I don't get the whole "fake rich $250k" thing. We make just under 200k and are more than comfortable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, housing costs are still wildly inflated in Silver Spring. This is one of the few areas where you can't buy a decent house without spending a fortune. But YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE.

This is what $750K buys you in Colleyville, Texas:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1900-Stratton-Ct-Colleyville-TX-76034/83811980_zpid/

According to the US census, the median income in Colleyville is $151K. The median income in McLean, VA is $154K.

There are other places to live.

So if it costs more why not adjust the level of who is "rich" higher than 250k

Because one of the choices that these "rich" people make is to live in a more desirable, higher cost of living area. There should not be a tax discount for people to live in Bethesda instead of some far out suburb. One of the choices you make when you have more disposable income is to live in a more expensive area of town or of the country. That's a choice you make, but those who make far less should not have to subsidize you to do so. That's another way that the income disparity between the rich and the poor increases.

Why should there be a gs pay schedule difference based on locality

Because for the government to be a competitive employer and acquire and keep higher-quality employees, it has to be paying employees at a comparable rate to private companies in the same area. And if you're already being paid more to live in a more expensive area, why should you be taxed less as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, housing costs are still wildly inflated in Silver Spring. This is one of the few areas where you can't buy a decent house without spending a fortune. But YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE.

This is what $750K buys you in Colleyville, Texas:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1900-Stratton-Ct-Colleyville-TX-76034/83811980_zpid/

According to the US census, the median income in Colleyville is $151K. The median income in McLean, VA is $154K.

There are other places to live.

So if it costs more why not adjust the level of who is "rich" higher than 250k

Because one of the choices that these "rich" people make is to live in a more desirable, higher cost of living area. There should not be a tax discount for people to live in Bethesda instead of some far out suburb. One of the choices you make when you have more disposable income is to live in a more expensive area of town or of the country. That's a choice you make, but those who make far less should not have to subsidize you to do so. That's another way that the income disparity between the rich and the poor increases.

Why should there be a gs pay schedule difference based on locality

Have you ever actually looked at the pay scale? The differences are incredibly minute. And the DC area is not even close to the top - well below Houston and Alaska, for example.

Correct so why should tax rates be the same nationwide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other issue is who is being taxed and how they earn their income. You might feel comfortable but there is a big difference between your lifestyle (which is similar to mine) and Mitt Romney's. he is paying 13% on his passive income while we will be asked to pay 39% on the income that we earn by going to work every day. I actually have no problem with the coming tax hike on my considerable income, but I am miffed that actual rich people (who live a very different lifestyle from me and you) are not expected to carry the same weight.

ding, ding, ding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, housing costs are still wildly inflated in Silver Spring. This is one of the few areas where you can't buy a decent house without spending a fortune. But YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE.

This is what $750K buys you in Colleyville, Texas:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1900-Stratton-Ct-Colleyville-TX-76034/83811980_zpid/

According to the US census, the median income in Colleyville is $151K. The median income in McLean, VA is $154K.

There are other places to live.

So if it costs more why not adjust the level of who is "rich" higher than 250k

Because one of the choices that these "rich" people make is to live in a more desirable, higher cost of living area. There should not be a tax discount for people to live in Bethesda instead of some far out suburb. One of the choices you make when you have more disposable income is to live in a more expensive area of town or of the country. That's a choice you make, but those who make far less should not have to subsidize you to do so. That's another way that the income disparity between the rich and the poor increases.

Why should there be a gs pay schedule difference based on locality

Have you ever actually looked at the pay scale? The differences are incredibly minute. And the DC area is not even close to the top - well below Houston and Alaska, for example.

Correct so why should tax rates be the same nationwide

Because if you're already being paid more because you live in a certain area, it makes no sense that you should be taxed less. You already have more money overall.

[Anonymous]

In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

But this is also incredibly skewed by the super-rich in Great Falls and the like. The median household income for the District is 58k. So if you make 250k, you are making more than QUADRUPLE the median household income.

It's also worth acknowledging that yes, housing costs are higher here, but the majority of 300k earners are buying a home. When they buy a million dollar home and pay the mortgage, they are building up to 1m in equity. That's a lot different than the 100k earner in flyover country that buys a 350k home and builds a third of that in equity.

The reality is that we all pay a premium to live somewhere that we think is desirable. Just because you spend money to achieve that goal doesn't mean that you don't make an objectively large sum. You just spend a large sum, also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

So by your definition, only the top 1% is "wealthy"? How did you come to that conclusion? Why not only the top 0.00001%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

So by your definition, only the top 1% is "wealthy"? How did you come to that conclusion? Why not only the top 0.00001%?

Exactly. So if I'm only in the top 2%, I'm middle class? I certainly feel like I'm doing a lot better than most middle-class folks (but then again, I don't have $150 jeans...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

So by your definition, only the top 1% is "wealthy"? How did you come to that conclusion? Why not only the top 0.00001%?

THIS. You live in a wealthy area. Therefore, more people are going to have objectively more money and still not be in the "top." If you lived somewhere where everyone in the top 50% made more than 1 million, that doesn't mean that 1 million ISN'T a lot of money!

[Anonymous]

Banana sells a jacket that costs $800?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Banana sells a jacket that costs $800?

I don't think that person shops at Banana so I gave her a pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

+1, obama needs to stop calling those above 250k rich it's very ignorant and short sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

+1, obama needs to stop calling those above 250k rich it's very ignorant and short sighted.

It is not short-sighted and ignorant at all, but rather the complete opposite.
You don't have to be in the top 1% to be wealthy. Above $250K is rich anywhere. You strivers need to develop some perspective. (we have a HHI of about 120K and I don't think I'd complain if the "wealthy tax" threshold was lowered to where we are. People gotta stop being so damn greedy.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

+1, obama needs to stop calling those above 250k rich it's very ignorant and short sighted.

It is not short-sighted and ignorant at all, but rather the complete opposite.
You don't have to be in the top 1% to be wealthy. Above $250K is rich anywhere. You strivers need to develop some perspective. (we have a HHI of about 120K and I don't think I'd complain if the "wealthy tax" threshold was lowered to where we are. People gotta stop being so damn greedy.)

Its not about greed. Its about what our family has worked hard to make and yes WE deserve it. Speak for yourself and please....donate some of your income to the government for me. Thats fine...you can call me greedy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our area the rich is 600 k, nationally it's around 387k. Wtf is this 250k bs.

To be considered part of the 1 percent in this area, it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000, according to an analysis of census statistics by The Washington Post and Sentier Research, a firm that specializes in income data.

Http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality

+1, obama needs to stop calling those above 250k rich it's very ignorant and short sighted.

It is not short-sighted and ignorant at all, but rather the complete opposite.
You don't have to be in the top 1% to be wealthy. Above $250K is rich anywhere. You strivers need to develop some perspective. (we have a HHI of about 120K and I don't think I'd complain if the "wealthy tax" threshold was lowered to where we are. People gotta stop being so damn greedy.)

Its not about greed. Its about what our family has worked hard to make and yes WE deserve it. Speak for yourself and please....donate some of your income to the government for me. Thats fine...you can call me greedy

But do you deserve to live in a great country which provides you with opportunity, security, and freedom? Maybe not.