The Government wants your Money

[archibaldcrane]

I feel this thread would be a good place to drop this:

Poll Reveals Most Americans Don't Know They Got a Tax Cut

Of all the very information that came out of the recent CBS News/New York Times poll, one question stuck out, that of taxes.

Here's the poll question: "In general, do you think the Obama Administration has increased taxes for most Americans, decreased taxes for most Americans or have they kept taxes the same for most Americans?"

The answer:
• 24 percent of respondents said they INCREASED taxes.
• 53 percent said they kept taxes the same
• And 12 percent said taxes were decreased.

Of people who support the grassroots, "Tea Party" movement, only 2 percent think taxes have been decreased, 46 percent say taxes are the same, and a whopping 44 percent say they believe taxes have gone up.

Those answers must frustrate the president who has highlighted its tax cuts for the middle class in almost every speech.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama said that as part of their economic recovery, his administration has passed 25 different tax cuts.

"Now, let me repeat: We cut taxes," he said. "We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college."

In his Super Bowl Sunday interview with Katie Couric, he touted the tax cuts in the stimulus package: "we put $300 billion worth of tax cuts into people's pockets so that there was demand and businesses had customers."


When CBS News' Mark Knoller asked White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs about the poll's findings today, he said simply: "I'd say they called the wrong people."

He went on: "Is it part of the frustration, of course, 95 percent of working people in this country saw their taxes cut last year, but apparently only 12 percent felt it."

Gibbs later said that many Americans may have seen any federal tax cuts offset by an increase in state taxes. "What happens at a federal level and state level, both of those are felt by individuals on the ground," he said.

He went on to say that the tax cuts were structured to achieve the biggest economic impact, namely a smaller dollar amount stretched out over a longer period of time. Gibbs said the White House economic team decided that tax cuts were better for the economy than simply a one-time check of $350 that most people would put into savings rather than spend it. Referencing the poll results, he joked that the selling of the tax cuts could have been done differently -- "obviously, the marketers got kicked out of that meeting."

If so many tax cuts were passed, why have so few Americans actually noticed them?

Possibility 1 – the tax cuts were expansive, but small.

While the majority of the tax cuts, passed last February, affected 95 percent of working families, when they took affect by April of 2009, the monetary value was not too large -- most families saw about $70 more in take home pay every month. Individual workers saw about $13 more a week.

Any tax relief is still relief, but many Americans may not have felt that the tax cuts had much impact.

Possibility 2 – the talk of raising taxes in the future clouded the landscape.

In his 2011 budget, the president has already made it clear that his administration wants to end the Bush–era tax cuts for wealthier families, set to expire next year. So it could be that people see that move as a tax hike already.

Either way, it's another example of White House messaging that isn't reaching through to most Americans.

Cut taxes, get no credit for it. Feels good man.

Even in this thread people just buy the idea that you're generally paying more for taxes but excuse it by saying we get better services. I think almost noone in here makes over 250k a year right?

$13 a week for individuals on average doesn't feel like a ton, but that's $676 a year - it's not insignificant a cut. Poor Obama, you've got some decent ideas, but you're such a terrible salesman.

And that ad was fucking awesome.

[Absolutely Virtue]

I owe $4,908 this year. Fuck this socialism bullshit, I'm voting for Palin.

[archibaldcrane]

^Lol

Perfect example

[Melchiah]

I owe $4,908 this year. Fuck this socialism bullshit, I'm voting for Palin.

I'm willing to wager that you're one of those people who doesn't have enough deducted throughout the year, thinking "I'll invest my money and earn the interest, then pay the principle back in taxes" except just like most other people who do that, you see the extra cash in your paycheck and forget that you were gonna invest it or put it into savings.

My returns are always single and none, and they always rip the shit out of me through the year, but I've NEVER ended up owing Federal taxes.

[Norellicus]

I've owed about 100-200 these last few years, though this year I probably could have at least broke even if I had claimed the tax filing fees I paid in '09...but by the time I realized I didn't do it I really didn't care enough to file an adjustment.

[Acturus]

I hired a tax guy, last year, and this year. Between my son's birth in 2008 and my wife's school loans in 08 and 09, I needed help.

I got a substantial refund both years.

So, yay socialism?

[Meresgi]

I can't believe that anyone would be stupid enough to make or believe that obviously ridiculous commerc... Wait a minute. How can I be surprised at stupidity in this country... Glenn Beck has an audience. How silly of me.

I listen to him while driving around on my Census Job, him and Rush. They crack me up in the sort of way where you're like "Wait...are these people THIS serious?"

[Conrad]

I can't find the source, but I'm fairly certain that Glenn Beck is not serious and is in fact an act more akin to Stephen Colbert than Bill O'Reilly.

