Joe the Plumber, a new spin
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| 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.
http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/

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Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07
<<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
I think I'm going to start using mine again today.
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.
Pennsylvania Mom
http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
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