<p>“The sky is falling. The sky is falling.” LOL. Y’all are funny. (I’ve always liked that big chicken , too. What was his name, foghorn? Now he was really funny.) </p>
<p>Lions, and tigers, and bears - oh, my.</p>
<p>“Just the place for a Snark!” the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.
“Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What i tell you three times is true.” </p>
<p>The crew was complete: it included a Boots–
A maker of Bonnets and Hoods–
A Barrister, brought to arrange their disputes–
And a Broker, to value their goods. </p>
<p>A Billiard-maker, whose skill was immense,
Might perhaps have won more than his share–
But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,
Had the whole of their cash in his care. </p>
<p>There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck,
Or would sit making lace in the bow:
And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck,
Though none of the sailors knew how. </p>
<p>There was one who was famed for the number of things
He forgot when he entered the ship:
His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings,
And the clothes he had bought for the trip. </p>
<p>He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,
With his name painted clearly on each:
But, since he omitted to mention the fact,
They were all left behind on the beach. </p>
<p>The loss of his clothes hardly mattered, because
He had seven coats on when he came,
With three pairs of boots–but the worst of it was,
He had wholly forgotten his name. </p>
<p>He would answer to “Hi!” or to any loud cry,
Such as “Fry me!” or “Fritter my wig!”
To “What-you-may-call-um!” or “What-was-his-name!”
But especially “Thing-um-a-jig!” </p>
<p>While, for those who preferred a more forcible word,
He had different names from these:
His intimate friends called him “Candle-ends,”
And his enemies “Toasted-cheese.” </p>
<p>“His form in ungainly–his intellect small–”
(So the Bellman would often remark)
“But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark.” </p>
<p>He would joke with hyenas, returning their stare
With an impudent wag of the head:
And he once went a walk, paw-in-paw, with a bear,
“Just to keep up its spirits,” he said. </p>
<p>He came as a Baker: but owned, when too late–
And it drove the poor Bellman half-mad–
He could only bake Bridecake–for which, I may state,
No materials were to be had. </p>
<p>The last of the crew needs especial remark,
Though he looked an incredible dunce:
He had just one idea–but, that one being “Snark,”
The good Bellman engaged him at once. </p>
<p>He came as a Butcher: but gravely declared,
When the ship had been sailing a week,
He could only kill Beavers. The Bellman looked scared,
And was almost too frightened to speak: </p>
<p>But at length he explained, in a tremulous tone,
There was only one Beaver on board;
And that was a tame one he had of his own,
Whose death would be deeply deplored. </p>
<p>The Beaver, who happened to hear the remark,
Protested, with tears in its eyes,
That not even the rapture of hunting the Snark
Could atone for that dismal surprise! </p>
<p>It strongly advised that the Butcher should be
Conveyed in a separate ship:
But the Bellman declared that would never agree
With the plans he had made for the trip: </p>
<p>Navigation was always a difficult art,
Though with only one ship and one bell:
And he feared he must really decline, for his part,
Undertaking another as well. </p>
<p>The Beaver’s best course was, no doubt, to procure
A second-hand dagger-proof coat–
So the Baker advised it-- and next, to insure
Its life in some Office of note: </p>
<p>This the Banker suggested, and offered for hire
(On moderate terms), or for sale,
Two excellent Policies, one Against Fire,
And one Against Damage From Hail. </p>
<p>Yet still, ever after that sorrowful day,
Whenever the Butcher was by,
The Beaver kept looking the opposite way,
And appeared unaccountably shy.</p>
<p>Aw, c’mon. 200,000 is not middle class; I don’t care where you live. I live in North Jersey, same economic area as you, Zoos, and I never had an income near that. This year, it’s much less than half of that. Somehow, we seem to be keeping our heads above water, and our S in college.</p>
<p>A few repealed tax cuts are not going to bust anyone here. And the inheritance tax only affects millionaires. A millionaire is not middle class.</p>
<p>And people working minimum wage jobs work just as hard as all us high earners. More income doesn’t mean someone is by definition a better person, or more deserving, or more patriotic, or more hardworking, or smarter, or specialer, than everyone else. Luckier, maybe.</p>
<p>All you folks who have been scared witless by the right wing’s claims of confiscatory taxation, please check the facts. A simple return to the tax rates of the not-too-distant past would go a long way towards reducing the deficit and moving towards lowering the national debt. The top 1% of taxpayers, who with an average annual income of just about a million dollars each, enjoy 19% of the nation’s taxable income and pay an average federal income tax of 23.5% – down from the 27 - 28% of the 1990’s. Do you honestly think that returning tax rates to the levels they were at in previous decades (during most of which the economy was healthy and growing) would actually do something bad to the country? </p>
<p>It’s great to think we can get something for nothing (or just more for less) but the fact remains that there’s a cost to maintaining a civilized society. Cutting current taxes below the break even level and passing the deficit to our children (the policy of the last three Republican administrations) is a selfish abuse of our children’s generation. </p>
<p>Man up - we gotta pay our own way.</p>
<p>You gotta choice:</p>
<p>a. You pay it.
