Not Joe the Plumber, but SAHM

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Not Joe the Plumber, but SAHM
246
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 10:49am

My Open Letter:

Dear Senator Obama,

I am a stay-at-home mom living in the over $250k tax bracket. I want to ask you why you feel my family is not doing it's part to share the wealth in this country. Our family does well but we also pay taxes at the highest marginal rate. We do not have millions or the kind of lifestyle that would get us access to tax loopholes. We only get deductions for home mortgage interests, state taxes paid and charitable contributions. Last year those three deductions were capped because the government limits the deductions at our income level. In the past we have been stuck in AMT which ensures we do not underpay our fair share of taxes.

Because of our family's income level, our children will not qualify for student loans or other aid. Therefore we must save entirely for their college. We save as much as we can. In recent weeks lost 30% of those savings as well as a decent amount of our retirement savings and the few mutual fund investments we have are under water. The only other asset we have is our family home. We only have one. It would be really tough to sell it in this market, we've lost a large chunk of our equity.

We have never received a stimulus check, yet we do our part to donate to charities we believe in, invest in the market and spend to keep the economy going. And we pay our taxes. There is no question that the opportunities in this great country have allowed us to achieve the American Dream. For that I am grateful.

Your proposals will take an additional 12% out of our annual family budget by increasing the marginal tax rate and increasing payroll taxes. We aren't struggling yet but we will be if your tax proposals pass. We will have to stop or severely limit college savings, with one child only 3.5 years from college and the savings down 30%. Last year we paid enough in Federal Taxes to supply 240 individuals with a Bush stimulus check, similar to the stimulus plan you propose if you are elected (I guess that continuation of the same Bush economic polices is good). I have no doubt that some of what we paid went to wasteful government projects and earmark spending that did not help any struggling families. You say $18 billion in earmarks is not a lot of money to you but 12% of my family budget is a lot to me and my children. I do not begrudge what we already give the government, but I will argue that we are doing our share. I argue we are patriotic and we are neighborly.

We are upper middle class, we are not like your friends, Oprah and Warren Buffet. Our priorities are saving for our retirement, our kids college and paying off our house. We can comfortably do those three things now, though we are worried about the economy like everyone else.

I am a registered Democrat and have always believed in social programs for those who need them. I still believe in them. But I do not understand why when you speak that it sounds as though my family is getting something over on this country. That we aren't doing our part. That we don't pay enough tax. That we don't do enough to lift others up. I say we are doing a lot by not asking anything from the government. I say it is the government that is letting the American people down, not us.

If this economy gets worse my husbands job will be at risk. We could lose our home along with the remainder of our savings. The only good news I see coming from the Democrats is that maybe then we can have the government contribute to our children's college education, we'll get a tax cut and might finally see one of those stimulus checks. Then you'd finally get your chance to lift my family up.

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

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

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 4:53am

If I needed to go back to work I have one place I could walk into and be hired back for that evening. In this economy I cannot put that in jeopardy. I need my safety net of having a job when/if I need it. I can't afford to lose that to turn in a few low life individuals. They'll be caught eventually, it all catches up to people in the end.

>>Good grief, Only one place in your entire area where you are able to work and it is full of dishonest corrupt people (the Bush administration has sure gutted this country of employment options). Have you considered trying to improve your skills by taking some classes at you local community college so that you would not be held an ethical hostage by low life individuals?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 6:07am

Me:

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 6:24am
Entitlement is going to be a thing of the past IMO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 6:54am

So what's the solution?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:12am

Vote for McCain and move

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:59am

The people buying $3000.00 purses can buy one for $100.00 or less (J.C. Pennys and Macy's have great sales on purses) and use some of the left overs to help buy winter coats for needy children, food for the Shelter, etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 8:42am

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:58pm

His plan does not cover everyone, that is a common misconception. I get my information from his website and from hearing Obama speak. I am making my voting decision based on facts, not only on what one candidate says. Obama will create a program were people can buy insurance, but if you are not working that's hard. He will require employers to provide coverage to EMPLOYEES but not family plans. He will require children be covered but parents have to get or buy it, it will not be handed out free. Read his plan, there are significant holes in it and yet I have seen expert analysis that says he has a plan to cover everyone, he doesn't even promise that.

I went back and looked, the article I had read was an analyst saying Obama's shift of troops to Afghanistan would lead to no reduction in defense spending so you are right, Obama himself did not say that. I stand corrected on that one. However, it won't save all the money we are currently spending in Iraq because he has said he plans to increase the troops in Afghanistan.

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




Edited 10/19/2008 4:00 pm ET by pennsylvaniamom2008
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:59pm

>>>.The people buying $3000.00 purses can buy one for $100.00 or less<<<<

I have never spent as much as $100 on a purse! I think it's a total waste.

Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2007
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 4:12pm

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf


This is a copy of the health plan that Sen Obama is proposing.

Jess


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