Joe the Plumber

[Anonymous]

Seems that Joe will not say who he is voting for. Just saw and interview he did on ABC. Also, he explained his beef with Obama's tax plan - he seems to be advocating a "flat tax". He said that even people making millions should not have to pay "more" than anyone else. My more, I am assuming he meant on a percentage basis. He think that this would be a penalty for being succesfull.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

does not sound like McCains tax plan will make him happy either.

I think Joe would save money with Obama, as he will get a subsidy for insuring his employees rather than having benefits taxed under McCain.

[Anonymous]

He is so voting for McCain...

[Anonymous]

.... and enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. It's crazy that this one person go so much attention in the debate last night, and all because of a low-brow nickname that is another way of saying "joe six-pack."

[Anonymous]

i also agree people making millions should pay more.
why? its unfair
and my hhi is 160k so its not that i am making millions

[Anonymous]

I read that he wants to buy a business that he thinks will make about $250,000 to $270,000. Does that mean -- that would be his profit every year? That's nice, though for Pete's sake, that's not "millions".

I heard what Obama said to him. He said up to $250,000 of income would not be taxed at a higher rate. But the portion of his income ABOVE $250,000 would be taked at a higher rate -- from $250,000 to $300,000 (if I recall correctly) would be takes at something like 3% higher than it is right now.

Does that sound right?

In that case, we're talking about an extra 3% on $20,000 for him, if his business will make $270,000. That's about an extra what -- $600?

If all that is true (and I'm sure it might not be -- I'm just going by memory) well, he's not going to be making millions but he also won't exactly be paying through the nose either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i also agree people making millions should pay more.
why? its unfair
and my hhi is 160k so its not that i am making millions

Well, people who are rich, feel and act entitled and expect more. They'll be demanding on the services, whether it's public or private: public education of their child, police protection of their neighborhood, fire department (don't let my house burn down or else), service or repair of their imported cars at the dealers.

If you are going to expect more and demand more, you should pay more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is so voting for McCain...

I agree. I think Joe will vote for McCain because he can't see beyond the taxes and even that he is not interpeting correctly.

[jsteele]

Would you believe that Joe is not a plumber?

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS09/810160418

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Would you believe that Joe is not a plumber?

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS09/810160418

Too funny. Plus he makes 40K a year and owes back taxes!

[Anonymous]

"In that case, we're talking about an extra 3% on $20,000 for him, if his business will make $270,000. That's about an extra what -- $600?

If all that is true (and I'm sure it might not be -- I'm just going by memory) well, he's not going to be making millions but he also won't exactly be paying through the nose either."

Yes and Obama could have done a better job explaining this. There also is an argument that by taxing a higher % on that 20,000 over 250,000 and putting it into programs that create jobs which fuel the economy then Joe will have more customers. If more people can go to college and get higher paying jobs, Joe will have more customers. If Joe get a tax incentive to provide insurance to his employees that cover preventative care his employees miss less work and his business is more productive, he also gets a tax break.

In McCain's world Joe keeps all his profits and hopefully spends it somewhere. We follow the same plans of de-regulation and trickle down economics hoping the market will correct itself and Joe will at some point have customers again.

Now the real question in my mind is how many plumbers in middle America really make $270,000 a year in profit?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Would you believe that Joe is not a plumber?

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS09/810160418

Does anybody think Joe was "planted" at the rally where he spoke with Obama?

[Anonymous]

Didn't Obama meet him by knocking on his door?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't Obama meet him by knocking on his door?

That's what Mr. Steele's article says - it was an unscheduled campaign stop and Joe was tossing the football with his son in the front yard. That is pretty hard for even the nefarious GOP to 'plant'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't Obama meet him by knocking on his door?

Here's how Joe himself describes it:

Obama came to my neighborhood and my son and I were outside tossing the football, and all of a sudden he showed up, and there went our football tossing for a while. And, you know, neighbors were outside asking him questions, and I didn’t think they were asking him tough enough questions, so I thought, you know, I’ll go over there.