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If this guy actually sent that note to his employees (and I don't doubt that he did) he is absolutely a passive aggressive, condescending dick... couldn't have
by brentb 18y ago
If this guy actually sent that note to his employees (and I don't doubt that he did) he is absolutely a passive aggressive, condescending dick... couldn't have put it better myself. He's also a whiner and an idiot who obviously doesn't trouble himself with facts or history.
First of all, Dick (which is what I'll call the author, since I don't know his name) writes: If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever.
Within the context of the article, Dick isn't referring to any actual steamrolling of the constitution that has taken place at the hands of the Bush administration (as long as there are terrorists out there... and there are always terrorists out there... it's apparently un-American to defend the Constitution, civil liberties, etc.). No, in the article, Dick is referring to changes in the tax code that the Obama administration has proposed (though they may not act on them for a year or two).
The funny thing is that Dick appears to believe that these tax hikes will be unprecedented. He believes they will streamroll the constitution and change its landscape forever. In fact, all Obama plans to do is return the top two tax rates to what they were in 2000 (and throughout most of the 90's). Taxes will still be lower than they were in 2000 because he plans to leave the other brackets (which are now at lower rates than they were in 2000) untouched. Even the wealthiest 1% of households (with an average income of $1.6 million per year) will pay less than they paid in '93-'00. So the idea that Obama's tax plan will streamroll the constitution and change its landscape forever is hogwash. His proposed taxes are lower than they were just 8 years ago and in any case, there is absolutely nothing unconstitutional about taxes. I've read the constitution; obviously this guy hasn't.
Even stronger evidence of the ridiculousness of this claim can be found if we look at history. Let's look at the top marginal Federal tax rates seen in recent history:
50% (1982-86)
70% (1965-85)
77% (1964)
91-92% (1946-63)
94% (1944-45)
Under Obama's plan, the highest marginal tax rate starts at an income of $357,700 (in 2008 dollars) and will only be 39.6%. And it's important to note that this is the marginal rate, not the average rate. Someone making $400,000 won't be paying 39.6% of her income to Uncle Sam, she'll be paying 31.6%, making the absurd assumption that she has no deductions. In reality, she'll almost certainly be paying less.
Finally, I'd just like to point out that two people with perhaps the highest tax burdens in the United States (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) both support Obama and his tax hikes. In fact, Buffet has said it's ridiculous how little tax he is expected to pay. I tend to agree, especially considering our budget deficit (not to mention our national debt). I for one would be happy to pay higher taxes... if I'm doing well, a large part of that success is owed to the country that provided me with my education and the infrastructure and opportunities to make a success of myself. I'd like to see that education and infrastructure get even better. I'd like to see poor kids get preventative health care. It may not be a popular sentiment, but I agree with Biden: paying taxes is patriotic.
- jbjohns 18y agoWhat's so great about being patriotic? I'm American by birth, so I guess my views are pretty uncommon but I just don't personally see the point in being proud of something that happened by complete chance, and I certainly don't feel like I owe the place I was randomly born something. About taxes; I don't mind paying taxes if I see some benifit for it. In e.g. Sweden you pay 40-50%, but for this you have free healthcare and free education (plus lodging and food!) for as far as your willing/capable of going. The US, on the other hand has taxes higher then I would pay in e.g. Switzerland, Lichtenstein, etc. while having a much worse health care system, a much worse public school system, etc., etc. (NOTE: These comments don't have anything to do with Obama/McCain, just patriotism and taxes)
- fallentimes 18y agoIn my humble opinion...nothing really. While it certainly has it's benefits, it also leads to xenophobia and sometimes borderline racism (ask the average American what they think of outsourcing). Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. -George Bernard Shaw
- rw 18y agoNote that patriotism can also take on a worldly, cosmopolitan and peaceful interpretation, if you want it to.
- anamax 18y ago> Finally, I'd just like to point out that two people with perhaps the highest tax burdens in the United States (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) both support Obama and his tax hikes. It's relevant to remember that neither Buffet nor Gates will be paying those rates. And, even if the proposed laws would affect them, it's worth noting that nothing stopped Buffet or Gates from paying those rates in the past.
- anamax 18y ago> 50% (1982-86) 70% (1965-85) 77% (1964) 91-92% (1946-63) 94% (1944-45) Never confuse marginal rates with average rates. The fact is that the top few percent pay a huge fraction of the income taxes. (SS is retirement and the return is skewed towards low income folks, so it's reasonable to omit it.) When folks don't spend their money, they buy dumb. > paying taxes is patriotic If it's so patriotic, why do you want to exclude people from it?