"we wouldn't have noticed a 3.5% tax increase." ... Yes, you would. I hear the reasons state, and they're bunk. When you're outside the 5% margin at the end

"we wouldn't have noticed a 3.5% tax increase." ... Yes, you would. I hear the reasons state, and they're bunk. When you're outside the 5% margin at the end of the year, are you going to say, "Oh, I screwed up" or "It was that 3.5% tax increase!" I know which you'll pick. Rich people generally don't get rich by throwing money away. They aren't going to vote for higher taxes because that takes money directly from their pockets. And if those taxes get passed, they'll find a way around them, like moving to another country, or at least moving their operations there. It's already happening, and we don't need to make it any worse. I'm not 'defending the rich', I'm defending our country. I don't want to see the 1% leave. It will not be pretty. I'm not even close to being in the 1%, but I live comfortably. I actually rather resent being included in their 99% statistic. I haven't been tricked into owing a bank more than I earn in a year. I haven't had a problem finding a job because I picked a career (and skillset) with a future. Anyone that doesn't pick a skill and work towards it, then complains that there are no skill-less jobs left... Well, I'm having trouble having sympathy. I worked my ass off to get better at what I do.