Posted on 02/14/2002 10:25:16 AM PST by farmall
By my reading, he's getting $3000 from the government on an annual basis. IOW, his before-tax income is $57K, after tax is $60K. Biblewonk, is that true?
I'm talking about for example: An business-owner acquaintence of ours who routinely deducts his lavish family vacations as " business travel," claims family Christmas presents as "gifts for customers," and writes off EVERY restaurant meal as "business entertainment."
I'm also talking about another acquaintence who owns several horses for pleasure, set up a fake sole proprietorship for the horses (although they own them purely for pleasure), and deducts all expenses related to these damn horses as "business expenses."
I understand that some this has to go on or every small business owner would go broke. But there's an awful lot of expense-padding that is pure fraud--and that's one of the reasons why MY taxes are so high. My taxes are in effect subsidizing these @ssholes' horse bills and dinners at Ruth Chris Steak House.
I've been saying both (though, not necessarily in this thread). The two sentiments are both worthy and compatible.
C'mon, now, the fact that he has this bill due on April 15 has less to do with the overall level of taxation than with the reality of the progressive (instead of flat) tax. This poor guy's real problem is that he and his working wife with their multiple jobs filled out their W-4s incorrectly (intentionally or not).
Furthermore, when the day comes that I have to think about finding an additional job to pay a $5K unanticipated tax liability at the end of the year, I will consider myself to have failed to manage the money properly.
Congress's and the IRS's job is mainly to shake money out of the private sector to fund their bullsh*t wasteful programs. When others commit tax fraud and consistently get away with it, wage earners like me ultimately end up ultimately paying their share. The money has to come from somewhere, and higher payroll taxes are EASY compared to chasing down tax-cheaters.
I pay a maximum marginal federal & provincial income tax rate of 51.4%. That starts at the US$ equivalent of $43,000. That's what they consider "rich" up here. When I saw someone complaining about paying $25,000 tax on $125,000 of income, I didn't know why he didn't consider himself lucky. Further, the Canadian equivalent of US$125,000 is CAN$200,000. That is a very high income in Ontario. For example, the Justices of Ontario's highest court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, are paid just under $200,000. Finally, I saw nothing entrepreneurial about the farmall, who along with his spouse has taken training qualifying for public school teaching and maxed out their income with alot of moonlighting. Compare that to highly trained, accomplished and hard working public servants (that's what our terms of reference are here) in my province who earn less.
Therefore, seeing someone with farmall's background complain about how tough life is netting US$95,000 (his son "better" get a baseball scholarship!) after paying IMO ONLY 25% income tax, left me cold. Incidentally, we also pay 15% sales tax in Ontario.
All that said, I should have disclosed my unique perspective earlier and am therefore probably deserving of the brickbats.
BINGO!
I learned this valuable lesson early on after I bought a new car and fretted over every scratch and bump on it! I lived a hard life with that car, first Mrs. Dawgg (then my girlfiend) parked it on a hill and it rolled backwards into a ditch and really screwing it up. With-in one week of getting it back I was at my Mom's house and her neighbor backed into it destroying the reat Q-panel and Driver's Door! Within two months after getting it back from that ordeal I was run off the road in a snow storm (idiot was clear over in my lane on a blind curve) and I shot of a twelve foot embankment and of course totally screwed up the car then the very day I get it back I park downtown on a hill and as I get out My car starts rolling away stopping when it runs into a street sign! I was quite a sight hanging onto the side trying to get the door open. I figure the parking break went bad and was about to run the car over a hill and forget it when a Passerby stops and asks if I want the plate number of the guy who hit me. I thought he was joking but he told me as I got out a car hit my rearend and the driver panicked hit the gas pushing my car faster then swerved away and fled the scene never looking back! Of course when the police found this Woman (it turned out he was a she) yup you guessed it, no insurance! So after it was fixed the last Time I parked it in my yard and it sat for 13 years till I recently sold it! I have never bought a New car since!
I buy used vehicles because they still get me from point A to Point B and for a whole lot less money!
(Copies of this testimonial may be picked up in the lobby as you leave.)
How can that be? According to the Democrats all the Republicans want to do is help the rich and starve the poor! How can your taxes go up if you're rich and the Democrats' theory is correct? According to the Dems you ought be getting huge tax breaks because you're wealthy!
Mad, after reading your agonizing tale, I must conclude that you and Mrs. Dawgg are Karma-challenged. I would recommend public transportation.
See my post 250 for a 'splanation.
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