push that number close to 60%, and the California legislature wants in on a few more percent as well.

But just for the over $250K crowd. No one else should pay anything more – in fact, they should pay less!

I don’t know if Obama will win (although I assume he will), or whether Congress will ultimately give him all the increases he wants, but if so, I’ll think we’ll see some of the Lauffer curve action take place. I know we will in my household. Working 60 hour weeks is no fun, but when you give most of the proceeeds to thge government, forget it. And, again, so what if it costs some jobs, because this is not about good economic policy; this is about class envy.

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now. Nothing is stopping them. Gates has already accumulated his wealth, and is no doubt doing a much better job spending it through his charities than the U.S. and Washington state governments could possibly do. The higher the tax rate, the more he gives away to offset the difference.

Talk is cheap.

[PatentGuy]

Yojimbo, well said.

CA Renter, there is “progressive” and there is “punative”. We already have progressive. A much higher percentage of our household income is paid in state/fed taxes (including counting property and sales taxes) than 98% of the country.
I’m ok with that. But not the punative levels that Obama seeks. And I admit I have a thin skin with all the constant, unchallenged press that the “rich” somehow do not pay their “fair share” or have some magic loop holes. More than 40% of our total household income for 2007 went to fed/state taxes. Obama wants to push that number close to 60%, and the California legislature wants in on a few more percent as well.

But just for the over $250K crowd. No one else should pay anything more – in fact, they should pay less!

I don’t know if Obama will win (although I assume he will), or whether Congress will ultimately give him all the increases he wants, but if so, I’ll think we’ll see some of the Lauffer curve action take place. I know we will in my household. Working 60 hour weeks is no fun, but when you give most of the proceeeds to thge government, forget it. And, again, so what if it costs some jobs, because this is not about good economic policy; this is about class envy.

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now. Nothing is stopping them. Gates has already accumulated his wealth, and is no doubt doing a much better job spending it through his charities than the U.S. and Washington state governments could possibly do. The higher the tax rate, the more he gives away to offset the difference.

Talk is cheap.

[PatentGuy]

Yojimbo, well said.

CA Renter, there is “progressive” and there is “punative”. We already have progressive. A much higher percentage of our household income is paid in state/fed taxes (including counting property and sales taxes) than 98% of the country.
I’m ok with that. But not the punative levels that Obama seeks. And I admit I have a thin skin with all the constant, unchallenged press that the “rich” somehow do not pay their “fair share” or have some magic loop holes. More than 40% of our total household income for 2007 went to fed/state taxes. Obama wants to push that number close to 60%, and the California legislature wants in on a few more percent as well.

But just for the over $250K crowd. No one else should pay anything more – in fact, they should pay less!

I don’t know if Obama will win (although I assume he will), or whether Congress will ultimately give him all the increases he wants, but if so, I’ll think we’ll see some of the Lauffer curve action take place. I know we will in my household. Working 60 hour weeks is no fun, but when you give most of the proceeeds to thge government, forget it. And, again, so what if it costs some jobs, because this is not about good economic policy; this is about class envy.

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now. Nothing is stopping them. Gates has already accumulated his wealth, and is no doubt doing a much better job spending it through his charities than the U.S. and Washington state governments could possibly do. The higher the tax rate, the more he gives away to offset the difference.

Talk is cheap.

[CA renter]

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now.
————–

Charity biography
The world’s second richest man continues to make his fortune in investment and turn it to philanthropy in the grand tradition of Carnegie and Rockefeller. In 2006 he made American history by making the largest ever charitable donation by an individual – $37bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/183-warren-buffett

Additionally, I saw an interview with an IRS representative who said there are people who give large sums, anonymously to the IRS (seriously!). I think it’s highly probably that Mr. Buffett would be one of those people.

[CA renter]

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now.
————–

Charity biography
The world’s second richest man continues to make his fortune in investment and turn it to philanthropy in the grand tradition of Carnegie and Rockefeller. In 2006 he made American history by making the largest ever charitable donation by an individual – $37bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/183-warren-buffett

Additionally, I saw an interview with an IRS representative who said there are people who give large sums, anonymously to the IRS (seriously!). I think it’s highly probably that Mr. Buffett would be one of those people.

[CA renter]

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now.
————–

Charity biography
The world’s second richest man continues to make his fortune in investment and turn it to philanthropy in the grand tradition of Carnegie and Rockefeller. In 2006 he made American history by making the largest ever charitable donation by an individual – $37bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/183-warren-buffett

Additionally, I saw an interview with an IRS representative who said there are people who give large sums, anonymously to the IRS (seriously!). I think it’s highly probably that Mr. Buffett would be one of those people.

[CA renter]

If Buffet or Barkley or whoever wants to pay more, please ask them why they are not voluntarily doing so right now.
————–

Charity biography
The world’s second richest man continues to make his fortune in investment and turn it to philanthropy in the grand tradition of Carnegie and Rockefeller. In 2006 he made American history by making the largest ever charitable donation by an individual – $37bn to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/183-warren-buffett

Additionally, I saw an interview with an IRS representative who said there are people who give large sums, anonymously to the IRS (seriously!). I think it’s highly probably that Mr. Buffett would be one of those people.

[Author]

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