One talkshow host had a caller who asked why it was fair that people in his income bracket--above $250,000/year--were being "targeted" for a tax increase. The host--who I am sure makes much more than $250,000 each year--absolutely mangled the reply. It was totally incoherent, and I blew a gasket.
We're on the Thruway going around 70 and I'm yelling at the radio. "I can explain it in 30 seconds," I yelled. I don't have a radio show, but I do have a blog so here goes. Please start the timer:
Let's have a look at how those with your income have done over the last 30 years. Here's a nice little graph:
Whoa! Looks like you folks have made out pretty well while the rest of us have gone pretty much nowhere. In fact, the median middle-class household income has gone DOWN by several thousand dollars during the last ten years.
Is this a fair picture? What about after taxes?
Wow, you still made out like gangbusters! And that's why it's fair that your taxes go up before anyone else's.
Sure, when the economy gets back on its feet we will all need to kick in a bit more in taxes. But right now, you are the group who can afford to pay a little bit more. That's why it's fair.
OK, please stop the clock...
First of all, let's note that even though the graphs were published by Mother Jones Magazine, the data is from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.
You may hear from me another time or two before we head back to Florida next week. We're at the house we're getting ready to sell for a few days picking up and filling nailholes. It's like camping since most of our stuff has already moved to Florida.
Even the satellite TV service has been cancelled so we're reduced to watching "off the air" TV. This time of the year is particularly bad since most of the shows we would normally watch are on cable or off the air during the holidays. Last night I was reduced to watching an Anne Murray special on a Toronto station hyping her "Friends and Legends" album which was first released in 2007!
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