Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
The reason for posting this article is not just to show the great disparity of wealth but to counter the frequent and bogus argument which goes something like this; "If we tax the rich we'll all end up poor."
As the article explains the majority of Americans have no idea how much money the wealthy actually have. This has a bearing on people making erroneous comments such as "The deficit is too high. We can't afford a medical plan. We can't tax the wealthy any more." The truth is we can tax the wealthy more. A lot more and they will still be wealthy.
The country can afford a medical plan. The country can afford to feed and house the needy. The money is there. Unfortunately, people don't know/understand that.
(Excerpt) In the poll, the vast majority of Americans across the political, gender and wealth spectrum displayed a markedly skewed understanding of how America's money is divided. On average, respondents though that the rich hold only 58% of the nation's wealth, 32% less than their actual holdings. They thought that the middle class controls 13% of the country's wealth, more than three times their actual holdings. As for the bottom 40% of the population, the assumption was that the lower class and poor own a measly 9% of the country's wealth. In reality, these two groups control about one thirtieth of that amount. (End)
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/a...-wealth-redistribution/19684224/?ncid=webmail
You're a good example of what America is blessed with, unbelievable stupidity! This stupidity combines with an inane jealously of others, who you view as unfairly having more than you do. In your rather simple mind, you think a person who makes over $250k a year, has more money than they need, and are probably getting more than they deserve. You fail to consider the majority of these people are small business owners, who provide nearly 90% of all private sector jobs in America. They also have expenses which go along with making $250k per year, that you and I don't have. They have to pay for accountants and CPA's, lawyers, and brokers... they have to entertain clients, participate in civic functions, contribute to charities, and take care of every relative they have, because hey, Uncle Joe makes $250k a year! AND...They are currently taxed higher than anyone else in America. They payer higher utility bills, higher mortgage payments, higher grocery bills, higher property taxes, and since they mostly live in upscale neighborhoods, they pay higher school and local taxes as well. It's not cheap to be "rich!"
But, this brings me to another misconception you're having. Just because someone has an earned income of $250 a year, doesn't mean they are wealthy. The truly "rich" person, does not have to earn an income at all, they already have wealth, they don't need to earn an income. In fact, some rich people are so wealthy, they actually try to LOSE money each year, so they can take a tax write-off. They buy fledgling baseball teams, and things like that, so that when they pay their CPA to figure up their taxes, the dividends they earn for the year, are offset by loss, and they don't end up getting soaked. People who are earning an income of $250k a year, are perhaps trying to become wealthy, but they are not "the rich!" Again, most of them are small business owners, who have a multitude of costs associated with running a business.
Here's an interesting fact for you to ponder. Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, will generate approximately $700 billion from the people making over $250k per year, but a whopping $2 trillion from the "middle class!" So who do the Bush tax cuts effect the most? Who will pay the most if they expire? The middle class! In the meantime, you have burdened the small business owners, who create 90% of the private sector jobs, with a massive tax increase. Now, what do you think they are going to do about that? Do you think they are going to move to the ghettos? Do you think they are going to sell the Jaguar and drive a Pinto? Do you think they are going to eat beans and bologna rather than steak and lobster? NOPE... they are going to hire fewer people, expand their businesses less, and maybe layoff some folks. If they don't really NEED to earn any more income, they might just cash it all in and retire to the Bahamas. But in NO case, does anything they will do, help the middle class or encourage jobs and growth, and the economy will continue to decline.
You need to overcome your jealousy of others, and realize, a slight decrease in their tax rates, or even just (in this case) keeping their tax rates stable, will encourage them to expand their business and thus, create new jobs. Instead of trying to punish people for their success, try rewarding them, and encouraging more success, and you will see jobs created, businesses grow, and prosperity emerge. If you were making $250k a year, and next year, you will make $350k, that's $100k more you have to spend on stuff... people who sell you that stuff make money, people who make that stuff earn more, everyone prospers. Take $100k away, and the opposite will happen.