Sorry, Pal, You're Rich

newsweek you suck all you liberal pukes suck.....

For sure you've got to admire the depth and subtlety of commentary by folks like Sharkman. I'll bet his IQ is well over 3!

I feel that using an "income level" to base the payment of taxes is not the correct way to do it. I believe that a flat tax across the board will do more to bring the government more money. A flat tax puts an equal burden on all of the people. If we were to eliminate the tax code, tax tax rules and the portion of government that must continually audit people taking too many deductions or not reporting income properly or just plain making mistakes we could generate billions of dollars. Let us not forget the the time our elected officials spend in developing these tax breaks and or tax increases. It is my opinion that all the citizens of this country should contribute to the services we have in place. From the poorest to the richest. Just because I can be more generous or can purchase a bigger house with a bigger mortgage interest and real estate deduction doesn't mean I shoul be in an "effective" 11% tax bracket because of my gross income against my net taxable. Paying a flat tax on all my income would place me on an even scale with every other citizen. Now for the bonus! Think about all the accountancts, tax services and lawyers that would have to find something else to do rather than charge from under a hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars preparing our tax returns because they are so complicated the average man cannot do them. Think of all the businesses that would no longer be looking to create new ways to avoid taxes and the accountants, tax services and lawyers that spend untold hours trying to justify deductions to the Internal Revenue Service. I do not believe the man earning $10,000 per year can raise a family but then again at that income level you have to be an idiot to think you can. Not everybody can own a mansion and attend private schools. It is simply a fact of life but at least from the lowest to the highest we would be paying equally for the particular life style we lead. On my soap box by MS, Jr.

People get a grip! If your family is pulling in over $200K. I'm proud to burst your bubble, you are rich. I noticed one comment in which a woman mentions her husband works 94 Hrs a week and makes $200k. She was complaining about $4000 in car insurance. Either her family does not know how to drive or her cars are over the top. Check out Ebay motors I'm sure you can pick up a daily commuter for $4k, hence the insurance on such a vehicle would drop considerably let alone the payments your makingon it. It's a matter of choices you make. It's the foods you eat, the workout club you join, the cable TV service you purchase. Remember back in the day, the rabiit ears or the TV antennae on the roof, you can pick up your local stations in HD for the cost of two months cable bill. Even that Internet Access, these taxes people are stressing about, part of your local taxes goes to your local library which usually has free internet access. Hey who knows while your in the library you might even pick up a discounted movie rental or, "God forbid!" a book. Remember people with $200k, your able to say yes alot more with these decisions than if your making $6k - $30K a year like some of my family members. Hence in respect to me and the rest of the nation, "YOU'RE RICH." With a government for the people, of the people and by the people, the 80% of people not making more than $250k are gonna elect to have your excessive income taxed higher than ours. Sorry but majority rules.

This is the most ridiculous thing I???ve ever heard. I have a friend who is a doctor she makes about 300k a year her husband is a teacher which probably makes 40k a year. They have 3 kids and they have a nice house but nothing special for the area considering all the houses in the area are gated communities in Florida where they live. Well they pretty much live paycheck to paycheck probably do to the fact of their debt from their educations. They don't drive fancy cars they have a Honda mini van which is two years old and they do not own multiple homes they are just average working people like you and me. They should not be targeted as wealthy because they decided to do better for themselves and go to school for 10 years and not sit at home collecting a welfare check every month. This woman put in her time and she is helping people every day curing heart disease which is the number one killer now a days. Maybe you news organizations should stop promoting a president because he is black or white and you should look at the real issues.

Obamas tax plan makes no sense. I was in the military and we use a term called ???reinforcing bad behavior??? when you have people that are eligible for a earned income tax credit getting back thousands of dollars when they do not even pay taxes and Obamas plan is to triple that, Why the hell would they want to better themselves and get better jobs if everything is giving to them.

Here is another catch 22 Obama if you tax corporations more then they have less profits so fewer dividends are paid which drives down stock holder values. Is this guy deliberately just trying to ruin what???s left of the economy?

You know what I love best is all the people who buy into the energy commercial Obama is running. ???The hands that install roofs can install solar panels on roofs??? hey last time I checked 1 hp is 750 watts of electricity. A solar panel produces hardly any power that???s why they are used in low voltage DC current applications. Get real people you???re living a dream???. go spend a few thousand on beautifying your house with solar panels so you can save 5 cents a month on your electric bill great idea from a guy who wants to be president.

