I am the 53%

[Anonymous]

http://www.redstate.com/ericolsen/2011/10/12/we-are-the-53/

My parents were both private school teachers and never earned more at the height of their career than I did my first year out of grad school. They never bought anything new in their whole life.

I went to a large state school and then had incurred almost hundred thousand dollars in student loans.

I tithe 10% of my income to my church and also contribute to a number of charities.

I've paid my taxes without complaining for my whole working life and never resented it until this president started to call me greedy.

Share your story...

[Anonymous]

"I was born a poor black child"


Navin R. Johnson

[Anonymous]

One hundred thou at a state school. Was it out of state.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.redstate.com/ericolsen/2011/10/12/we-are-the-53/

My parents were both private school teachers and never earned more at the height of their career than I did my first year out of grad school. They never bought anything new in their whole life.

I went to a large state school and then had incurred almost hundred thousand dollars in student loans.

I tithe 10% of my income to my church and also contribute to a number of charities.

I've paid my taxes without complaining for my whole working life and never resented it until this president started to call me greedy.

Share your story...

When did Obama call you greedy?

[Anonymous]

I was the poorest kid in my neighborhood. People laughed at my shoes because i had to reglue the soles until i outgrew them

I took my first job at the age of 11. My career started at the age of sixteen when I took my first job in my primary occupation.

I got into three ivy league schools but could not accept them because of family financial problems. I applied for and got a full scholarship elsewhere and took it. I worked while in school and lent money to my family. I graduated summa cum laude.

I am now worth several million dollars, all earned through hard work.

Tax me and the people like me. All of the above is true (maybe there was a poorer family but I didn't know them). But what is missing is this:

I was fortunate to have smart loving parents. I was lucky to get a break in my field at a young age. I was lucky to graduate into a good economy in the greatest country on earth. Chance favors the prepared mind but I am humble enough to know that plenty of prepared minds got bad breaks. My dad got bad breaks. He was the one who taught me everything I know about hard work.

So I am fortunate, and I can afford these taxes. I will step up and support them.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
So I am fortunate, and I can afford these taxes. I will step up and support them.

Great post. I hope your father has been able to see your success. I'm sure he would be (or is) very proud.

[Anonymous]

http://www.thepaincomics.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poorest kid in my neighborhood. People laughed at my shoes because i had to reglue the soles until i outgrew them

I took my first job at the age of 11. My career started at the age of sixteen when I took my first job in my primary occupation.

I got into three ivy league schools but could not accept them because of family financial problems. I applied for and got a full scholarship elsewhere and took it. I worked while in school and lent money to my family. I graduated summa cum laude.

I am now worth several million dollars, all earned through hard work.

Tax me and the people like me. All of the above is true (maybe there was a poorer family but I didn't know them). But what is missing is this:

I was fortunate to have smart loving parents. I was lucky to get a break in my field at a young age. I was lucky to graduate into a good economy in the greatest country on earth. Chance favors the prepared mind but I am humble enough to know that plenty of prepared minds got bad breaks. My dad got bad breaks. He was the one who taught me everything I know about hard work.

So I am fortunate, and I can afford these taxes. I will step up and support them.

great post. Please voluntarily pay more taxes than you owe. You can pay as much as you like.

[Anonymous]

I live off a large inheritance. Never done a thing in my life, but people make a big deal over me. My lawyers and accountants will make sure I don't paid any more taxes. In fact, my tax rates will always be lower then public school 15:19(socialism in the highest order the state "educating" the peasants!, hope they cut that funding) But, public school keep fighting for me and my lower taxes. If you lower my capital gains tax, I might buy a new country house and have a party. You can read about it in the papers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live off a large inheritance. Never done a thing in my life, but people make a big deal over me. My lawyers and accountants will make sure I don't paid any more taxes. In fact, my tax rates will always be lower then public school 15:19(socialism in the highest order the state "educating" the peasants!, hope they cut that funding) But, public school keep fighting for me and my lower taxes. If you lower my capital gains tax, I might buy a new country house and have a party. You can read about it in the papers.

Paris? Who let you out today? Are you at least wearing your underwear, dahling?

[TheManWithAUsername]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've paid my taxes without complaining for my whole working life and never resented it until this president started to call me greedy.

When did Obama call you greedy?

It must have happened, b/c the TV told him/her it did.

[TheManWithAUsername]

Anonymous wrote:great post. Please voluntarily pay more taxes than you owe. You can pay as much as you like.

Similarly, I assume that you are rejecting all federally funded services, and that you will tear up all your social security checks.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I have never had to worry about money. My dad was a career military officer. He retired a 2 star General. I lived in the biggest house on post and drove around with stars on my convertible. We had "help". I never had to work. I went to good schools. My parents are both well-educated. I grew up all over the world and had an education that no amount of money could buy.

I went to college. I have no idea how much it was. My parents paid for it. Plus, they gave me a generous allowance.

I married a young military officer right after I graduated from college. I taught school for a few years then had my first baby and stayed at home. My husband left the military to take a job with the federal government. He is a GS 15. I don't work.

My DH and I have been very fortunate. But we owe much of our success to our parents. Both of us came from families that valued education. College was never an option. You weren't finished with school until you at least earned a Bachelor's. Our families were also able to pay for college. We didn't have to worry about basics like food, shelter, safety, and health care. Having your basic needs met makes it easy to focus on things like education. I would guess that when you are hungry, cold, or sick, school just doesn't seem that important.

I am successful because my parents were successful. Everyone is not so fortunate. We are happy to give back to a country that has been so good to us. Obama hasn't called me "greedy". I'm a Republican. We are happy to pay taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poorest kid in my neighborhood. People laughed at my shoes because i had to reglue the soles until i outgrew them

I took my first job at the age of 11. My career started at the age of sixteen when I took my first job in my primary occupation.

I got into three ivy league schools but could not accept them because of family financial problems. I applied for and got a full scholarship elsewhere and took it. I worked while in school and lent money to my family. I graduated summa cum laude.

I am now worth several million dollars, all earned through hard work.

Tax me and the people like me. All of the above is true (maybe there was a poorer family but I didn't know them). But what is missing is this:

I was fortunate to have smart loving parents. I was lucky to get a break in my field at a young age. I was lucky to graduate into a good economy in the greatest country on earth. Chance favors the prepared mind but I am humble enough to know that plenty of prepared minds got bad breaks. My dad got bad breaks. He was the one who taught me everything I know about hard work.

Great post and congratulations OP. I was raised in a lower middle class household although I didn't know it. My grandmothers lived through the depression and saved everything including tin foil. My parents both went to college as adults. I was the first in my family to go to college right from high school. Our HHI is above 350K. Even though we are not millionaires we are happy to pay more taxes.

So I am fortunate, and I can afford these taxes. I will step up and support them.

[Anonymous]

OMG a second generation of government works. I am surprise you we able to post....being a lay government worker. How can we break this cycle of socialist dependance? I wish this crisis would be addressed in the republican debates. Don't give up! We will help you! First you must excepted that taxes are bad. Second, government spending does not create jobs.