I calculated that in 2007 my wife and I made $91,375.

Including federal income tax, social security and medicare income taxes, state income tax, property tax, sales tax, gas tax, and varous other excise taxes and fees we paid the government $33,200, or 36.3 % of our income. (And yes we could trim that by about $2500 if we quit smoking, but I really like smoking.)

Of course we're "rich" so all the Democrats want to raise our federal tax by 50% (close to another $5000) and the Democrat running our state have already raised our state income tax for next year, but that's just another $350 or so.

If the Bush tax cuts expire after '09 (as the Marxist Democrats have promised) well be paying $38,500 a year to the government or 42.1%, and that's not including any addional tax and fee increases that we're guaranteed under the Marxist Democrats since we're "rich" and all.

My hot button. There are fed taxes, state taxes, payroll taxes, medicare taxes local taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes (that are buried in the price of a gallon of gasoline). There are taxes on your auto when you go to register your car. There's double taxation on your corporate dividends (first paid by the corporation on their income and then paid by you when you get your itty bitty check.) I'd venture to say that we pay well over 50% in taxes when you add it all up.

And for the Democrats, that is not enough. This is wealth redistribution, plain and simple.

Paid my taxes (2007 balance and 2008 1Q estimated) last week. The money would have been better spent in the economy. I will hold off buying anything until the sting is gone. And if the Dems raise my taxes, there will be even less to put into the economy. But go tell that to someone who will lose their job because people like me won't pay them to do work around my house or spend money in the stores.

You reap what you sow.

Just for clarification, Jay, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same God of the Christian, too...

While a tithe is indeed 10%, the total giving delineated in the OT was closer to 27% or so (multiple tithes and offerings), much of which was used for the running of the nation Israel. No tithe is commanded in the NT, you're only to give according to your ability (and cheerfully at that!). "Tradition" in most denominations tends toward this being a minimum of 10%.

While I don't give to avoid taxes, it is a nice benefit that about 1/3 of what I give doesn't go to the government, since I am able to deduct it.

No tithe is commanded

One other difference: Even God doesn't insist on 1st claim to product of your labor, unlike the government.

"God (the Christian one, and possibly the Jewish one too) only asks for ten percent."

God doesn't have to pay for the war in Iraq.

Rance,
Neither does He pay for the Welfare State, the Dept of Education etc.

Obama has stated again and again he thinks anyone making over 75k is rich.

John McCain today said it best:

"They're going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year, and they have the audacity to hope you don't mind."

Anthro03 are you saying that promoting general welfare by helping support those unaborted infants with food and health care, and educating them to make sure we have an informed citizenry are not goals of the constitution? Is our role in Iraq really providing for the common defense? I guess if you believe we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here might qualify.

So - if Obama thinks everyone over $75k is 'rich' - I wonder what his 'poor' top line is? $60k? $65k?

Hell, no wonder the 'middle class' is shrinking! (grin) There's only a $10k spread to fit them in!

"Obama has stated again and again he thinks anyone making over 75k is rich."

And he and his "now I can be proud" wife made how much last year? No wonder they feel they can look down on the rest of the poor schmucks out there.

O'bama has stated again and again he thinks anyone making over 75k is rich."

Patrick.....
How did you get all of that from what I said?

I don't do Nuance, I say what I mean because I stand behind what I say....

Go hump someone else's leg....

Thinking more on Obama and Hillary's desire to 'grow the middle class' - do they want to do it by getting people UP into that $10k spread (which would imply actually having decent paying jobs, which I'm sure they can produce by the simple expedient of raising taxes on the 'rich' who own businesses) or by screwing up the economy sufficiently that the 'rich' folks making, say, between $75 and $200k drop down into the 'middle class' between $65 and $75k?

I mean, either way works - but one would sure seem preferable!

If you view the government as a charity, donate to it like a charity. If you view it as a necessary evil, pay only the minimum. Just don't tell other people to consider it a charity if you yourself don't treat it like one.

Once again, conservatives, I have decided to give you the opportunity to learn:

Taxes are what we pay for civilization. --
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Guess you blew that opportunity to say something coherent, Herman. Again.

Herman -

I think part of the problem is that we're trying to figure out HOW MUCH tax is too much. I'm all in favor of the Fair Tax system - you'll have a good idea then on how much you're giving to the government, and the poor will actually be better off with their monthly prebates... but I don't mind paying a reasonable amount of taxes to fund a reasonable amount of government. Transportation, defense, health/safety inspections, and a minor amount of succor for folks who actually are in desperate need of it - but I don't want to fund a cradle-to-grave safety net system.

It's when government tries to be EVERYTHING that the problem arises, because it's damned expensive to be everything to everybody, as a lot of European countries (heretofore held up as the platinum standard for all the US to emulate) are going broke.

Taxes are what we pay for civilization - I agree. But when the government becomes the robber baron taking everything from the serf, who'll be left as Robin Hood?

"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors and miss."

Robert Heinlein.

J.

@Herman

A witty saying proves nothing.

- Voltaire