"Poor people don't pay taxes"

Originally posted by jackinthebox
Someone who is paying 35% is NOT in the same position. Someone who is paying 35% in taxes is only paying 15% of their income to live in the same standard as the person who pays 100% of their income, after taxes, just to survive. The person who pays 35% taxes is in no danger of starving, or going without medical treatment.

I never said both were in the same boat. The person who makes more money has it much better so that is not the point. The point is, is it fair for that person to pay 35% to 3.5%? Both are equal Americans, but one would not only pay an extreme amount more at the same percent, but that person also gets the percent raised by ten times too. To say it is fair because the guy with more money can afford more starts down a very socialistic view that wealth is bad and should be punished where the other guy should be rewarded for his lack of.

One of my sisters has worked very little her whole life, and tends to marry the same as her. Her life sucks compared to mine, but I do not blame it on the government for her failures and her lack of effort in life, but through my life I will pay much more in taxes than what her life gross income will ever be. She also has used every service that she can get and I have used none.

America is not a free ride in life, but why should my ticket cost 20k per year and hers cost nothing?


[edit on 4-3-2008 by Xtrozero]

reply to post by Xtrozero

To say it is fair because the the guy with more money can afford more starts down a very socialistic view that wealth is bad and should be punished where the other guy should be rewarded for his lack of.

Well, as far as unfair punishment goes, a single person at the bottom of the heap is really getting worked over. Someone like me is getting punished because I didn't decide to leech of the system by getting married and cranking out a few kids for the money, yet I don't have enough money to even survive. I refuse to even go down to the welfare office by the way. There's something wrong with this picture.

Originally posted by Prophet-Ezekiel
There should be more ways for individuals to accel than what the USA presents us.

Wow, I'm floored by that statement...

Maybe try Candia they are extremely more socialized in their government programs. I do agree some people get screwed in they never seem to get ahead or find a path in that direction, but the paths are there.
One thing to remember it is really not the federal government’s job to house the homeless for each state is in essence its own little country, and every state is very different in how they handle their poor.

Originally posted by jackinthebox
I refuse to even go down to the welfare office by the way. There's something wrong with this picture.

Honestly I do not know what to say in your case. I think you need to determine just what skills you do have, and those skills just might only be a person who is willing to learn and will do a honest day of work. When your at the bottom you need to start somewhere.

reply to post by Xtrozero


Well, I was homeless once before and managed to pull out. It's damn near impossible though, and I considered myself very lucky the last time. Most people can't do it. You're surrounded by catch-22's down here.

I refuse to put on a uniform or wear a shield again, so I can't go back to my regular line of work. I was already lined up with CDL training when I lost my place. So really, that's my goal at the moment to get back to that. But I had the same thing happen to me the last time. I was in college the last time I ended up homeless, and tried to get back for years.

It's just frustrating. But this can't last forever. Spring should open up a door or two I expect.

Thanks for your honesty.

If you make less than your standard deduction then your taxable income is zero and you don't have to file taxes if none were taken out, and if you had taxes taken out then you'd get it all back.

I wonder if this guy just found out how much he owes in taxes.

2 die, 5 injured in Wendy's rampage

I have been reading through this post and its a little upsetting to see people direct their frustration towards the people that are doing well for themselves.

I work for Microsoft and because I do I am considered an upper class citizen, and every 2 weeks when I get my paycheck I am frustrated to see that a good 35% of my paycheck is taken for tax purposes. Lets put it into perspective, lets say that I make $2000 a paycheck. After taxes I am only left with $1400, and thats only me taking off 30% that extra 5% hurts. It almost feels like 35% of the time I'm not working for myself and my family.

The amount of money you makes dictates how much money the government takes from you, it really is a bummer no doubt.

