Thoughts on Obama’s speech from Clermont
Ann Dupee
Posted: 02.25.2009 / 2:48 AM PST
The “empty nesters” community of Clermont has many retired residents. Many come from states from Michigan east maintain two homes, coming here for the winter and returning “home” for the summer. Local taxes and residency requirements may dictate how long they stay in each locality An example, my parents had primary residency in Washington State but went to the Palm Springs area for just less than six months because the tax advantage was favorable that the main residence be Washington.
What went through my mind when President Obama spotlighted the young girl sitting next to his wife, that she could rise above a difficult situation now and be anything she wanted to be - a doctor, lawyer, engineer – was that when she achieved this goal after years of intensive and expensive schooling, her reward will be that she better not make more than $250,000 a year because our government is going to tax her more and take her money because she is now “rich?” Where is incentive? The American dream as I know it has been that you spend years educating yourself in school or while on the job, work hard and long hours and honestly earn money to educate y our children, be able to travel and have a nice lifestyle at the end?
It’s an admirable goal that all people should be educated from cradle on, which begins at home. I’m fortunate; my mom read to me almost every day. There was no pre-school or kindergarten in the late ‘30’s. I’m surprised there wasn’t something in the president’s talk for funding to educate parents so they could teach their children. (I probably shouldn’t say that, it might give him an idea.) For years I have promoted English as the required language of our country. Nashville just defeated that it be the language of its city government.
The President talked of not tolerating wasteful spending and not believing in bigger government. Yet, the $420 billion budget out of Congress today is reported to have 9,000 earmarks. Will he use his veto pen or is he saving it for next year? How about line item vetoing the Stimulus Package? That didn’t take place. Was there a less expensive Presidential suite in a 5 star hotel in Phoenix than where he stayed?
If Congress had addressed the oil embargo in the early 70’s we would not be in this en ergy crisis today. Tourism was so bad in Florida then that one could take a dog to a top hotel. Every member who has served in congress is to blame for not addressing this issue.
It is reported the President has signed an Executive Order that all Federal projects be done by Union workers. What does that do for Right to Work States? Like our Right to Work State of Florida, which is getting less than its apportionment share of stimulus money as the fourth largest state in the country and went Democratic?
I am glad to see the President’s more upbeat stance in his address tonight. It started with “crisis” but improved. It would help if the media would report good news except the constant rhetoric that all is doom and gloom.
A sad state of the current economic times is that, as private sector and corporate dollars that support charities that do so much at the local levels and across the nation are drying up, the federal government is stimulated to take over more rule and responsibility from those very people who gave voluntarily.
I am proud to be an American, growing up on the philosophy that one educated one’s self and worked hard so you could live within your means to enjoy the fruits of your labors, your family, see this beautiful land and see at least some of the world. I hope it is not a vanishing dream.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:40 am
To Ann: I think that you missed the whole point of the young student that was introduced during the joint sessions of Congress on Tuesday night. I guess you lived in a time when it was ok to think as an unregulated capitalist and only think about how much YOU could make without regards to society. Capitalistic greed is the problem…not the notion that someone may or may not make at least $250,000 per year. Get a grip, lady.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:41 am
“was that when she achieved this goal after years of intensive and expensive schooling, her reward will be that she better not make more than $250,000 a year because our government is going to tax her more and take her money because she is now “rich?” Where is incentive?”
I don’t know about you, but many, if not most, of the doctors I know, do it for the reward of saving a human life. Helping improve someone’s health over improving your own monetary wealth, isn’t that what becoming a health care professional is about?
February 25th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Only two points to address:
“she better not make more than $250,000 a year because our government is going to tax her more and take her money because she is now “rich?” Where is incentive?”
Personally, a 3-4% difference in taxes would not make me discouraged about earning a quarter million a year. Has anyone ever met this hypothetical person who says, “Why bother making more money? I’ll be taxed at a slightly higher rate!”?
Also can we dispense with the quotes around “rich”? When you earn more than 98% of Americans, face it: You’re rich. I’m sorry. The other 98% of us weep for you, but you’re just going to have to accept the terrible burden that comes with living more comfortably than most people could ever dream of. But hey, it could be worse: You could be “poor”.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am
“What went through my mind when President Obama spotlighted the young girl sitting next to his wife, that she could rise above a difficult situation now and be anything she wanted to be - a doctor, lawyer, engineer – was that when she achieved this goal after years of intensive and expensive schooling, her reward will be that she better not make more than $250,000 a year because our government is going to tax her more and take her money because she is now “rich?” Where is incentive?”
