Taxes And The Top Percentile Myth

[^_^ 5,021]

Most PhDs in biomedical research make $35-45K in their entry level academic positions, and work 60 hour weeks for this money.

I guess we majored in useless things

That's because those jobs are dependent on limited grant money. You know this.

[rika60607 215]

I know this.

I also think that because of this, scientist salaried by grants should not pay any tax on those salaries at all.

Because we are paid by your tax money and then... we pay tax on the tax money?..

That's because those jobs are dependent on limited grant money. You know this.

[Dan and Judy 614]

I believe the word you are looking for is PWNED.

Thanks, I've seen it on here before but never bothered to google it, I'll plug it into my vocabulary

[Dan and Judy 614]

We could get rid of taxes altogether,

and the Goverment could just spend money they don't have

how come no one has thought of this before?

[Pooky 3,784]

We could get rid of taxes altogether,

and the Goverment could just spend money they don't have

how come no one has thought of this before?

They are - they just skipped over the "no tax" bit

Edited December 23, 2010 by Pooky

[mawilson 2,133]

they're lucky to make over $30K working in a call center

You need a college degree for that?

[Jenn! 918]

You need a college degree for that?

Generally speaking, I don't know. They do in my industry (insurance) - and they start at $32K.

[mawilson 2,133]

The median household income in this country is still under $50K.

Not in NY/NJ/CT.

[Jenn! 918]

Not in NY/NJ/CT.

Last I checked they were still part of the country. Median incomes vary by region, but that doesn't change the fact that the median countrywide is < 50.

[Sgt. McGee 27]

I can't think of a better way to ensure suboptimal allocation of funds.

Explain?

I've often thought that the best "cure" for the federal gov't would be for a total stoppage of all services/departments, and let us vote to re-fund things as needed. I'd guess that we'd find a LOT of depts/programs that would suddenly cease to exist. That's democracy in action!

Oh, what's that? We're a representative republic? Not with an aspiring "national" (instead of federal) government, we're not!

(PS - I don't really think that's a good idea, but it's a great thought experiment)

Edited December 23, 2010 by Sgt. McGee

[luckytxn 2,264]

We could just have the Federal government go back to the year 2000 levels and abolish the IRS all together.

[mawilson 2,133]

I've often thought that the best "cure" for the federal gov't would be for a total stoppage of all services/departments, and let us vote to re-fund things as needed. I'd guess that we'd find a LOT of depts/programs that would suddenly cease to exist. That's democracy in action!

It's tyranny of the majority, not democracy in action.

For example, seniors comprise 22% of the population in the US. Certainly not enough

votes to keep Social Security and Medicare funded.

The unemployed comprise almost 10 percent of the nation's workers. Not enough to

keep unemployment benefits funded.

Etc.

[Sgt. McGee 27]

It's tyranny of the majority, not democracy in action.

Please explain the difference, in real terms. How is a "democracy" bound to be anything other than "tyranny by the majority", if a democracy is beholden to the will of the majority? Or do you only apply that term when you disagree with the outcome?

[Dan and Judy 614]

It's tyranny of the majority, not democracy in action.

For example, seniors comprise 22% of the population in the US. Certainly not enough

votes to keep Social Security and Medicare funded.

The unemployed comprise almost 10 percent of the nation's workers. Not enough to

keep unemployment benefits funded.

Etc.

Without getting into the pro's and con's of Social Security 22% is more than enough to keep it funded. First you would throw out whatever % is below the voting age. Then anyone with in 10 years of retirement would vote to keep it funded in hopes of getting

their money back. Then if necessary they could form a voting block with the unemployed to keep both programs funded.

Like life in "Jurrasic Park". Democracy finds a way, a way to spend money

Am I suggesting an alternative? No, I'm only one month old in forum age, and havent had time to come up with the solution.

but if you pushed me I would probably have to refer to Churchill.