Really though the "upper class" or "rich" are being hit pretty hard, and I'm sure I will get hammered for saying what I have said, but that is just the nature of things



[edit on 5-3-2008 by Lowtoc]

[edit on 5-3-2008 by Lowtoc]

reply to post by Lowtoc


I don't know about anyone else, but please don't misunderstand me. I am in no way trying to "bash" people who are able to do well for themselves. My point is to try to share some understanding of what life is really like at the bottom of the heap, and to get rid of the stereotypes. When you are doing well, it is so easy to forget, and to write off the bad things that are happening around you. I am just sick of people assuming that once you get down far enough you get a free ride and everything is hunky-dory. It's hell down here. When people would rather go to prison than live the way they do, there is something severely wrong with society.

If you are making a grand a week, you are nowhere near rich. With that you get to buy the American Dream Junior Edition. But there is still a world of difference between worrying about you're going to afford the repairs on your second car, as opposed to where you are going to sleep tonight. Or waking up to you father punching your mother in her face because she started ragging on him about the heat getting turned off.

I just can't stand people being judgemental of people who have nothing and have lost everything, often their dignity and soul with it. Futhermore, there is no excuse for it in the richest country in the world. Drunk or not, there is no excuse for veterans to be sleeping in the streets. Or for children to be out shoplifting to help support the family. Or for a father to be out collecting tin cans to feed his children.

The problem is at the top. But it is the blindness of the masses that allow it to happen. Instead of holding the government accountable for what they are actually doing with the tax dollars, all I ever hear from people is that their tax dollars are going to support people on welfare. The middle class seem to despise the poor, not realizing that many of the poor people out there were once middle class themselves. More tax dollars are wasted and simply vanish into the bureacracy than actually go to helping people in need, or to ending the cycle of ignorance in generational poverty.

The blame should be placed on bad leadership, but it is the fault of the middle class that it is not, because the poor have no voice. It is so frustrating coming from upper middle class and trying to explain to people that there number just hasn't been called yet. Once you are thrown into the abyss of poverty, it is too late to do or say anything about it. You missed your chance. And suddenly you find yourself sitting there, trying to warn other people who just look at you with that glazed look in their eye as they tune you out.

Wrong, if you are living only on Disability or you don't work and you are on Welfare/kids/family you do not pay any income taxes at all.

I live in a poor area and I know women struggling and raising there kids that do not pay taxes. So when this 300 gift from our wonderful government comes out these poor will not get that money.

Sorry to burst your bubble



[edit on 5-3-2008 by observe50]

I know what its like to live without, I did for 3 years when I was younger, and It was not easy at all. It was the reason I worked so hard to get to where I am today.

I'm not saying that I make a grand a week It was just an example of how much is taken by the government.

The funny thing really is that we get this money taken away but no one ever really sees the benefits of this money, the roads are still horrible, there are children that are still unhealthy, and there are people that are still hungry. The only people that see this money are the government elitists. Those are the ones that are dirty rich.

Its sad that we are all getting rung dry by our government like I said I would not be so upset if I saw the money in action, but to this day I have yet to see any of it do anything good.


Its really kind of like the old stories of the small towns being taxed so that way their ruler could get a new swimming pool... a bit of a joke

reply to post by observe50


Um, perhaps you should read through the thread a little. I never said all poor people do or do not pay taxes. The point is that someone who is poor and works, still pays taxes. People who didn't decide to go out and have a bunch of kids they couldn't afford in the first place.



[edit on 3/5/0808 by jackinthebox]

reply to post by observe50


If you're already receiving aid, why should you get a tax break on taxes you never paid?

reply to post by Lowtoc

Its sad that we are all getting rung dry by our government like I said I would not be so upset if I saw the money in action, but to this day I have yet to see any of it do anything good.

