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: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:32pm

How is it different than previously presented? I said I was a SAHM and you assumed I was like the SAHMs you know? On what basis is your incorrect assumption based on what I said?

ETA: I am not SAH so that I can change careers, I'm SAH for my children's sake and in the meantime I am working on changing careers. When I re-enter the workforce in a few years it won't be as a corporate manager who took a few years off, it will be as a recent masters program graduate.

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




Edited 10/19/2008 3:34 pm ET by pennsylvaniamom2008
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:37pm

>>>Boy am I ever grateful that the Republicans were not able to screw with Social Security.<<<<

Nobody in our government has adequately protected social security. Not Democrats or Republicans, that's why its at risk for not being there in the future. FTR, nobody would have been required to invest in the market, it would have been an option, not a requirement.

>>>We have also experienced some loss due to my employer based 401K. In order to receive that match I have to put up 8% of my income.<<<<

I'd have to check but I thought my 401K had a cash option, which would be in an insured bank account. If your plan had that you could have your money be safe and get the match from your employer.

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:47pm

It's right on Obama's website and he's mentioned it in many speeches that he is going to raise payroll taxes on earnings over $250k. That is in addition to returning to the income tax rates of the Clinton years.

Obama is NOT increasing taxes on the wealthy to balance the budget. He is doing to spread the wealth around. He's going to take the tax increases and give them to the middle class, it will not affect the federal budget deficit, it will only affect your and my pocket books. But in addition to raising my taxes he's going to give me an education tax credit that will amount to $96k over time to help me pay for my kids college - so I guess he's spreading some of the wealth right around back to me! Woo hoo.

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:50pm

Democrats voted overwhelmingly for the same deregulation. Clinton signed it but it so many Democrats had voted FOR it that it was veto proof.

Democrats fought along side Republicans to not increase oversight of Fannie and Freddie. Barney Frank (D), current chairman of the House banking committee was one of the most outspoken against regulation of Fannie and Freddie. Go check out his congregational website and read his publications regarding F&F from 2004 to this past summer, it's frightening how wrong he was.

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:51pm
I don't think he hates me, I think he has a screwed up plan for this country though.
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:11pm

But how come you haven't responded to me regarding my other post? The whole point of your original post was that Obma supporters should be aware of how our vote could negatively impact Mike, Steve, and Emily. But then you went on to say that those who choose a career path that does not pay as well as other jobs should not complain about their place in life b/c they chose that career path. Like I asked before, didn't Mike, Steve, and Emily choose their careers?


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

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:42pm
Yes, they chose their careers, that's not the point. The point I was making is that Obama's going to make it harder for them to earn their living that they chose to earn, and replace it with a tax hand-out that won't make up for lost income. It really is a matter of opinion which candidates plan will create more jobs - I'm just arguing my POV. We'll find out who gets elected if they are able to create more jobs or not. My other point is that we do spread our wealth around IMHO better than Obama has promised to. For example, if you asked Mike if he'd rather have $25/hour for 52 hours per year ($1,300) or a $500 tax credit, he might pick the work over the hand-out.
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 9:18pm

Just curious, have you asked Mike, Steve, and Emily who they plan on voting for? I ask that b/c I have worked as both a nanny and a personal trainer. Both services are typically used more by higher income individuals but that does not affect my vote. Even if Obama wins the presidency, I still think there will be a demand for nannies and personal trainers just as there will still be a demand for music teachers and housekeepers, etc.


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

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 9:45pm
No it's not my business who they vote for, though we were watching the VP debate and I got the impression Emily would vote for Obama. I would expect them to believe they could get the tax break without it affecting their income.
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2006
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 9:42am
Ummm - You might be unware of this, but Bin Laden is NOT in Iraq.

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