Spread the wealth? What do you mean?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2008
Spread the wealth? What do you mean?
56
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 5:28pm

Why is everyone so upset about the comment "spread the wealth"? How many on this forum makes over $250k per year? I don't mind the government spreading some wealth my way. Read Obama's Tax Plan to see if it will benefit you or not. I know most of my family and community do not make over $250k per year.


Obama’s Comprehensive Tax Policy Plan for America will:

  • Cut taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families with a tax cut of $500 for workers or $1,000 for working couples.
  • Provide generous tax cuts for low- and middle-income seniors, homeowners, the uninsured, and families sending a child to college or looking to save and accumulate wealth.
  • Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, cut corporate taxes for firms that invest and create jobs in the United States, and provide tax credits to reduce the cost of healthcare and to reward investments in innovation.
  • Dramatically simplify taxes by consolidating existing tax credits, eliminating the need for millions of senior citizens to file tax forms, and enabling as many as 40 million middle-class Americans to do their own taxes in less than five minutes without an accountant.

Under the Obama Plan:

  • Middle class families will see their taxes cut – and no family making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase. The typical middle class family will receive well over $1,000 in tax relief under the Obama plan, and will pay tax rates that are 20% lower than they faced under President Reagan. According to the Tax Policy Center, the Obama plan provides three times as much tax relief for middle class families as the McCain plan.
  • Families making more than $250,000 will pay either the same or lower tax rates than they paid in the 1990s. Obama will ask the wealthiest 2% of families to give back a portion of the tax cuts they have received over the past eight years to ensure we are restoring fairness and returning to fiscal responsibility. But no family will pay higher tax rates than they would have paid in the 1990s. In fact, dividend rates would be 39 percent lower than what President Bush proposed in his 2001 tax cut.
  • Obama’s plan will cut taxes overall, reducing revenues to below the levels that prevailed under Ronald Reagan (less than 18.2 percent of GDP). The Obama tax plan is a net tax cut – his tax relief for middle class families is larger than the revenue raised by his tax changes for families over $250,000. Coupled with his commitment to cut unnecessary spending, Obama will pay for this tax relief while bringing down the budget deficit.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:01pm
I'm afraid if someone stole my purse, they'd probably chase me down and give it back.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:04pm
"What some apologists on here are saying is that you are lucky to have a job and just shut up about it, otherwise the "big boys" will pick up their toys and go to China...."

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:32pm

As for Warren Buffett, I often wondered

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:58pm

>>> >>> Why is everyone so upset about the comment "spread the wealth"?

< Well, imagine you were walking down the street...and a strange man ran by and stole your purse. Think that might upset you?

>>> Yeah, that's how I feel every Friday when I cash my check and every April 15th when I pay my taxes.

And yet you endorse the government taking even more from other hard working people...sounds hypocritical.

>>> How many on this forum makes over $250k per year?

< So it's ok to take from "some" people?

>>> What do you mean by take from "some" people?

Obviously, that would be people who have worked hard and have earned a modicum of success. Naturally, they deserve being screwed.

>>> That's how are country is run, by taking taxes from people!

No, it's run by people paying their fair share of taxes to pay for government programs...not by the government taking money from one "class" of people and handing it out to another "class" of people. That's welfare. If you need welfare, then apply for it.

>>> Are you paying taxes? Is it okay to take from you, so the multi-rich can get richer?

No one takes my tax money and cuts checks to the "multi-rich."

< I think the guy who stole the purse thinks the same way.

>>> As for this guy......I'm sure he'd take any purse he can get his hands on, be it from the poor or the rich.

It's likely that he'd target someone he thought had "means"...like Obama is doing.

>>> Come to think of it, he would probably take from the poor person first, because it's easier and more accessible. Just like the Government does come tax time.

Why steal from someone who doesn't have anything to steal? Obama targets "the rich" because "class warfare" plays well with the great unwashed.

>>> I don't mind the government spreading some wealth my way.

< So you feel you deserve some of the money that other people have earned? Why?

Yes, because once again.................that's how this country is run.

What did you do to deserve someone else's money?

>>> Why should the middle class have to pay more in taxes than the upper class.

They don't. Please get a little informed.

< Again, I'm sure that the guy who stole the purse feels the same way.

>>> And again......that's what the Government does to me as a hard working middle class tax payer.

And you think it's "ok" if the government takes even more...as long as they're not taking it from you. Again...sounds hypocritical.

>>> Read Obama's Tax Plan to see if it will benefit you or not.

< Actually it will hurt you the most.

>>> And you're explanation for this statement is........what??????

When the cost of doing business is raised, business responds by cutting costs and raising prices. Cutting costs means cutting jobs. Raising prices means that you'll pay more. Get it now?

