Joe the Plumber, a new spin

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Joe the Plumber, a new spin
166
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 4:16pm

The appeal of Joe the Plumber is that he puts a face to a tax number. Even if he's really not earning that much or isn't even a plumber. I am married to someone who makes that much and let me try to make the same point from a different perspective.

Go ahead, raise my taxes Obama. You are right, I can afford it. But first I'd like you to meet Mike, Steve and Emily. I don't own a business or anything, but I do spend my money (you know, since I'm one of the have's, that's what we do). Obama wanta to spread my wealth around and here's how it will affect 3 people in the middle and lower income brackets.

Mike - Mike is a music school teacher. He does private lessons on the side to make a little extra, in addition to volunteering in a community band. He loves teaching and playing music. He teaches one of our children and we pay him $100/mo.

Steve - Steve works full time doing private music lessons. He has two kids who he pays child support for and he lives on the edge of poverty. Private lessons is his only source of income. We pay for him to instruct three of our children and me every week. We pay him $364/mo.

Emily - Emily works full time but became a mom at age 18 yo, has no education past high school and lives near the poverty level. She is on her own being recently divorced. She helps us out once or twice a week, earning $120-$160/mo.

I recalculated Obama's tax proposals and realized it will only cost my family $1,350/mo on average. I can cover almost half of that by cutting my budget back, not hiring the babysitter and doing away with private music lessons (they are luxury items anyway).

I'm sure Mike, Steve and Emily will be glad to know that instead of earning money from my family, they will get $500 refundable tax credit next year under Obama's plan. And maybe even if $300 stimulus check like they got from Bush in the past.

Make less and pay less in tax, that's Obama's plan for the middle class.

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 4:41pm

I'm sorry about how Obama's tax plan may affect you and your family, however it will not affect my vote. I'm not saying that to be cold or heartless, what I mean is, if it is "wrong" of me to support Obama b/c he will lower my taxes, wouldn't it also be "wrong" of me to vote for McCain b/c he won't increase yours? I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's been pointed out on this board that those who

Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2006
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 4:58pm

I'm so sorry if Obama's plan will make you have to not have private music lessons, or a babysitter to help out the stay at home mom a couple days a week.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2007
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 5:06pm

I think that Steve, Mike and Emily would be happy to know that under Sen Obama's plan not only will they get those refunds but they will get healthcare, something they just might need with the meager wages they are bringing home.


I also think the Steve, Mike and Emily would benefit much much more under Sen Obama's tax plan than Sen McCain's.

Jess


Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2005
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 5:08pm

If your taxes will go up by $1350 per month under Obama's plan, that means you bring home over $17K per month.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 5:21pm

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to comment on it in my original post b/c to be honest, I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to taxes and I didn't want to mistakenly give false information. If you are indeed right though about those numbers then I would have to admit that I would find it very difficult to feel sorry for someone making that much money each month.


Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 5:38pm

It is kind of hard to have a sympathy for someone who takes home more in a month than the minimum wage worker makes

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 6:01pm

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yes they would be more likely to get better health insurance. not to mention the child care and college education credits would really help them out too.


does anyone know who mike emily and steve are voting for? if it is mccain, i'd be surprised, but i'm sure hed be happy to hear about them so he could make them his new poster children

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 6:41pm

Can you start by paying Emily a touch more?

Avatar for litlpixy
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 7:37pm

Exactly. And isn't that what McCain has been saying? If you increase the taxes on higher incomes it will trickle down. As I stated in an earlier post of yours, my dad will have to let go of several employees. The small town they live on probably doesn't have many other businesses that could hire them, not to mention they are probably letting go of employees themselves. I see an increase in foodstamps, etc.


Annette

"It's time to put the election behind us and the country in front of us. Barack Obama wasn't my choice, but come January 20th, he will be MY President.... I will not seek to see all

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 7:54pm
So let's say Mike, Steve and Emily all vote for Obama. I'm saying they will be worse off with Obama because while they might pay less in taxes - they may end up earning a lot less in order to get those tax savings. What they earn on the side from people who have extra money will go away when my taxes go up and I have to tighten my family budget. Mike will be out $1,200/year. Steve will be out $4,368/year. Emily will be out $1,440/year minimum. And instead they get a $500 annual tax credit and maybe a stimulus check (last stimulus check was $300 for individuals).
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/

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