I know this is one of those prickly topics, but I think it's definitely worth talking about.
Where do you stand in regards to income and taxes? I know that back when I was earning 12,000 a year (and pretty much got every penny back in taxes that I paid because I earned so little) that I pretty much felt that anyone earning a 100k salary should pay more money in taxes. I'm not sure that I know why I felt that way...perhaps it was what I perceived as the injustice of them earning more or that I thought that they owed it to society on a moral/social level or I just didn't think they'd miss the extra money. At the end of the day, I thought it was right.
When we finished the years and years and years of schooling and residency and fellowship and finally entered into that 'elite' group I nearly fell over :thud: when my dh got his first paycheck...actually, we both did. With social security included, we pay over 80,000 a year in taxes (and we owe more this year!). This is not chump change here....What bothers me is not as much the amount but the fact that we pay a much higher percentage of tax on our income as well. With social security included, we hemmorhage out a little over 40% of our income to uncle sam.
What do we have for this? Is there universal health coverage, free preschool, low-cost or free university for our children? NO....The roads here suk, the schools are constantly begging for money (anyone want a magazine subscription from our school..its' the current fundraiser )
If someone who earns more complains about this, they are selfish...but what should we then say about those individuals who pay in less (or no) money and expect for those who earn more to pay for their pet programs....are they selfish too? Should my brother, who pays no taxes have a right to vote? (hypothetical question, because of course he should in my eyes) Along those lines though, if you don't pay taxes, should you have the right to say how someone else's money is spent?
I personally think there should be a flat tax...and that if the country wants to go to war, etc, the prez should have to come out and say "we want to go to war and we estimate it will cost x dollars. This will mean a 2% increase in payroll taxes ACROSS the BOARD for x years...please vote on this on Tuesday. "
We should all have to pay a little something to get what we want....why should people be able to vote for or against a war or welfare or anything else if they aren't even putting in their fair share in taxes?
flame away
Where do you stand in regards to income and taxes? I know that back when I was earning 12,000 a year (and pretty much got every penny back in taxes that I paid because I earned so little) that I pretty much felt that anyone earning a 100k salary should pay more money in taxes. I'm not sure that I know why I felt that way...perhaps it was what I perceived as the injustice of them earning more or that I thought that they owed it to society on a moral/social level or I just didn't think they'd miss the extra money. At the end of the day, I thought it was right.
When we finished the years and years and years of schooling and residency and fellowship and finally entered into that 'elite' group I nearly fell over :thud: when my dh got his first paycheck...actually, we both did. With social security included, we pay over 80,000 a year in taxes (and we owe more this year!). This is not chump change here....What bothers me is not as much the amount but the fact that we pay a much higher percentage of tax on our income as well. With social security included, we hemmorhage out a little over 40% of our income to uncle sam.
What do we have for this? Is there universal health coverage, free preschool, low-cost or free university for our children? NO....The roads here suk, the schools are constantly begging for money (anyone want a magazine subscription from our school..its' the current fundraiser )
If someone who earns more complains about this, they are selfish...but what should we then say about those individuals who pay in less (or no) money and expect for those who earn more to pay for their pet programs....are they selfish too? Should my brother, who pays no taxes have a right to vote? (hypothetical question, because of course he should in my eyes) Along those lines though, if you don't pay taxes, should you have the right to say how someone else's money is spent?
I personally think there should be a flat tax...and that if the country wants to go to war, etc, the prez should have to come out and say "we want to go to war and we estimate it will cost x dollars. This will mean a 2% increase in payroll taxes ACROSS the BOARD for x years...please vote on this on Tuesday. "
We should all have to pay a little something to get what we want....why should people be able to vote for or against a war or welfare or anything else if they aren't even putting in their fair share in taxes?
flame away
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