Hard work = $250,000 ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Hard work = $250,000 ?
376
Fri, 10-24-2008 - 9:07am

I’ve read repeatedly that the $250,000 is hard earned money that the government has no right to tax. Personally, I don’t believe that hard work consistently results in high salaries and I’m not convinced that people who make more money work harder or deserve more than most people. Most people, I believe, do work hard and most people are rewarded with 25,000 – 45,000 salary. Not all some hard workers make more and some make less. What do you think? Is the Just World view valid?

http://www.princeton.edu/~rbenabou/beliefs7csend.pdf

most people have a strong need to believe that they live in a world that is just, in the sense that people generally get what they deserve, and deserve what they get. When confronted with data that contradicts this view they try hard to ignore, reinterpret, distort, or forget it —for instance by finding imaginary merits to the recipients of fortuitous rewards, or assigning blame to innocent victims.

Because of their imperfect willpower, individuals constantly strive to motivate themselves (or their children) towards effort, educational investment, perseverance in the face of adversity, and away from the slippery slope of idleness, welfare dependency, crime, drugs, etc. This is another recurrent finding from the sociological evidence. In such circumstances, maintaining somewhat rosy beliefs about the fact that everyone will ultimately get their “just deserts” can be very valuable. Furthermore, if enough individuals end up with the view that economic success is highly dependent on effort, they will ultimately represent a pivotal voting block, and set a low tax rate. Conversely, when individuals anticipate that society will carry out little redistribution, the costs of a deficient motivation to effort or savings are much higher than with high taxes and
a generous safety net. Each individual thus has greater incentives to maintain his belief that effort ultimately pays, and consequently more voters end up with such a world view.

For instance, data from the World Values Survey shows that only 29% of Americans believe that the poor are trapped in poverty, and only 30% that luck, rather than effort or education, determines income. The figures for Europeans are nearly double: 60% and 54% respectively. Similarly, Americans are more than twice as likely as Europeans to think that the poor are lazy (60% versus 26%).

Indeed, 59% of Americans agree or strongly agree that “in the long run, hard work usually brings a better life”; this view commands much less support in Europe, ranging from 34% in Sweden to 43% in Germany.

Is the “American dream,” according to our theory, just a self-sustaining collective illusion?

http://www.princeton.edu/~rbenabou/beliefs7csend.pdf

uCruiser.com Ticker

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2008
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 10:22pm

I agree that we all need to pay our taxes and support public services, etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2008
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 10:42pm

if Ron Paul got more attention then we would be talking about a flat tax.

Mommy to Rowen and Weylin, my boys rule- ME

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2008
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 11:08pm

I know I find it even more offensive that over a third and based on Senator Obama's intentions should he be elected it will be almost 50%.....of wage earners have no income tax liability.

While I don't have an issue with a reasonable progressive system, I see some big problems when such a large group, or any group for that matter has no responsibility to contribute at all.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2008
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 11:14pm
My apologies as I'm not a big movie goer not that I'm sure why a movie quote is relevant. Feel free to answer the question or ignore it. I think that if we expect society to have a responsibility towards us then we even more-so should feel a sense of responsibility towards society. One who purposely engages in actions or a lifestyle that will only result in a burden to someone else is not living up to that standard for sure.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 11:38pm
Shelby: Mama, I don't know why you have to make everything so difficult. I look at having a baby as the opportunity of a lifetime. Sure there may be risk involved, but that's true for anybody. But you get through it and life goes on. And when it's all said and done there will be a little piece of immortality with Jackson's good looks and my sense of style, I hope. Please, please I need your support. I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.

uCruiser.com Ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2008
Tue, 10-28-2008 - 2:31am

You are really OK with someone FORCING you to share more, towards causes you may NOT support ?


E.G.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2008
Tue, 10-28-2008 - 4:39am
Just for clarification, doctors are not the only medical professionals that can be sued. Nurses can be sued for malpractice as well and lose their licenses. I'm in nursing school now and they have already advised us to carry malpractice insurance as nursing students. Although no where near as expensive as a doctor's insurance, most nurses are insured.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Tue, 10-28-2008 - 8:17am

I don't want to be tagged as "rich" if I earn $250,000. In some parts of the country, this amount doesn't even buy you a one bedroom, one bath condo. 250,000 is not a lot of money compared with someone who earns 5-10 million a year or more, say a celebrity or star athlete.

Believe it or not, there are people who make that amount who are making sacrifices to be able to put money in savings and pay college tuition.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2005
Tue, 10-28-2008 - 8:38am

<>


the difference being......important to you or important to the country?


("you" meanining "you" in general...the parent),

-Kristen

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2006
Tue, 10-28-2008 - 9:09am

<>

I find it offensive that 35% of taxpayers today have such low incomes that they have no tax liability. The disparity in incomes cannot be described by lack of virtue, responsibility, etc. on the part of more than a third of all taxpayers. It has more to do with our country's economic policies.

Pages