Obama and his new budget: Debt will surpass total US Economy

For him to pay zero in tax then he must have been low income and actually received a tax credit because he was low income. There is a limit that a family can claim no matter how many kids they have. I think its capped at $6000 so if they are in a 25% tax bracket then they can reduce their tax liability by $1500. Its not really that big of a tax break.

Now if your boy is consider low income they get a tax credit even if they did not pay taxes. So if your boy did not have to pay any taxes then claimed his child then he could actually get a refund and not paid a penny into the system. Thats the screwed up part if you ask me. You pay zero federal tax over the year but you get a child tax credit and get back like $1200 for up to 2 or 3 children. Not sure how many you can claim because back in the 90's it was capped but that cap could have been removed.

For someone who complains about taxes you sure don't know much about taxes. How much taxes does someone who makes 70k, has 5 kids and a mortgage pay today? He was s Boeing engineer for 35 years and now has a lake house and travels the world on the big cheese he made on Boeing stock! Low income my ass.

SS33 is getting a sweetheart deal from uncle sam that I am sure he won't give up.

For someone who complains about taxes you sure don't know much about taxes. How much taxes does someone who makes 70k, has 5 kids and a mortgage pay today? He was s Boeing engineer for 35 years and now has a lake house and travels the world on the big cheese he made on Boeing stock! Low income my ass.

SS33 is getting a sweetheart deal from uncle sam that I am sure he won't give up.

Making 70 in todays world is low income and I know enough about taxes. What he is making today off his stock has nothing to do with his past income. If he is getting that great of a return then he is getting hit now with some taxes.

Making 70 in todays world is low income and I know enough about taxes. What he is making today off his stock has nothing to do with his past income. If he is getting that great of a return then he is getting hit now with some taxes.

Wow, 70K is low income? Ooookaaay! I get that it might not be enough for a family of that size but I'm pretty sure it's not low income.

You don't get it, he invested in Boeing common stock while working there and took advantage of their discount in their ESPP. The scheme allowed him to save his money and get rich after retirement. Of course now that he's collecting he pay taxes but he will really pay taxes when he's dead or hits 79 unless the GOP has it's way.

SS33 is getting a sweetheart deal from uncle sam that I am sure he won't give up.Nah, I'm just getting the one extra deduction....and that's going away after this year. You'll be the one getting the dedcutions fairly soon anyway.....right?

But I agree, the whole decduction game is crap. Social engineering at its finest. But, I'm damn sure gonna take every one I'm allowed while they're in place, but I'd much rather see FairTax.

Wow, 70K is low income? Ooookaaay! I get that it might not be enough for a family of that size but I'm pretty sure it's not low income.

You don't get it, he invested in Boeing common stock while working there and took advantage of their discount in their ESPP. The scheme allowed him to save his money and get rich after retirement. Of course now that he's collecting he pay taxes but he will really pay taxes when he's dead or hits 79 unless the GOP has it's way.

Sounds like your making the argument for the right. I knew you would come around.

not to argue but.... if your making 70k thats not low income

not to argue but.... if your making 70k thats not low income

If it is there's a lot of us doing something wrong

Firstdown, the reality is that increasing taxes on the 40% who currently pay nothing into the system is like trying to extract blood from a stone. Taking a chunk out of their income wouldn't generate much, because their income is below the median in the first place.

I actually agree that taxes will have to increase on the rich at some point. Definitely against my economic principles. I'd let the economy get stabilized a little further before doing that, but once the economy is in good shape again, we'll have to get more from our highest earners. I would never recommend that under normal circumstances, but debts of this level have not been seen since the 1940s, so it calls for unusual measures.

In addition, Obama needs to make a lot more spending cuts. Social security needs the overhaul Bush tried to make. Those funds need to be invested more wisely and benefits pushed back to later years. Defense spending can come down too; some of the stuff we're capable of is just friggin overkill.

PS the US median household income in 2010 was $49,700. Meaning half the households in the country earned less, half earned more.

$70K is a nice living, relatively speaking. Will it solve all your problems? Hell no, but at least you can eat, bathe, sleep safely, drive to and from your job, and enjoy cable TV.

Let's keep things in perspective, FD.

I was trying to give Saden a hard time. I realize 70 grand is not low income but when he said his friend paid no taxes I figured its because he is consider low income under the current tax system. Add in the fact he has 5 kids then that could be the case. I would think that most here agree if your making 70 grand a year you should be paying taxes.