>>> I know most of my family and community do not make over $250k per year.

< Watch them lose their jobs and have their cost of living go up.

>>> All this because Obama wants to raise taxes on the rich by about 3%. I don't buy your statement. Give me something legitimate that you've based this fact on.

Um...reality? When you raise the cost of doing business, by raising taxes or imposing healthcare compliances or fines, the business will respond to maintain their bottom line. If they can raise their prices to cover costs, they will...but only to the point that they can still remain competitive in the marketplace. Beyond that, they will cut costs...and ultimately cut jobs and put pressure on the remaining workers to pick up the slack...and all so the great unwashed can get their grubby little hands on the $600 brides...er...checks that Barry has dangled in front of them in exchange for their votes. It'll sure help when they're unemployed.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:00pm
Imagining that "the rich" means people who live in mansions and dine on lobster and caviar makes it easier to support screwing them for personal gain.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:06pm

>>> Although she sure has the capital (inheritance) to invest in record albums, perfume, clothing or whatever else to make herself more wealthy.

Not that I think Paris Hilton should be anything but a punchline, but a little reality...

It's true she's an heiress...but the simpleton has parlayed her originally modest celebrity into a money-making empire. The "investments" you listed above, are not "investments" of cash outlays. Other people and companies PAY Hilton to be the "face" of their perfume or clothing line or whatever, and she gets a nice cut...and she made millions with her television shows and nightclub appearances. It may look like Paris sits around all day sunbathing, but in reality, she does work relatively hard to earn her money...relatively.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:24pm

"In other words, poor people have the same chance to become wealthy as, say, Paris Hilton, if they would just apply themselves."

>>> You have got to be kidding me...Paris Hilton? She was born into it! She has inhereted fortune. I bet the only money she has ever made is from the idiots that follow her around like she is some "Godness" and buy anything that is remotely connected to her. She isn't even famous...she's infamous! And that's not a good thing.

Paris had turned her celebrity into a moneymaking empire. You may not like her, but she has earned millions.

"Poor are poor because they don't work hard enough."

>>> Tell that to the poor working class that have to work 16 hours a day, take care of their families, their homes and pay over 30% in taxes, just so the rich can get richer!!!

How does the "poor working class" paying taxes make the "rich get richer?" Most of the "poor working class" don't pay any income tax, while the top 25% pay around 85% of the taxes and the top 1% pay around 40%. Doesn't really sound "fair" that the top 1% should pay 40% of the taxes while the bottom 40% pay nothing. Maybe if the "poor working class" had bothered to get an education, or develop marketable skills, or were more ambitious, they could be getting screwed like "the rich" are.

>>> I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes, but I would like to have the same tax breaks as the rich, maybe I can keep more of my hard earned money.

You have access to the same tax breaks that every citizen does.

"The wealthy, in a capitalist system, deserve their wealth for many reasons. First, they have worked hard for it, or their ancestor of note has."

>>> You mean like, Paris Hilton?

Yes, her inheritance aside, Hilton has earned her millions by parlaying her originally modest celebrity into a money making business.

"Second, they contribute to the economy by their conspicuous consumption, putting the under classes to work."

>>> In which they get giant tax right offs for employing.

You think business should penalized for creating jobs? Now there's an incentive.

"Third, they invest their capital in the businesses of this great nation and of the world, thus keeping that national and world economy healthy and strong."

>>> I must have missed the news about our nation and world economy being healthy and strong. When did that happen?

For the past 8 years...oddly, things changed when the Dems took over Congress two years ago.

"The richer a person or corporation, the more beneficial they are, and thus, should be left alone to spend the fruits of their great labor, since that will benefit you and I and all the others of the middle and lower classes."

>>> I don't have a problem with them spending their wealth, but I don't see how buying a five million dollar home, or a new Mercedes, or even buying a 5 carot diamond will benefit you or I. I don't think I would trickle down far enough to benefit me.

LOL! Who do you think gets the taxes paid on those items? Don't you think those businesses that provide those products pay taxes and purchase products?...and employ people who pay taxes and purchase products? And who do you think all of those people are buying products from? Right...other businesses that pay taxes, buy products and hire tax paying employees. It all "benefits you or I."

>>> I'm by no means poor, but I don't make over $250K per year and I would like to keep more of what I make also, just like the rich, except I can't because I don't get the same tax breaks as they do.

What "tax breaks"...specifically please...do you think "the rich" get that you aren't able to get?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:26pm

>>> We aren't looking to be rich - we are just tired of being financially clobbered by shrinking paychecks that don't keep up with inflation & high medical insurance costs.

Why do you think paychecks are shrinking?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:33pm

The point I was trying to make was that Bush's

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:44pm
Yea, we would like to keep more of our income also, but we pay 20,000 in tax.