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
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 9:29am
<<

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 9:32am

<<But at the same time people choose a career knowing about what they can expect to earn, and it's up to them if that is going to be enough or not. If you want a lifestyle that is more than what a teacher can afford, don't be a teacher.>>


Well then, why should we care about Steve, Mike, and Emily as you have asked us to do? Didn't they CHOOSE their careers?


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

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 10:00am
Thanks already done.
Jess


Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:34am
If that is what she wants to do with her money and can afford to do it she isn't being responsible.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:40am
I disagree!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:41am

I think I'm going to start using mine again today.


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 11:53am
I'm happy that this worked out for you. It doesn't happen this way for many people who are out of the work force for years. Engaging in significant volunteer work can help with your skills. The resumes I see feature thing like room mother or soccer team coach. This type of volunteer work would not get you past the front door for an interview.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 1:46pm
It depends on how you present your skills.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 2:55pm

I haven't read this whole thread but what I have read has made me wonder... How much is enough? What percentage of their income do you think the people who make $250,000 and above should pay for federal income tax? What number would be "fair" in your opinion? What number would be "fair" for the people who make less than $250,000?

Obama has said that the increase in taxes (both federal income and Social security) he has proposed may be just a starting point. He said in an interview he may raise it even higher. So I'm curious to see the answers to my questions.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:30pm
There must be some misunderstanding somewhere. I'm sure I said we are worried about the economy and layoffs, and that with the housing market decline so has our equity declined, and that it would be hard to sell in this market. That doesn't mean we are at risk of being foreclosed on. We do have savings, but the college funds are in 529 plans which as I understand are in mutual funds, and everything in the market is down right now. My husband has very good disability and life insurance, and I have worked for over 20 years, only SAH beginning last year, I would not be unprepared or unable to re-enter the workforce. We are not on "bad" financially footing. That doesn't mean I agree with Obama that we are not neighborly enough or Biden that we are not patriotic enough, or the general concept that the government should be spreading the wealth around, or that they can and will do it better than I do. We don't have college age children yet, the oldest is in high school the youngest isn't old enough yet for preschool. There, does that clear it up a bit?
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/

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