So, who makes up the Middle Class again?

[BT]

a 4% increase will make no difference to the poorer person and will have little real effect to the wealthier one.

This keeps getting repeated as if it is true. How do you know that it will have little effect on those taxed higher?

[Xavier_Onassis]

Because we all have the same needs: food, clothing shelter, and $250K per year is sufficient to provide all of this and more for any family of a reasonable size.

How do you know that it doesn't?

Politicians always say they are defending the middle class, because most Americans think of themselves as middle class, even those on the upper and lower fringes.

[BT]

How do you know that it doesn't?

I don't. But i do know that all people in a specific income bracket do not have the same expenses.

In order to say it would have little effect, you would have to know what their expendable income was. And you don't.

[Xavier_Onassis]

I DO know what it costs to provide average and adequate food, clothing and shelter, however.

I can certainly say that it SHOULD NOT have any significant effect.

[BT]

You know what it takes to provide for food clothing shelter etc based on the amount you had to work with, and your particular circumstances. That certainly doesn't make you an expert on upper income expenses.

[Xavier_Onassis]

"Upper Income expenses"

You mean like how much to tip the pool guy?
 
Bah!

[BT]

No,  more like what it costs to provide assisted living resources in house for mother dearest.

[Plane]

Of course class can be defined by an individual with regard to his specific social group. What cannot be done is to give a specific definition that would apply to EVERY group in this country.

It is of zero importance to anyone not paid over $250,000 what someone who makes that much is taxed. a 4% increase will make no difference to the poorer person and will have little real effect to the wealthier one.

We know that it will not make the economy worse to tax at this rate, because we have had more prosperous times in this country in which the tax rate was even higher than 39% on income over $250K.

You are other conservatives want to identify with the fatcats, in the same way and for the same reason that some kid in the ghetto wantsto wear sneakers with Michael Jordan's name on them. In all cultures, sucking up to those perceived as having greater status is common, especially among people who are unaware of what they are doing.

One would expect the left to have better analisys , or mind reading or something.
Only a few conservatives are very welthy, no more than are leftist.

Think like this ...
The Economy comes before the government , both the people and the government depend on the economy.
Getting a good look at the weight of government upon the economy.
And considering that the more economy the government soaks up the less is left for the people to live on.
One could possibly understand why the conservatives think so strangely.

[sirs]

It's largely because the left flunks economics & basic math, but excels at class warfare.  the reason folks like Warren & Xo now conveniently can't provide parameters for the middle class, is so that the growing level of taxation required to fund everything Government, is going to hit more and more of them, so best try to maintain some political cover, for the next round of elections

[BT]

I'm not so sure the GOP would get a passing grade on economics or math either.

[sirs]

I'd give them a C-, especially in that the plans put forth to curb the debt, barely start the ball rolling in that direction.  But at least its a start

[Plane]

I'm not so sure the GOP would get a passing grade on economics or math either.

Yes very dissapointing.

[Xavier_Onassis]

so that the growing level of taxation required to fund everything Government,

=================================================
Taxes are at an all time LOW.  The major reasons for the problems we are having are unnecessary wars and recession caused by the removal of needed regulations in the mortgage industry.

Both parties can do math, it is idiotic to claim that either party does not understand accounting, as they a;l have accountants. The dispute is over the simplistic answers that the public is given about how all the filthy rich are just champing at the bit to hire people in this country, when the reality is usually entirely different. They prefer to replace humans with robots and local workers with foreign labor.

[Plane]

so that the growing level of taxation required to fund everything Government,

=================================================
Taxes are at an all time LOW. 

That has to be an error.

[sirs]

so that the growing level of taxation required to fund everything Government,

=================================================
Taxes are at an all time LOW.

Good gravy....what planet are you on??  Seriously.  The major reasons for the problems economically are 2 fold...and hint, neither has to do with war.  OVERT government spending AND Fannie/Freddie.  The latter, coupled with the ghastly Community Reinvestment Act, sent this country's economy into one of the worst recessions ever, that it still hasn't recovered from.  Not to mention, looks like its going back downhill again. 

And then you have the ongoing use of the recession by the left that gave them some carte blanche notion that we could spend our childrens, and their childrens' childrens' economic stability, in the form of exponential deficit spending to supposedly "save us" from this recession, when all its done is throw a wet blanket onto the entire business community, and inhibit any chance of expansion or employment, as business hunker down for Obamacare's taxes & healthcare regulations to kick in full tilt.  Add to that now, increased taxes, which nearly EVERY ECONOMIST has referenced is BAD for any business expansion, and  the problem becomes even worse

And Democrats know this, which is why the class warfare rhetoric now needs to redefine the middle class, since Obama and Co are supposedly the protectors of the "middle class".  It's that class now that's going to be hit the hardest with taxes......but its ok, because those folks are no longer really part of "the middle class"

Both parties are horrible at math, one exponentially worse than the other, but both excel in politics.


But I tell you what......you can have your Clinton taxes, that you keep harping on as what we did before and managed ok with.....IF, we also go back to the Clinton-level spending limits, that also went along with those taxes.  Now, let's see how honest/serious you are at addressing our debt