Jonah Goldberg: Working Less (Who is John Galt?)

The National Review ^ | February 27, 2009 | Jonah Goldberg

[2ndDivisionVet]

I got this earlier today, from a reader:

Jonah, a few years ago, I lived in Manhattan (we met briefly one year at a cocktail hour at some bar on 2nd Av when I was at [job description withheld]). My bride and I together were pulling down about 400k per year. (btw, we didn't feel rich, we didn't act rich, and Bernie Madoff never took us into his confidence, either.)

At the same time, every dollar we earned was being taxed about 50% (I mean, taxed where I could see it being taxed) . So who were we working for? Everything we bought, we were buying one just like it for somebody else. I decided then (probably 2002 or 2003) that I wouldn't do that any more. So I deliberately changed my career strategy to move into jobs that paid progressively less. After 2 such job changes, we left New York for CT. Our income now is about 130k and soon I will leave my 80k job for real retirement. Yeah, I have a pension and some other assets (dwindling) that can produce income. But I think I've succeeded in minimizing my income - and therefore my tax burden. And yeah, I'm at a stage in my life where my strategy is practical and I know most people aren't. But so far it's working for me.

And this came in just a minute ago:

Jonah:

I don't believe Stephen Benen would be happy if I and other anesthesiologists simply worked less - because we maxed out on low taxes.

I work a lot of overtime, for MONEY.

Without this incentive, people like Benen would be waiting in line for surgery.

Sincerely,

Frank

[NicknamedBob]

"Obama is digging his own grave. I applaud every shovelful he takes out of the hole."

Now that, is tag line material!

[Gondring]

You aren’t the only one.

The incentive is gone, and it makes it very clear that Obama and the Democrats are the party of the ultrarich...those who don’t rely on income to improve their lot. Democrats have disdain for the poor, loving to keep people in their place by taxing them if they try to get out of their situation.

[1010RD]

The day they tax wealth you’ll have a Ford’s Theater event and we’ll have a new, more understanding president.

Name a country where wealth get’s taxed and you are naming a bloody revolution.

[1010RD]

Exactly!

[ExSES]

Yes. And the federal government won’t take it too well if those people start trading their services (barter economy). Watch for some policy to prevent that.

Psstt..., it is supposed to be accounted for and taxed now (and has been for years)!

[Cacique]

We already tax wealth. Ever hear of real estate taxes? The property you allegedly own? The local municipalities charge a calculated percentage on the net worth of your property? It’s only one step away to the next stage. We are like a lobster, being boiled in water, at a slow simmer and we don’t even know they are cooking us.

[bluegirl]

Ditto

[Cacique]

The very same reason the oligarchies in south america finance the left radical parties. They see socialism as an ally, they view the middle class as their true threat. After all, you might marry their daughters. Elites don’t like a crowded top, otherwise they wouldn’t be elites.

[hopespringseternal]

I am going to change jobs in 2009. I am leaving my high-paying job in the private sector for a government job. I will trade money for job security, fewer hours, a lower tax rate, and a pension.

Sometime in the next four years I will probably do the same. It isn't just Obama. More and more the democrat talking point of "corporate robber barons" is beginning the self-fulfill. When Obama squeezes them, they look for someone to squeeze in turn. They become tax collectors.

But the other side of it is that the long hours and subsequent raises and promotions just aren't going to be worth it for a while. When I calculate out what I will actually be making on the money -- forget it, I am taking a vacation.

A lot of people are going to come to that realization over the coming months.

[okie01]

The very same reason the oligarchies in south america finance the left radical parties. They see socialism as an ally, they view the middle class as their true threat.

Precisely. The very rich (and the large corporations) view socialism as an ally because it stifles competition!

Socialism keeps the hoi-polloi in their place. And small businesses small.

Not for nothing did Marx and Lenin identify their primary enemy as "the bourgoisie".

