Comments on: Tax on Democrats http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tax_on_democrats/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:16:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tax_on_democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-15403 Anonymous Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5798#comment-15403 > people making $230,000 a year. Who, under > pretty much any definition—Democrat or otherwise > —are “wealthy.” I can't figure this out. The unadjusted gross of my household will be just over $200K this year, both my wife and I being middle managers making right at $100K in California. We have no debt, but both drive 5 year old cars that each cost leass than $30K at the time (nice, but not luxury), are limited to one vacation a year and by no means enjoy an "upper class" lifestyle. Our home is nothing extravagant, and while we did some improvements to it, no one would mistake it for a mansion at less than 2000 sq. feet. Somehow, I have climbed up from nothing to "rich", but I don't have any, nor can I afford, any of the things the rich are supposed to enjoy. After subtracting taxes (fed, state, property), mortgage, retirement savings, non-retirement savints, groceries, childcare and all the other things just to run my family, I have absolutely nothing left over. > people making $230,000 a year. Who, under
> pretty much any definition—Democrat or otherwise
> —are “wealthy.”

I can't figure this out. The unadjusted gross of my household will be just over $200K this year, both my wife and I being middle managers making right at $100K in California. We have no debt, but both drive 5 year old cars that each cost leass than $30K at the time (nice, but not luxury), are limited to one vacation a year and by no means enjoy an "upper class" lifestyle. Our home is nothing extravagant, and while we did some improvements to it, no one would mistake it for a mansion at less than 2000 sq. feet.

Somehow, I have climbed up from nothing to "rich", but I don't have any, nor can I afford, any of the things the rich are supposed to enjoy. After subtracting taxes (fed, state, property), mortgage, retirement savings, non-retirement savints, groceries, childcare and all the other things just to run my family, I have absolutely nothing left over.

]]> By: Mr Mouse http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tax_on_democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-15404 Mr Mouse Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5798#comment-15404 Would it mean that there would be no more <i>free government cheese</i>? Would it mean that there would be no more free government cheese?

]]> By: Tiger http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tax_on_democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-15405 Tiger Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5798#comment-15405 <blockquote>After subtracting taxes (fed, state, property), mortgage, retirement savings, <b>non-retirement savin[g]s</b>, groceries, childcare and all the other things just to run my family, <b>I have absolutely nothing left over</b>.</blockquote>Really? What about all the money you were able to sock away in that savings account? Is it nothing?

After subtracting taxes (fed, state, property), mortgage, retirement savings, non-retirement savin[g]s, groceries, childcare and all the other things just to run my family, I have absolutely nothing left over.

Really? What about all the money you were able to sock away in that savings account? Is it nothing?

]]> By: Attila Girl http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tax_on_democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-15406 Attila Girl Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5798#comment-15406 It's so difficult to compare these things, especially in places like LA and New York where one really has to be "rich" from the rest of the country's POV just to be able to afford the housing costs (a teensy little house here is $500,000; rents start at $1000 per bedroom in the nicer towns). And, of course, lots of other things are more costly here as well. It's also really hard to compare costs in two-income households vs. one-income households, since very often that second income is eaten right up in things like commuting, wardrobe needs, childcare, convenience foods and restaurant meals, a cleaning lady, and all the other things that, for most people, make the two-income lifestyle possible. --- It's so difficult to compare these things, especially in places like LA and New York where one really has to be "rich" from the rest of the country's POV just to be able to afford the housing costs (a teensy little house here is $500,000; rents start at $1000 per bedroom in the nicer towns). And, of course, lots of other things are more costly here as well.

It's also really hard to compare costs in two-income households vs. one-income households, since very often that second income is eaten right up in things like commuting, wardrobe needs, childcare, convenience foods and restaurant meals, a cleaning lady, and all the other things that, for most people, make the two-income lifestyle possible.

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