[Zalius]

how the fuck does glenn beck have more friends than me

[Blarg]

I can't find the source, but I'm fairly certain that Glenn Beck is not serious and is in fact an act more akin to Stephen Colbert than Bill O'Reilly.

doubt it

[Stiker]

Glenn Beck takes a little from column A and B. I don't doubt some of what he says is based on personal beliefs, but his job is to get ratings and goes over the top to get them.

[Alleya]

I can't find the source, but I'm fairly certain that Glenn Beck is not serious and is in fact an act more akin to Stephen Colbert than Bill O'Reilly.

But Stephen Colbert.......makes jokes so you know he's not serious.

[Absolutely Virtue]

I'm willing to wager that you're one of those people who doesn't have enough deducted throughout the year, thinking "I'll invest my money and earn the interest, then pay the principle back in taxes" except just like most other people who do that, you see the extra cash in your paycheck and forget that you were gonna invest it or put it into savings.

My returns are always single and none, and they always rip the shit out of me through the year, but I've NEVER ended up owing Federal taxes.

I'm willing to wager you're one of those people who doesn't make as much money as we do, lol.

This was our first full year filing married. My wife was a 0, I was a 1. I figured we'd be fine since I always got a refund when I filed singly, and for the portion of the year we were married in 2008 that setup worked just fine. Not so much this year. Big salary, no kids, no deductions beyond standard means Uncle Sam takes a huge bite. No worries though, just changed mine to a 0 as well. I don't mind paying taxes because I actually give a shit about this country, but I sure as hell don't like paying them out all at once lol.

[Feedmenow]

Which program should we cut so you can save money on your taxes?

Looking at this graph
http://www.federalbudget.com/chart.gif
http://www.federalbudget.com/ (though the only thing interesting in that site is the graph really)
I would rather cut defense/social security than any health/education spending.

[Yabby]

I'm willing to wager you're one of those people who doesn't make as much money as we do, lol.

This was our first full year filing married. My wife was a 0, I was a 1. I figured we'd be fine since I always got a refund when I filed singly, and for the portion of the year we were married in 2008 that setup worked just fine. Not so much this year. Big salary, no kids, no deductions beyond standard means Uncle Sam takes a huge bite. No worries though, just changed mine to a 0 as well. I don't mind paying taxes because I actually give a shit about this country, but I sure as hell don't like paying them out all at once lol.

Thank you.

[Mayareira]

Wow, just wow.

I read this thread yesterday, watched the movie and thought it was a parody.

[Tulun]

I heard that Obama is only sustained by eating the flesh of newborn babies.

Do you want Obama to eat your baby?

[pahnphoenix]

Thank you.

I'm also one of those people that take it hard on the taxes because of the money i make. Does this bother me? Nope. I make enough money to live a good life without having to worry about my retirement and thats all i need. I pay a lot in every check but i try not even to look at it till tax time because if i've never had the money i can't miss it. Because of some of the new taxes i will be losing a lot more money, but i normally donated that anyways because i don't need that extra car that i take out once a year that cost more than most people's house.

What is going on now is what got us out of the great depression. The top 1% should pay more money then the bottom because we have the means too. What good is all the money in the world if you have nothing to spend it on because the things you enjoyed once are now closed.

After reading this it sounds like i'm bragging and i'm very sorry i don't mean to but i can't think of another way expression this from my point of view. I make a lot of money and i do think we should be taxed more than the middle class. Anyone in the top 1% that thinks different is a selfish jackass. They are the reason we are in this mess today. You don't need 50 cars, or that vacation house worth 11 mil that you go to twice in the summer in your private jet. If things don't change and things get worse then there will be riots soon. All its going to take is that guy that lost everything to see a person with everything and decide he doesn't give a shit anymore.

it's funny how close to ffxi real economics can be. i once made a post on alla about how you could convert DoT to "value points" or something, and basically look at how much DoT you buy with gil. if you compared something like next best cheaper competitor (forget what it was at the time), haubergeon, and haub+1, haub+1's DoT increase was something like 1000% more expensive than haubergeon's. guess haub+1 is never worth it right? of course it's worth it; if you have mils, what the fuck else will you spend it on?

if the very rich spent proportionally-to-their-worth more on taxes and goods, most of the problems of capitalism would be solved. ironically, *the rich would stay rich*, and their position as the elite would be a lot easier and less violent to guarantee. (shrug)

[archibaldcrane]

I...still hope that people realize that Obama has lowered taxes for the vast, vast majority of Americans - only 12% of America realizes this fact - don't be part of that 88% people.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

I...still hope that people realize that Obama has lowered taxes for the vast, vast majority of Americans - only 12% of America realizes this fact - don't be part of that 88% people.

Um...what?