Seriously are we really getting stupider as a nation???

All I have to say is anyone out there who is complaining about helping the poor, or saying, "I worked hard and I deserve all the money I make," better not profess to be Christians. If you're not Christian, fine. Go on being self absorbed. That's your right. But if you're Christian, you best rethink your stance. After all, Christ was a socialist. "Sell your possessions, give it to the poor and come follow me," is what He said. It was about putting the needs of others before the needs of yourself in hopes that others would put your needs before their own. If everybody did that, we'd eliminate poverty, hunger, homelessness.

That's what it means to, "Love God and love they neighbor as thyself." So to those of you who say, "Why should my taxes go to take care of the crack mom who pops out 6 kids," you best not consider yourself Christian. And even if you're not, I dare you to look into the eyes of any of those kids and say, "Sorry, kid. You gotta go hungry tonight. It's not my job to feed you cuz you're mom's on dope." How can anyone punish the kids like that? They didn't ask to have a drug user as a mom. They're innocent. And chances are, they are not well loved or attended to. So will they get the support they need to do well in school and in life to pull themselves out of their crappy situation. So you know what? They end up just like mom. Sure, some can do it. Some can overcome. But it's few and far between and I bet it's only because they got help from outside the family. because someone, a teacher, a social worker, a neighbor, helped them, guided them, gave them what they did not get at home. None of us, not a single God blessed one of us got where we are today all by ourselves. We ALL had help, from somebody somewhere. And if you think otherwise, you're lying or diluted.

Flat Tax, Forbes had it right. Who cares if you are "rich" or not? What's fair is fair and I don't believe that Robin Hood ideals are the way to go for any country, let alone this great one. Stick to fairness and people won't be as likely to worry about economic status. Don't punish people for being good with their money or for working hard to get it.

I know of a great system to redistribute wealth like most of you want, it's called communism. First step take everyone's money and give it to the poor, second step steal everyone's ownership of ideas, third step stop being innovative and trying in life at all. Then we can be another failure country like the rest in the world.

I work hard for my money. I'd love to not wear a condom, have 12 kids and claim I can't work because I have to stay home all day. Sounds great! Open your eyes people, the people making all this money, do so for a reason. They are smarter than you, they work harder than you, and they make a lot more sacrifices than you. If you aren't happy with your situation in life, work harder to improve it. That's what made this country great.

It is all about consumption preferences and habits... A truly middle class person might be happy with dinner at Applebee's - a great family outing for that household. Someone making $250k would scoff at such a concept. They both don't feel like they have tons of extra cash but they just spend it differently.

http://www.beyondthemargin.net/2008/08/escaping-burdens-of-consumer-debt.html

This is an interesting but meaningless discussion. The end point is what does 'rich' mean. If you vote for Obama it means you pay a staggering amount of additional taxes on top of the %35 Fed Tax, $7200 FICA tax , %15 Capital Gains and then local and state tax. My wife and I are well educated and have spent 20+ building careers and businesses. Our rewards for effort and dedication cannot be still more socialist redistribution of wealth.

Speaking truth to power can be difficult, and will always be challeneged. But it's necessary and Mr Gross, your article was worth it.

The truth is that it isn't about not being able to "make do" on a family income of $250,000. The truth is that if you are, say, a couple with a minor child and have a family income of $250,000 and are feeling pinched, you need to look around at HOW you are living. Do you need an 8 - 10 room house? How many cars can you possibly drive? Is it necessary to take elaborate vacations or is it better to spend the quality time with each other and with your child, something that can be done without leaving your home.

Earning $250,000 a year or more puts you in the elite of the country. Isn't it time to act that way? Haven't the elite historically, in every culture and in every period of history, been the ones to feel more of the burden and to act on it?

If you're making $250,000 or more a year, YOU ARE RICH. Start looking past the end of your noses and see the rest of the country and the rest of the world, as they really are. And for heaven's sale STOP WINING.

Renter of apartment in San Francisco, lives with wife...not rich. $250K a year in SF isn't rich...please. Come live here, price homes or condos on weekends, pay petrol prices, grocery prices... It adds up quick. Happy to be alive and be with the woman I love - in this respect I am wealthy beyond comparison.