Are you kidding me? if she makes $250,000.00 that’s no incentive? if she makes over that she would pay a couple bucks more…that’s not an incentive? Most people would luv to make $100,000.00 with the average far less! I am curious what kinda wage you make?
I agree we need to get away from all the gloom and doom, however, an extra few bucks in taxes will not discourage anyone!
February 25th, 2009 at 8:51 am
“What went through my mind when President Obama spotlighted the young girl sitting next to his wife, that she could rise above a difficult situation now and be anything she wanted to be - a doctor, lawyer, engineer – was that when she achieved this goal after years of intensive and expensive schooling, her reward will be that she better not make more than $250,000 a year because our government is going to tax her more and take her money because she is now “rich?” Where is incentive?”
Are you kidding me? if she makes $250,000.00 that’s no incentive? if she makes over that she would pay a couple bucks more…that’s not an incentive? Most people would luv to make $100,000.00 with the average far less! I am curious what kinda wage you make?
I agree we need to get away from all the gloom and doom, however, an extra few bucks in taxes will not discourage anyone! johnpnugent@hotmail.com
February 25th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Dear Ann; If the only reason that one work hard is to accumulate wealth, then it has been a sad life indeed. Certainly we all want to live comfortably and without the fear of not being able to meet our financial obligations,but I want to emphasize the word all. As a Businessman, I want to provide for my family, but I also have a deep concern for my Employees who have been locked into a Market established wage freeze for far too long while the price of living has gone up. If I price my product to give them a wage that will allow them the “American Dream”, then my product is not competitive. Also, I don’t think that the President is endorsing taxing anyone into oblivion.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:54 am
So, if you were making $240,000 a year, and paying taxes of 40%, and were offered the opportunity to earn $400,000 a year, but had to pay 45% on that extra $150,000, can you honestly say you would turn it down?
Seems to me there’s still plenty of incentive, even at a higher marginal tax rate.
PS, I became a doctor because I thought I would be doing something valuable with my life, and I did it at a time that the marginal tax rate was MUCH higher than today.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Where’s the incentive? Are you aware of the stagnant median income line and the stupendous and growing student loan burdens on middle and lower class kids that attempt to go to college…and you want to talk about marginal tax rates? Are you friggin kidding me?
You are the definition of “out of touch”. Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh as he is an uneducated, sensationalist entertainer and knows nothing about lower and middle class plight and the efficay of good government policy. He still thinks it is 1965 since that is probably the last time that intellectually lazy windbag was in a classroom.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I think that if this girl finds herself making over a quarter million a year in the reasonably near future, she’ll be quite happy to pay her share of the tax burden, to a nation that actually afforded her the opportunity to do so. My suspicion is that it would take quite a few families from her town, banded together, to approach that level of income.
Greedy and spoiled affluent people will use any excuse in the book to retain as much of their worldly goods as they can, apparently. This even includes the amazing idea that we’ll be hurting the future of the poverty-stricken children if we are foolish enough to levy taxes on those who actually earn a significant income. To my mind, we should expect a bit of contribution from those who benefit the very most most from the society in which we live.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I have yet to hear anyone, anywhere, suggest a 100% tax bracket. I think everyone can agree that people’s marginal tax rate - they amount of taxes they pay on their next dollar - should always be less than $1. In other words, there’s *always* an incentive to make more money, because the more they make the more they’ll have.
I think it is really amazing the ways in which people adopt a laissez-faire approach. You can’t find me a person who is making - and keeping - $250,000 without government help — the doctor that refuses medicare/medicaid patients and whose hospital doesn’t take government research grants, the businessman who refuses all tax breaks and subsidies, the person who doesn’t need the help of the police and army to protect their wealth.
The reality is that the government serves the rich far, far more than they serve anyone else. Higher taxes on the rich is one method of attempting to make this more fair.
And, you can educate a person in any language. I don’t see what speaking English has to do with anything.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:01 am
A slightly higher tax rate is not going to scare me away from trying to make more than $250k. Someone who makes, say $260k, will still take home more money than someone who makes $240k. Please stop hindering our nation with your rigid adherence to an ideology that MISREPRESENTS THE TRUTH.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Whew, boy, oh boy, oh boy….
