The Government wants your Money

[archibaldcrane]

Um...what?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...11-503544.html

Quoted last page, but if you insist:

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.

[Alleya]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...omeTax.svg.png
(Top U.S. Federal marginal income tax rate from 1913 to 2009.)

Fucking socialism.

[archibaldcrane]

Swampy, where'd you go? Did you forget about these?

The credits included:

* An increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit
* An expansion of the Child Tax Credit
* For those who work, the Making Work Pay tax credit offered $400 per individual and $800 per couple
* For those who lost their job, there was a 65 percent tax credit to help cover the cost of health care. The first $2,400 in unemployment benefits went tax-free
* Up to $2,500 under the American Opportunity Credit for students and parents paying for college tuition
* $8,000 for first-time home buyers
* A deduction of state and local taxes paid on a new car
* Up to $1,500 for home improvements to increase energy efficiency

[Kuya]

Apparently, most tea partiers believe their taxes have been raised when... they haven't...

[archibaldcrane]

Apparently, most tea partiers believe their taxes have been raised when... they haven't...

Only 2% of tea partiers are aware of reality when it comes to Obama's tax changes for most people.

[Kuya]

I don't think they care much about reality.

[Kirb]

Only 2% of tea partiers are aware of reality when it comes to Obama's tax changes for most people.

FTFY

Have you ever tried talking to some? I had one start spouting about how we'd let a Muslim terrorist into office. Another one called Obama a 'communist fascist,' demonstrating their commendable knowledge of history and general vocabulary.

I thought at least some more rational or intelligent tea partiers would step in to correct them, but the rest just fiercely stood there, nodding in quiet agreement.

It was some scary shit.

[archibaldcrane]

Honestly I feel badly for the original tea-partiers, who genuinely care about smaller government and less intrusion - ya know, before their cause got completely co-opted by, um, fucking lunatics.

Also, where the fuck did Swampy go? I want to hear his rationalizations about why he was so convinced that Obama had raised taxes on the average American.

[Kuya]

He's just going to keep saying that he raised taxes.

[archibaldcrane]

He's just going to keep saying that he raised taxes.

He did, for a few people - mainly the richest 2%-ish. I just don't like when he gets incredulous in a thread and then backs away quickly instead of manning up.

MAN UP SWAMPY.

[archibaldcrane]

Yeah, this is sigworthy.

[Not not Mattaru]

He did, for a few people - mainly the richest 2%-ish.

Ib4 they all go on strike and we are fucked. Like in that book.

[guartz]

Hey, give them benefit of the doubt, they might be talking about inflation, which is like a tax.

[Kuya]

They think Obama is the most liberal president ever.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Meh, tax credits count, I was thinking he decreased tax rates which would have blown my mind.

Considering what's on the horizon though, tax credits soon won't be enough to lower taxes.

[Acturus]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...11-503544.html

Two things:

First,

[Press Secretary Robert] 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.

So there's that. What's the point in decreasing federal taxes if the states just gobble up the difference?

And second, that poll says most Americans who do not identify themselves as Tea Party members think Obama kept taxes the same.

I personally am in that category. My paycheck did not see any more money after April of 2009, nor was my tax filing for 2009 significantly different than my filing for 2008 (I think we got a little less money back this year, in fact) My take-home pay stayed the same, and has continued to stay the same. I don't know how Obama was able to quote that he cut taxes for "95% of working families", but I must not be in that 95%.

And if I am, then I wonder who got that extra $70 that I'm supposed to see each month.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Obama is using a pretty open-minded definition of tax cuts. I think that's why Acturus.

[Pirian]

You're right, it's only a tax cut if a republican signs it into action

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Except I didn't say they weren't tax cuts. If I did, then maybe your stupidity wouldn't be so obvious.

[Xno Kappa]

I only got back $1,589.20 this year because I was bumped up to the 25% tax bracket, damn promotions, where the fook is my money Obama!