[pepperdog]

Exactly! I've tried to explain that to a some family members over and over, but they just don't get it. The truly rich and the truly powerful, usually one and the same, don't live like the rest of us nor do they play by the same rules. We got a small glimpse of that with the 0’s various non-tax paying nominees. Just the tip of the iceberg.

[Nowhere Man]

I hate Obama. I’m not ashamed to say it. I hate him because he acts like he has a greater claim on what I earn than I do. I hate him, and his fellow socialists in Congress and every leech who voted for him who has been raised to think that someone else should be paying their bills. I will not be his slave.

I'm with you, myself I deliver auto parts, I don't make a lot and I have made more in the past but I'm pulling a John Galt although it is only half on purpose so to speak. I look at it this way, I work with my best friend since we were in elementary school, who is one of my bosses, and the head boss of the store was in the Marines and a diehard libertarian/conservative. I like to learn more about cars and get more skills, we will need them in the future.

I used to work in IT and accounting along with networking.

[jellybean]

Atlas Shrugged ping!

STARVE THE BEAST!

[lonestar]

I doubt that Obama has ever had a conversation with an entrepreneur.

All his friends distribute other people's money...and cheat on their taxes!

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I’m Glad you let it out. It just might be that all of the hate and rage simmering below the surface within you is the reason that you accuse others of ‘hating’ your favorite RINO presidential candidate.

[Boucheau]

NO ONE SHOULD PLAY ALONG.

These leeches are literally betting the farm on your giving in to them.

Their twisted beliefs about "greed" make them think you will keep on doing what you are doing--for the almighty dollar.

I don't love money--I love freedom. I work hard for more freedom for me and my family.

Socialism and freedom CANNOT COEXIST.

They must think we are stupid.

I'll hand-build my dwelling and grow my own food before I'd enter into a system of servitude.

Sorry, 0bama, Reid and Pinko Pelosi, I was not born to serve you.

You can leave me alone or create an enemy--I will resist and refuse your agenda to the death--and I mean it.

[kcvl]

Socialism has very little impact on the very rich.

Oh yes it does!

When they take a look at their investments and they are half of what they were two months ago they certainly take notice!

Some of those trust fund babies' incomes have been cut in half too because they usually live on the income from their investments.

They notice when that house they were about to buy has to be put off (it happened last week to a couple of them).

Yes, in fact some of them will notice it a lot more in the months to come too. All those charities are going to notice too when they stop giving as much because they can't deduct it.

Everyone is going to notice because when the money dries up who is going to pay for the welfare cheats and the deadbeats?!

[okie01]

When they take a look at their investments and they are half of what they were two months ago they certainly take notice!

I guarantee you that Warren Buffet, et al, have lost very little sleep during the downturn. George Soros has probably been cheering it on (and maybe even helped it happen).

For one thing, these guys were probably better prepared than the rest of us -- being more broadly diversified and more liquid than the average investor.

More importantly, last year at this time, Buffet, Soros and Gates, e.g., woke up from a night's sleep and knew they were the richest men in the world.

When they woke up this morning, that hadn't changed. And, now, they're in a position to pick up some relative bargains -- and get even richer.

Your run-of-the-mill heavy hitter is no doubt pissed at having to do without. But the super rich won't miss a beat. For them, this is just a bump in the road...and a buying opportunity. And they're the ones I was referring to...

[1000 silverlings]

Yep, we left California and took our businesses with us. We single-handedly unemployed around 40 people, hope they enjoy their socialism

[Nickname]

“Barry and his liberal allies in Congress have killed the American Dream.”

I’d include the bureaucrats at the local and state levels too.

More, more, more is never, ever enough for any of them. It’s squandered and then they demand more of our labor to feed their beasts.

It is mind boggling how much the government, churches, charities and foundations spend every single year on “problems”.... If more money was the answer we’d be living in utopia already.

Equal misery is the liberal goal and it seems that’s just around the corner.