Do you think people who have money are bad?

[Anonymous]

From my observation of people I know in this area, wealth is less a matter of how hard you work and more a question of what field you chose to go into. There are many very hard-working people in this area who are teachers, running nonprofits or in other fields where hard work does not reap the same financial rewards. Yes, we knew that these careers were low-paying when we made a career choice, but please don't imply that people in these careers are not as smart or hard-working.

I personally get frustrated by the many of the debates on this forum, where women (usually with high-earning husbands) provide advice about how preferable it is to stay at home/hire a nanny/hire a housecleaner, etc....without a real understanding that these "choices" are luxuries and not available to most families in this area.

[Anonymous]

19:51 back here. Sorry if you didn't understand my point. As I said, my parents have little money. All the high income we now have is from my and my DH's income as professionals here in DC. The point I was making is that I believe it is fairer for us to pay more (from our $800 k salary) than for people like my parents to have to pay more out of their much lower salary. It is my "hard-earned money" that I pay in taxes as the PP said, but I also recognize that my hard work earns me much more than, for example, my father's hard work earned him and not because I am any better or hard working. That's why I say I am lucky to have the income I have, not that I am so particularly hard working.

Also, to PP who complains about government use of our money: I agree and I begrudge every cent of our money that has been spent on the Iraq war. There is a difference however between complaining about how our tax money is spent and complaining that those of us who have so much more have to contribute more. It is the second type of complaining that I have an issue with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the high income tax bracket, and we don't agree with having to pay extra tax. We don't think it's fair, mainly because we don't agree with the way the government handles tax money. We give beaucoup money to church and various charities, and we don't mind at all. We do it because we want to. We do pay our taxes accurately and just because we "complain" about high taxes doesn't make us bad or immoral. There really are "some people" I'd rather not share my hard earned money with.

And thus you wind up with threads titled, "Do you think people who have money are bad?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the high income tax bracket, and we don't agree with having to pay extra tax. We don't think it's fair, mainly because we don't agree with the way the government handles tax money. We give beaucoup money to church and various charities, and we don't mind at all. We do it because we want to. We do pay our taxes accurately and just because we "complain" about high taxes doesn't make us bad or immoral. There really are "some people" I'd rather not share my hard earned money with.

And thus you wind up with threads titled, "Do you think people who have money are bad?"

Right, and that person is so bad. I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

I think haters are bad.

[Anonymous]

Not one person here has mention foreign arms or oil money in this geographical area. Surely, you can't be THAT blind or ignorant?!?!?!?!? Scary, truly scary.

[Anonymous]

We all just envy people with money!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When systems allow for people to become outrageously wealthy, something is wrong. I think people who are outrageously wealthy who feel entitled to their wealth and have no concept of poverty are highly irritating.

Wondering about this comment. DH and I make a bit less than $140K a year so I am not outrageously wealthy, but can you clarify what you mean by this?

For me, if someone is getting hundreds of millions a year, like some executives do with bonuses and stock options, sure, I can see that. But, if someone is making a few million a year because they built a company that is employing thousands of people and their products are smart and useful, they deserve it.

When I started my career, I worked for a nonprofit fundraising organization that funded research for a very rare, and devastating/fatal disease that affected children. The CEO was biochemist and had essentially dedicated his life to finding a cure for this disease. In addition, he was a smart business man. He made a couple million a year. Over the years I worked there, people inevitably would write in and complain about this, and I thought, this guy (the CEO) could be off in the private sector making tens of millions a year for a pharmaceutical or biotech company. Hell, he could have made tens of millions by age 50 and be sitting on his ass in the Bahamas doing jack, really.

But he gets up every day and runs this company. He traveled all over the place (we were a nonprofit so no first class and no private plane, though not saying he didn't have perks), he worked hard, he worked long, long hours, and he was extremely smart and talented.

Why shouldn't he make a good living?

Not saying you would question this guy, just wondering exactly what you mean when you say what you said. In my mind, people who work 80 hours a week and are talented and smart and have skills, should be paid. Not hundreds of millions, but enough to live a good life.

And, the CEOs who are running companies and essentially responsible for employing thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, should be paid well. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the high income tax bracket, and we don't agree with having to pay extra tax. We don't think it's fair, mainly because we don't agree with the way the government handles tax money. We give beaucoup money to church and various charities, and we don't mind at all. We do it because we want to. We do pay our taxes accurately and just because we "complain" about high taxes doesn't make us bad or immoral. There really are "some people" I'd rather not share my hard earned money with.

Really? Who? And why are they in quotes?

You know, people in lower tax brackets might also not agree with what the government does with their money in every instance. And they have less discretionary income than you do. But they pay it anyway - and usually complain about it less - because they understand that living in a society requires us to take care of each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the high income tax bracket, and we don't agree with having to pay extra tax. We don't think it's fair, mainly because we don't agree with the way the government handles tax money. We give beaucoup money to church and various charities, and we don't mind at all. We do it because we want to. We do pay our taxes accurately and just because we "complain" about high taxes doesn't make us bad or immoral. There really are "some people" I'd rather not share my hard earned money with.

And thus you wind up with threads titled, "Do you think people who have money are bad?"

Right, and that person is so bad. I don't get it.

Yes, this is bad: There really are "some people" I'd rather not share my hard earned money with.

Disgusting attitude.

[Anonymous]

I think there are probably many median income bracket folks who complain about paying taxes. You don't remember getting out of college, getting your first real paycheck just to realize how much is paid in taxes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are probably many median income bracket folks who complain about paying taxes. You don't remember getting out of college, getting your first real paycheck just to realize how much is paid in taxes?

I'm not disputing your point that the middle class may not like taxes. But as for your last sentence, I remember thinking my first paycheck was bigger than my mom's and close to my Dad's, which made me feel pretty darn lucky. The tax rates were no surprise because I had been filing taxes for years since I had to work jobs for several years before graduating. I remember thinking that the sliding scale seemed very fair.

[Anonymous]

Again, I think haters are bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

18:03 - News flash. Wealthy people complain about taxes because they are subsidizing everyone else (YOU) and not getting anything "extra" in return. Let's hear how you sound after paying high taxes. Don't be so ungrateful. Typical.

BTW, I've seen plenty of my neighbors trying to dodge taxes. THAT is who you should be addressing. They are shortchanging you, my dear.

Why don't you educate yourself a little?

18:03 Here - yes, I worked with lots of wealthy people on a government contract. That was my favorite, my taxes indirectly went to pay THEM and subsidized their complaining about government taxes. The irony was not lost on me. Then you would hear about the social security payments that went to them for legit reasons, parents on medicare, they had government backed loans for colleget etc. and in so many ways benefited from the government but in their minds the only thing we should pay taxes for is defense. Oh and yes one was trying to dodge taxes too, other not registered cars in VA when should have etc.