Very much agreed. Instead of corporate bailouts, our tax dollars should be invested in the people. If this country would make a concerted effort to erradicate poverty, it would pay for itself within a generation. Instead of building more prisons, we need to be building more jobs that actually pay people enough to get by. I would venture a guess that at least half of the crimes committed today could have been avoided if everyone had access to meaningful employment. And you would see crime decrease over time as well, with the cycle of ignorance in the slums reversed.

reply to post by jackinthebox



The poor have to put forth an effort as well, some will and others will not. Poverty will never be erased because some will not use the assistance to better themselves, similar to how many people now who make barely enough to get buy will go out and purchase a 42" flat screen instead of saving that money or using it to make improvements on their homes. There will always be Poverty. Period.

reply to post by theQuest

The poor have to put forth an effort as well, some will and others will not. Poverty will never be erased because some will not use the assistance to better themselves, similar to how many people now who make barely enough to get buy will go out and purchase a 42" flat screen instead of saving that money or using it to make improvements on their homes. There will always be Poverty. Period.

Most would put forth the effort, if they saw that it was in their interest to do so. Most people want to have a meaningful life.

This isn't really about assistance here either, but meaningful employment. People need to know that if they put in their 40 hours every week, that they will have food, clothing, and shelter. Without that, I believe they are entitled to supplements from the government until the economy improves.

The person who goes out and makes an irresponsible purchase like the example you gave, is suffering from psychological factors that are not easily explained in a few sentences. In short though, it is an act of rebellion against their own depression that is caused by their situations. Sort of like the viscious cycle of gambling addiction. You are depressed that you have no money and cant get more money, so you spend money you don't have to make yourself try to forget the horror of your situation.

The big TV will make someone feel better for a while, but then add to the depression when the bill collectors start calling looking for payment on that TV. Or it might become ultimately depressing when the person is forced to pawn the TV for ten cents on the dollar, to keep the heat turned on.

Lastly, you are assuming that poor people go out and make these radically unnecessary purchases on a regular basis. This is not true among the very poor. I see this sort of thing happen among people who are making 30 or 40 thousand more often. Instead of investing the money, they try to keep up with the Jones'.


[edit on 3/5/0808 by jackinthebox]

i'm responding directly to the thread's opening post here, and i have to agree completely even though i'm the other side of the pond. I live at home with my mother, only 20 and couldn't leave her living round here with the scum that floats round

Anyway, i'm transitioning between jobs, i am waiting for vaccinations so that i can start a health practitioner assistant job with the national health service. Naturally, because 'technically' i have a job i'm entitled to no civil or state benefits, so have zero income. my mother works in a school as a technician and brings home £1,300 a month, including overtime. Of that, this month she had £450 deducted in taxes etc. because of 'arrears' from 2004 because THEY had her on the wrong tax code.

doing the math, that leaves £850 with which to pay mortgage, home insurance, life, water, gas.. this is before thinking about eating for the whole month. A few months ago, an upper class woman was arrested for tax evasion. Her standout phrase was 'Only the little people pay taxes'. she had defrauded something like £45,000. Considering this had mounted up so much, how and why do they notice smaller amounts of money from people barely making ends meet as is, when the super rich run amock and the government turn a blind eye?

Just a point to consider. It's this simple. Governments look after themselves first. Then whoever can support them best. The rich. The the tower of money and classes, when does it get torn down? god knows the world would be a better place without it

reply to post by Longy4eva


Another example of one of the many legitimate reasons for poverty. But all too many people find it easier to turn a blind eye, and parrot stupid phrases like "poor people don't pay taxes," and "if you're really so poor you can just go on welfare, " or "if you're poor, you have no one else to blame but yourself."

well all In all its a tough subject to deal with, there are really no solid solutions for poverty. The only thing I could think of off the top of my head is military service so people get a greater respect for the systems that we do have in place here in the USA.

It not my personal belief or anything I was just throwing a thought out there

Interesting thread though for sure

I have found that most of the people who claim that the poor dont pay taxes, and have a problem with welfare programs , are the very people who have caused the need for it, with massive layoffs, outsourcing of jobs to foriegn countries, down sizing ....and on and on ifinitum, then they cry get a Job...why should we have to pay for what we have created....why should we be held accountable....there is no profit in accountability