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: 10-08-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 10:16am

Don't take the bait on this one.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 11:08am

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.


I would not be confident that you will receive that $96k for your kids education.

Susan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 11:39am
It's not about what's fair - it's about what is best for the economy.




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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:04pm

His other credits have stated limitations, the education one does not. If it has a limit I don't know why he'd leave it off that one particular credit.

This is the language on his website, notice the words "all Americans" and "universal."

"Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama and Biden will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service."

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:08pm

It is apparent to me that "universal" in this instance means that will be available to everyone.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:32pm
Seems that way to me too. And I totally disagree with that.
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:38pm

Why?

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:39pm
I'm not exactly sure why you are aposed to the community service for schools funds program. Whiel I am sure there are some families who make thier children participate in community service....there are many more who have no idea how others in this country live and why it is important to help them. Yes there is a reward for doing good works in this case....but the benefit can be more than monetary. I think kids learning how others live and seeing the good works they can do and help the less advantaged is just as important as the money. Will everyone take that from the experience...most likely not..but some most certainly will. We could be creating a new generation of people who are socially aware and will help. I have no issues with higher income kids getting a college credit if they have to put in the same amount of work ( so to speak) as anyone else.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:41pm

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Obama's plan does nothing to help the economy. Raising taxes to 56% will result in higher unemployment and companies moving out of the country. The 56% doesn't even take into effect what is already paid on state taxes. His tax plan will increase the deficit. People seem to ignore the fact that he is not raising taxes to decrease the deficit, he's raising taxes to "spread the wealth around" or to buy votes depending on how you look at it. His tax credits will eventually cost one trillion dollars per year.

And again, he has said he will not rule out raising taxes even more. He has no limit to his increases in mind.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 12:41pm
I'm not opposed to the community service part, I'm opposed to giving the upper middle class that much money towards education. WE CAN afford it! Just keep our taxes reasonable and let us be responsible for our own kids education. Why on earth should our government be giving my family $96k towards education!!!
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/

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