Please define rich (with a poll)

[dpodblood]

I tried this once, never really got a straight answer (Which says a lot about the people that bitch and moan about "the rich").

IMO, rich is living within your means. If you are spending more than you make, then you are always poor. I can easily see someone making a million a year and not being able to hack it.

This exactly. It's also very dependent on the cost of living in the area you live. To generalize though anyone making 6 figures or more has no reason to complain. Most people live off a hell of a lot less.

I didn't vote in the poll because I hate the concept of "tax brackets". So you're smart and learn how to make a good income. That gives the government the right to take more of your money away? Blergh...

 

[Mursilis]

The Rich: Those who could easily afford to bear a greater and fairer share of the burden of keeping our republic vigorous and afloat but who, under our current rules and procedures, can easily purchase such a disproportionate amount of "free speech" that they may never have to.

Basically, that's almost everyone. Few people are doing without the basic necessities (food, shelter, clothing) in this country, esp. with all the charities and gov't assistance available.

 

[Jaskalas]

This exactly. It's also very dependent on the cost of living in the area you live. To generalize though anyone making 6 figures or more has no reason to complain. Most people live off a hell of a lot less.

Are you telling us 100k is rich? Perhaps you forgot what the term middle class is for.

 

[dpodblood]

Are you telling us 100k is rich? Perhaps you forgot what the term middle class is for.

Maybe where you're from, but where I'm from $100,000 a year is going to afford you a pretty nice lifestyle, and a nice home in a good neighborhood. I would guess the "middle-class" around here make around 30-50k per year.

 

[spidey07]

maybe where you're from, but where i'm from $100,000 a year is going to afford you a pretty nice lifestyle, and a nice home in a good neighborhood. I would guess the "middle-class" around here make around 30-50k per year.

lol!

 

[CPA]

I refuse to define people as "rich" or "not rich". People have money, some have more than others, but it's not my place, nor should it be the governments to define what constitutes rich versus poor. I will never begrudge a man for the amount of money he makes or does not make....never.

 

[Scotteq]

This exactly. It's also very dependent on the cost of living in the area you live. To generalize though anyone making 6 figures or more has no reason to complain. Most people live off a hell of a lot less.

I didn't vote in the poll because I hate the concept of "tax brackets". So you're smart and learn how to make a good income. That gives the government the right to take more of your money away? Blergh...

So - A Teacher marries a Police Officer...and that family is "Rich"?? And we should crank up their taxes (more than we already do)??

 

[Jaskalas]

Maybe where you're from, but where I'm from $100,000 a year is going to afford you a pretty nice lifestyle, and a nice home in a good neighborhood. I would guess the "middle-class" around here make around 30-50k per year.

A person's bills and taxes quite easily devour that amount, regardless of the comfort it would bring to people in some areas. I'd say rich is not a question of whether you have food on the table, but whether there's any concern for paying a reasonable amount of bills.

Which case I've trouble deciding between 250k and 500k. Probably more like 300k but that wasn't an option.

 

[dpodblood]

lol!

How would you define middle class? Generally I think of it as working professionals who make enough to live comfortably. Anyone making $50k around here can certainly afford to live comfortably, unless they are living way outside of their means.

 

[spidey07]

How would you define middle class? Generally I think of it as working professionals who make enough to live comfortably. Anyone making $50k around here can certainly afford to live comfortably, unless they are living way outside of their means.

A working professional will make between 85 and 150K a year. Combined white collar professionals means 190-300k. It's still not rich. That's here, in a pretty low cost of living area.

I call middle class an auto manufacturing job which brings make 70-80k with overtime. Dual income brings that to 140-160k.

Just so you know, poverty line is 25k. That's why I was laughing at your incredibly low numbers.

 

[dpodblood]

So - A Teacher marries a Police Officer...and that family is "Rich"?? And we should crank up their taxes (more than we already do)??

Nope; as I said in my previous post I don't think tax brackets should even exist. It pisses me off to no end that you get taxed extra just because you are married, or common law married...

 

[nonlnear]

View Post
Where are the options below $100K? I don't much care about ridiculous labels like "rich" and "[insert] class", but if it's the tax bracket structure we're talking about I'd like to see the top income bracket threshold set pretty darn low. Maybe $30K.

Uh, what? Why?

The questions of who is rich and what the income tax structure shoiuld be are completely unrelated until you superimpose a political ideology. I reject the implicit premise of the question, so my answer seems a little shocking to anyone who doesn't read it carefully...

 

[Scotteq]

Nope; as I said in my previous post I don't think tax brackets should even exist. It pisses me off to no end that you get taxed extra just because you are married, or common law married...

Nice way to dodge the question: Because that scenario is easily a 6 figure household and therefore "Rich" by your own definition.

