[mplawssix]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010...ation/#content

Now, I have seen this article and heard some radio hosts on Fox news radio claim that they are not rich making over $250k/year. There was a dentist that called in saying they made over $300k and only living "comfortably". Now, my question is, when do you feel someone is rich? Is it all relative? Is it when someone makes 2x more than you? Is it when you make so much money you would never be able to satisfy you lust for possessions? Pro Athletes have complained that they are unable to provide for their families making $2M/year.

Was Obama actually right about $250k and up as being "rich"? Ben Stein was quoted as saying that after paying for everything in a budgetary month, ie electric, water, mortgage, taxes, (city, state, and federal) college loans (if he has any), and paying everyone he employs, he gets to keep only $.35 for every dollar he earns. I don't think he needs to be taxed anymore, but is 35% of $300k still $105K that he gets to spend anywhere he wants, should that be considered rich? He is still making more than the median income of the US BEFORE taxes, and it is still 2x more than I make. I am not angry at Ben Stein, he just laid out his budget, it is the people that believe that making that amount of money is should not be considered "Rich".

I bought my house and based the budget off a single income family at my previous grade, now that I am higher rank, wife has found a full time, Minimum paying job, and a second kid on the way, I still live comfortably because I budgeted for a lower income status. So how is it that people making gross 5x more than I (yes, even added in my benefits) 1) complain about being label rich when they feel they only live comfortably? 2) Not able to reach a budget to keep themselves from living paycheck to paycheck?

So, how muchdo you need to make, or who do you think is rich?

[Freefspruptpx]

I don't really know J seems the more we make the more we need! College tuition for 2 kids and another starting next fall. It takes both our income and we still find our checking account drying up every month.

[JohnTruels]

I don't really know J seems the more we make the more we need! College tuition for 2 kids and another starting next fall. It takes both our income and we still find our checking account drying up every month.

Yeah, what benefit of self reliance do you provide to your kids when you pay for college? Especially when there are so many ways to get scholarships and able to work through college or join the military to pay for college. Not sure where you live, but the 2 states I have lived in have scholarships for students with good grades, if they didn't apply themselves in high school with parent supervision, then they more than likely won't apply themselves away from mommy and daddy when they don't have to pay for it.

[mralabama]

The problem is the difference between "being" and "feeling" rich. And that completely lies in how people use their money.

A man who owns and pays taxes on four houses can claim they barely live comfortably, while a man who rents a single apartment can feel rich for having a huge savings.

$250k is a good enough number, in my opinion. At that point people should seriously have some sorta financial class for managing their shit.

[Finanziamento]

The problem is the difference between "being" and "feeling" rich. And that completely lies in how people use their money.

A man who owns and pays taxes on four houses can claim they barely live comfortably, while a man who rents a single apartment can feel rich for having a huge savings.

$250k is a good enough number, in my opinion. At that point people should seriously have some sorta financial class for managing their shit.

That is my point, why do people that own multible places to live try to claim they aren't rich in retrospect of the US as a whole. Granted, even the lazy a$$es that collect welfare are far better off than 75% of the world, but I am talking about only Americans that cry when they are called rich by the POTUS.

[ZZipZZipe]

If I can enjoy the money I make, then I consider myself to be 'rich' - by that I mean, having money to pay the bills, put into savings and my Roth IRA, money tucked away for emergencies (car in my case primarily) and then have some left over for a video game or two. I think it's not necessarily how much you make per se, but how well you can live within your means.

[r9tbayfC]

WJ that was harsh! You know my kids are not slackers. Chad is now disable from a rollover last year in a Humvee, Ashley has one scholarship and works but we have to help with her expenses because she had to move several times her senior and junior year and we make to much money for her to apply for and hardship type of funding. Claire has disability and has to have modifications and tutors. Lizzy is a marine and Meg is a senior in high school. We left Meg with her sister in clarksville so she didn't have to change to another state again this year so we gave them (her and Ash) the house there so they can finish school. This last year we lived in Tennessee, Georgia and Texas, that makes it hard on the kids to apply for any scholarships. All of my kids have graduated with honors and make great grades but the life of military kids reach into adulthood very easily and they don't get the same treatment as locals. Lizzy won homecoming queen her senior year in Clarksville and they took it away from her because we were PCS'ing and she would not be there to pass on the crown the next year. So WJ don't be so quick to judge these kids. They have to put up with a lot of crap to make it through. As long as my kiddos are doing their share then my wallet is open. I think that is what real wealth is all about, don't you?

[P3bWjm1j]

WJ that was harsh! You know my kids are not slackers. Chad is now disable from a rollover last year in a Humvee, Ashley has one scholarship and works but we have to help with her expenses because she had to move several times her senior and junior year and we make to much money for her to apply for and hardship type of funding. Claire has disability and has to have modifications and tutors. Lizzy is a marine and Meg is a senior in high school. We left Meg with her sister in clarksville so she didn't have to change to another state again this year so we gave them (her and Ash) the house there so they can finish school. This last year we lived in Tennessee, Georgia and Texas, that makes it hard on the kids to apply for any scholarships. All of my kids have graduated with honors and make great grades but the life of military kids reach into adulthood very easily and they don't get the same treatment as locals. Lizzy won homecoming queen her senior year in Clarksville and they took it away from her because we were PCS'ing and she would not be there to pass on the crown the next year. So WJ don't be so quick to judge these kids. They have to put up with a lot of crap to make it through. As long as my kiddos are doing their share then my wallet is open. I think that is what real wealth is all about, don't you?