In agreement with above three posts. Ann, you DO need to get a ‘grip’. “What’s the incentive?”… gee.. I wish I had a income that was 1/4 of a 1/4 million dollars. i could pay my mortgage without fear of ‘where am I going to get the money to pay my mortgage’, I could save some money. I could go on vacation - and yes, even ‘travel’ to another place to go on vacation. I could pay for my daughter’s college education, instead of having to put the whole burden on her shoulders.
So it seems to me that you want everything for yourself and others with your similar income bracket with no regard to the majority of the population who, for whatever reason, do not make 1/4 million + annually. If I did make that much, an increase in my taxes would be the LEAST of my worries.
Shame on you!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:11 am
“Where is the incentive?” Wow. It sounds like the point you are trying to make is that people are so selfish that they will avoid making money just to avoid the taxes? Speak for yourself maam. To borrow a common line from republicans, you must not have very much faith in people.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Ann,
It should be that way: the more you have, the more you give. Math: 0 times 10% = 0; 250,000 times 10% = 25,000. It’s what’s written in the bible, too. I wouldn’t mind giving more to my country if I had more, specially a country that made it possible for me to make more. In other countries you won’t see common people making 250,000 a year (probably in their entire life) even if they become lawyers, doctors or engineers! Let AMERICANS LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:14 am
In addition to the other criticisms of your comment concerning higher taxes once one reaches a yearly salary of $250,000, I find that what you have written gives the misleading impression that $250,000 - a luxurious sum by middle class standards, never mind global - is a maximum that the government, through taxation, will not allow citizens to pass. The doctor, lawyer, or engineer can make more, but she or he will correspondingly need to pay more.
I too am proud to be an American, and I agree with the philosophy you have stated. However, I believe your thoughts represent the small scale view of that philosophy, and, ignoring altruism, if we follow the logic when looking at the whole system, it is often in our best interest to care for the well being of those around us.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Ms. Dupee, Most people chose a profession not to get rich but to do something worthwhile in life, something they enjoy and can make a decent living. Narcissism got us where we are today.Rather than be part of the problem, chose to be part of the solution. If you are going to criticize, why not put forward some viable solutions. Much you have received, much you owe and to stand there and talk as if everything you have done was done because of how good you are is disingenuous. You received help from family, friends, community, peers, companies, and government, yes government.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I think your point about what does that girl have to look forward to if she becomes “rich” (taxes) is ridiculous. I am in the bracket that will be taxed more, and I’m more than happy to pay my share. People in our bracket are VERY fortunate, and if there’s anyone that would not have taken exactly the same path in life just because of a little extra taxation then they’re doing the wrong thing anyway.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Despite enjoying the intellectual challenge of medical school, I suffered through years of getting by and being poorer than my friends because I was in school. Then after residency and fellowship, I suffered for a few more years until I finally developed a medical business model that works for me.
Today my private practice grosses near a million dollars.
When I found out I will get taxed more, my first thought was an extra 3% is not going to kill me if I can contribute to America. But I can see how 3% from the pockets of the old rich playing defense will affect them more than the new rich who knows how to earn money. The old rich have deep influences in this country.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:40 am
How about helping your fellow man, nurturing humanity, and making your nation and world a better place? Nah, those are horrible goals. Give me more money!!!!!
Sometimes I wonder if people take the time to really read what they write.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I think that most people commenting here have hit the nail on the head. It is completely inane of Ms. Dupee to suggest that, had I the opportunity, I would forgo making more than $250,000 with a higher marginal tax rate even if the end result would be that my net income will be greater than what I would keep from the less than $250,000 with a lower tax rate. I would dearly hope that column writers like her get a dose of reality check before they start spewing out nonsense to their readers.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Is this what life is all about?
“…earn money to educate your children, be able to travel and have a nice lifestyle at the end?”
I consciously gave up a well-paying job to do work which invigorates my soul and allows me to donate my free time to the betterment of society through non-profit work. How about educating ALL children, not squandering money for personal pleasures, and putting your resources (time AND money) to work that matters on a scale larger than your insulated nuclear family?
It is our duty to give back to the country in terms of tax dollars, as it has provided the opportunities to even gain access to higher education and well-paying careers.