Have to admit, that's a self~solving equation, though: Any party that sets an added tax burden that low in the food chain won't stay in power long enough to make it stick.

 

[dank69]

Are these supposed to be household incomes? Would you define rich as having enough income to feed/cloth/shelter your family in a good area, save enough for a comfortable semi-early retirement as well as your kids' education and still have enough left over for nice vacations/hobbies, etc.?

 

[Jaskalas]

Are these supposed to be household incomes? Would you define rich as having enough income to feed/cloth/shelter your family in a good area, save enough for a comfortable semi-early retirement as well as your kids' education and still have enough left over for nice vacations/hobbies, etc.?

Don't forget healthcare costs in the 10s of thousands.

 

[dpodblood]

Nice way to dodge the question: Because that scenario is easily a 6 figure household and therefore "Rich" by your own definition.

Have to admit, that's a self~solving equation, though: Any party that sets an added tax burden that low in the food chain won't stay in power long enough to make it stick.

How did I dodge the question? When I say people making six figures should not be complaining, I mean as an individual income. So if 2 people making $100,000 per year get married, that's a household income of $200,000. I would consider that rich. If a couple bringing in $200,000 per year can't live well within their means, even if they have children, then there is a problem.

 

[brandonb]

I voted $250,000. In my area, really anybody who makes above $120,000 a year is well off, upper middle class... If I made $250,000 a year, I honestly wouldn't have any clue what to spend my money on!

 

[Engineer]

Are these supposed to be household incomes? Would you define rich as having enough income to feed/cloth/shelter your family in a good area, save enough for a comfortable semi-early retirement as well as your kids' education and still have enough left over for nice vacations/hobbies, etc.?

Removed.

Edit: Sorry, I see you framed that as a question. I withdraw my comment.

 

[madeuce]

I didn't vote in the poll because I hate the concept of "tax brackets". So you're smart and learn how to make a good income. That gives the government the right to take more of your money away? Blergh...

I agree. The tax bracket system is lame. Everyone should pay the same percentage. If you want more money, earn it. It's a shame that people have to pick up the slack for others just because they are successful.

 

[dpodblood]

A working professional will make between 85 and 150K a year. Combined white collar professionals means 190-300k. It's still not rich. That's here, in a pretty low cost of living area.

I call middle class an auto manufacturing job which brings make 70-80k with overtime. Dual income brings that to 140-160k.

Just so you know, poverty line is 25k. That's why I was laughing at your incredibly low numbers.

Let's see the median household income in Canada as of 2008 was $51,951, so I'd say my estimate was pretty close. But nevermind, you obviously know everything about the standard of living in every area of the world...

 

[Red Dawn]

I refuse to define people as "rich" or "not rich". People have money, some have more than others, but it's not my place, nor should it be the governments to define what constitutes rich versus poor. I will never begrudge a man for the amount of money he makes or does not make....never.

Nor would I but if one makes a certain amount they can afford to pay a few percentage points higher in Federal Taxes without it being any kind of hardship on them.

 

[Bowfinger]

... It's a boogie/straw man. I'm sure most wealthy people don't consider themselves the satanic cult-members bent on world subjugation all in the name of greed that some posters here see them as.

I just wanted to thank you for following your complaint about straw man arguments with such a perfect example of a straw man. Well done!

What a crock. Taxing the "wealthy" more has absolutely nothing to do with being bad or evil. It has nothing to do with punishment. It has everything to do with the need for America to pay its bills, and that it is fundamentally reasonable -- and yes, "fair" -- for those who have reaped the greatest benefit from America's extraordinary physical, financial, and educational infrastructure to contribute more to paying those bills. It's that simple.

 

[Engineer]

I agree. The tax bracket system is lame. Everyone should pay the same percentage. If you want more money, earn it. It's a shame that people have to pick up the slack for others just because they are successful.

Assuming you are not in the top tax bracket, are you willing to take a tax hike so that those above you can come down and make it even?

I'm certainly not. Fuck that.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I think it should be a floating number. a multiplier between 50x-100x what is considered the poverty line for a single person. in this case that number is probably $500,000 - $1,000,000

 

[madeuce]

Assuming you are not in the top tax bracket, are you willing to take a tax hike so that those above you can come down and make it even?

I'm certainly not. Fuck that.

It's great that you want people to pick up your tab. Greed is why the system we have now is still in place. Politicians need the vote of the greedy voters such as yourself. The lazy and unwilling far outnumber the people that are willing to work hard and make something of themselves.

I'm sick of paying for you and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Wether I'm working 40 hours a week making minimum wage or busting my ass working 90+ hour weeks bringing in the $$$, I should pay the same percentage.