By all means, I did not think your kids in general were slackers, sorry if it came across that way. I do feel that those not in the military have babied a lot of the kids of this generation. A lot of speak right now is about how our schools a falling behind and what can we do to fix that. I think a lot has to do with parents not taking responsibility for disciplining their kids or forcing them to do homework when they are struggling, or allowing them to disrespect an adult. The life of the military child is harsh, there is a good chance for me to stay put for the next 11-15 years at the base I am at and hopefully I will get that choice allowing my son(s) to stay in one spot. I have already moved on average every 2 years and would think I should have done enough moving for my career.

[weightpillsnow]

To me it also depends on
A) where you live
B) single or married
C) kids or not
D) age of those kids..

To someone single living in say hububib iowa or idaho, 80k is rich, where as in NY that same 80k might be bare min to break even (especially in manhattan)
that same 80k for a married guy might allow comfortable living in hattisburg ms, but in chicago il, it might come just above poverty.

[Chito]

A lot of good points have been made here. I think it's also important to stress that we're talking take-home pay. Farmers and small businessmen make a lot "on paper", but they (generally speaking) have some pretty serious expenses as well.

[Aleksis]

The more money you make the more expenses you have. People forget how to live cheaply when they start making more money. The best way to go is take your raise and invest at least half of it. So while you are making more you are also saving more.

[elossenen]

12 cold beers, a beautiful woman, good music and a fine cigar!

[gZAhTyWY]

Quite frankly I dont believe we should raise the taxes on the rich, I dont see why they think it will break their bank. Hopefully they can learn not to live paycheck to paycheck making $300k a year soon.

[bjacogaerllyo]

Quite frankly I dont believe we should raise the taxes on the rich, I dont see why they think it will break their bank. Hopefully they can learn not to live paycheck to paycheck making $300k a year soon.

Yep,my heart bleeds for them rich people

[sabbixsweraco]

Was reading a yahoo OPed, they pretty much summed it up. "What is a luxury becomes a 'necessity', and you need more to make you feel rich."

[ancexttew]

Yep,my heart bleeds for them rich people

Well, why should someone who bused their butt to get rich have to pay more than someone who loafs about on welfare? Heck, i don't evne think most welfare folk (da poor) Pay taxes in the end, with all their 'exemptions' etc..

[Kinds Of Pain Meds]

Well, why should someone who bused their butt to get rich have to pay more than someone who loafs about on welfare? Heck, i don't evne think most welfare folk (da poor) Pay taxes in the end, with all their 'exemptions' etc..

Because Paris Hilton works so hard...

While there are people that work hard to become rich but after they make their first million the money just rolls in. Plus those CEO's who work hard, seriously? Their staff may. They make be at work for a lot of hours, but I wouldnt see why any of that is hard work. At that point they just have to make decisions and most of the time they have someone do all the research so the decisions 9 times out of 10 are easy no brainer ones.

For the last 2 years after doing all my taxes in the end my taxable income has been nothing or little to nothing. Last year I think it was nothing and the year before it was like 1000 dollars or something like that. I know deployments help but I never paid attention to anything other then the return in years past. So I will see how it changes this year with no deployments.

[vaalmerruutel]

Well, why should someone who bused their butt to get rich have to pay more than someone who loafs about on welfare? Heck, i don't evne think most welfare folk (da poor) Pay taxes in the end, with all their 'exemptions' etc..

Well that was an eloquent riposte..can't argue with that iron-clad logic

[Mark_NyB]

Because Paris Hilton works so hard...

While there are people that work hard to become rich but after they make their first million the money just rolls in. Plus those CEO's who work hard, seriously? Their staff may. They make be at work for a lot of hours, but I wouldnt see why any of that is hard work. At that point they just have to make decisions and most of the time they have someone do all the research so the decisions 9 times out of 10 are easy no brainer ones.

While i agree, stars like hilton or those born with a silver spoon up their a$$ did not really earn anything, the ceos do since they worked THROUGH the company to get that spot. Just like our admirals/generals do.

For the last 2 years after doing all my taxes in the end my taxable income has been nothing or little to nothing. Last year I think it was nothing and the year before it was like 1000 dollars or something like that. I know deployments help but I never paid attention to anything other then the return in years past. So I will see how it changes this year with no deployments. So if after going through all the entitlements and exemptions, you pay nothing or a little in taxes, how can you say you are paying your fair share..

[Michael-jeckson2]

While i agree, stars like hilton or those born with a silver spoon up their a$$ did not really earn anything, the ceos do since they worked THROUGH the company to get that spot. Just like our admirals/generals do.



So if after going through all the entitlements and exemptions, you pay nothing or a little in taxes, how can you say you are paying your fair share..

The origional post was about people making A LOT of money getting but hurt when they are labled "rich". And what do you consider "rich" if it isn't $250k per year? Doubt all the CEO's started at the bottom, they got help. Who was the last 4 star that started as an Amn/Pvt/Seaman and work their way through most of the enlisted system (like you would in civ world) to become the officer and hit Gen? At least in the civ world, if you got a great idea, you can make your way to the top and be close to the CEO spot. In thre AF they take your IDEA, maybe pay you $10k, then send you on your way as an officer uses it and makes rank.