Quote:
Originally Posted by Tully Mars
That doesn't sound right to me either. Where do you get that 50k for a family of four from?
---------- Post added at 08:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------
Here I found this-
Nearly-half-of-US-households-no tax
Well if that's true that's just as screwy as cutting taxes on the wealthy and big business thinking they'll spread the wealth around. At some point we have to start paying our way. |
Tully, that's exactly what I was saying. Perhaps it's not just corporations and the "wealthy" (though they are the easiest target
) that aren't paying a fair share.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robot_parade
One thing to keep in mind with the 'nearly 50% pay no (federal income) tax' meme is that the federal income tax is just one part of a person's overall tax burden, and is the most progressive, and generally where the deductions apply...the big two driving this 50% number are mortgage deductions and child credits. Other federal payroll taxes for medicare and social security still apply to those people. They still pay state taxes, sales taxes, etc.
So it isn't as if 50% of the population don't pay taxes at all.
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Don't put words in my mouth. I very carefully said
pay no federal income tax and I'm fully aware of social security and medicare taxes, state and local sales taxes, state income taxes, property tax if you own your home or other real property and lots of miscellaneous hidden taxes which is why your $100 dollar motel room costs $138, your $100 dollar cell phone bill is $142, etc. Taxes are everywhere.
So no, I never said 50% of the population don't pay taxes at all. I know better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by filtherton
It's not that simple, though. What does $50,000 get a family of four?
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$50,000 will obviously go farther in Manhattan, KS than it will in Manhattan, NY. Bur when it comes to federal taxes, it is never "that simple," and that is part of the problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by filtherton
Here's a living wage estimator: Living Wage Calculator - Introduction to the Living Wage Calculator
For my county, for a family with two adults and two kids the living wage amounts to $63,000 pretax income (or $57,000 after taxes). $50,000 may seem like a lot, but sometimes our perceptions can be off. Now, I haven't examined the assumptions of this model, but I suspect that the model is more robust than your hunch that $50,000/yr is more than adequate for a family of four. |
The time/labor of some is not worth a "living wage." Should a living wage be provided regardless of that? How about for those who don't work? Should they be provided a living wage as well?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
I think a household income of $50,000 puts a family comfortably in the working class. Which is good, considering in some states a single teacher on average makes more than an entire household.
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In my home town in Kansas, a family could live pretty well on $50k
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
How many of those households raking in $50k are making it from a single source? If you have two or three householders making up for the $50K, how much should they be taxed individually?
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The model assumed a married couple filing jointly with two dependent children in school, as a household. Three or four people "living together" is not a household, according to the feds. Minors can make up to a certain amount with no federal income tax withheld or due.
Lindy