b. Your children pay it.
c. The rich pay it.
d. None of the above.</p>
<p>Stay the course.</p>
<p>“Aw, c’mon. 200,000 is not middle class; I don’t care where you live. I live in North Jersey, same economic area as you, Zoos, and I never had an income near that. This year, it’s much less than half of that. Somehow, we seem to be keeping our heads above water, and our S in college.”</p>
<p>Garland, again, we don’t have college degrees, but we work HARD. Many, many hours. My work week is at least 65 and hubby’s is longer. I never said poor, but when you get paid overtime by the hour to earn that salary, it’s not wealth by any stretch of the imagination. We have a nice life that no one’s given to us and we don’t want anything from anyone except to be left alone.</p>
<p>“A few repealed tax cuts are not going to bust anyone here. And the inheritance tax only affects millionaires. A millionaire is not middle class.”</p>
<p>No, a millionaire is not middle class. Who are you to say what will bust me? You don’t know anything about my situation, how many kids I have, what expenses (I know that I’ve posted here that we supported my MIL for big bucks through her terminal illness this year). It’s MY money that I work extra hours to earn and it’s not for someone else to decide how much I get to keep.</p>
<p>“And people working minimum wage jobs work just as hard as all us high earners. More income doesn’t mean someone is by definition a better person, or more deserving, or more patriotic, or more hardworking, or smarter, or specialer, than everyone else. Luckier, maybe.”</p>
<p>And? That’s exactly my point. My husband and I are SOOOO not in the league with other people in this board in terms of profession, education or anything else. Most of you probably wouldn’t give us the time of day. But we work very hard and my husband is very fortunate to work for the City of New York. I don’t comprehend the sense of superiority that allows one person to think they have the right to determine how much of another’s money that person can keep, what lifestyle they should have.</p>
<p>You pay it. Your children pay. The rich pay it. None of the above.</p>
<p>Choose.</p>
<p>So long as “we” means that other guy. 23.5% sounds like a nice share for the gov. Add a state tax of 5-10%, SS etc. and you are quickly a one-third to 40% partner. That’s $400 grand on a million. I’d start thinking about taking it more easy.</p>
<p>Good for you! ;)</p>
<p>I don’t know who would or wouldn’t give you the time of day on this board. I live in a blue collar community–you’d probably fit right in, except your income is eons higher than my blue collar neighbors.</p>
<p>You can label it anyway you want, but your family income is probably in the top 5% of the country, if not higher. I guess that makes the rest of us poor.</p>
<p>" simple return to the tax rates of the not-too-distant past would go a long way towards reducing the deficit and moving towards lowering the national debt. "</p>
<p>Really? Assuming that spending doesn’t exceed the difference. Quite an assumption.</p>
<p>barrons: How many people earning $1m pay any SS, etc.? </p>
<p>What is middle class? Median family income in Westchester County NY is app. $90K. Would it be fair to say that $200k is upper income?
Zoos. if you work for the City of NY, then someone must be taxed so you can be compensated.</p>
<p>“You can label it anyway you want, but your family income is probably in the top 5% of the country, if not higher. I guess that makes the rest of us poor.”</p>
<p>Maybe it’s in the perspective. If a person gets the wage by working extra hours, I think they should be applauded, not penalized.</p>
<p>Everyone pays SS up to the limit (around the first $100k income) and keeps paying the Medical tax.</p>
<p>“Zoos. if you work for the City of NY, then someone must be taxed so you can be compensated.”</p>
<p>I don’t work for the City, my husband does. I can assure you that I pay through the wazoo for him to have the salary and benefits that he has. Which is a whole 'nother issue. It astounds me the salaries and benefits that some of our city employees (including DH) earn. I personally know several people who either own seats on one of the exchanges or left them to work for Santitation because of the benefits. This is, as you may imagine, a sore spot for me.</p>
<p>“Aw, c’mon. 200,000 is not middle class; I don’t care where you live. I live in North Jersey, same economic area as you, Zoos, and I never had an income near that.”</p>
<p>I agree - although I’m happy to call it upper middle class if you prefer. We live on half that in Westchester county. Five bedroom house. We don’t save money, but all we owe is car and mortgage payments.</p>
<p>I would go with “high income” but not wealthy and certainly not rich. As some here know, I’m facing breast cancer surgery in the near future, and if I don’t work I don’t earn. That’s the difference to me. I respect others’ right to hold a different definition.</p>
<p>Zoosermom:
Really? You ever try telling that to the bank that holds the mortgage on your house? Or the guy at the gas station? How about at the movies? Because last I checked the price of admission was set at a level that enabled the business to stay in the black - or it doesn’t stay in business very long. The Government is the only “club” we belong to that lets us vote our dues and set them at a level that won’t pay the bills.</p>
<p>Stamping your pretty little foot and complaining that it’s all yours, and you shouldn’t have to pay any more because everyone knows the Club’s Board is a bunch of @$%&#%^'s doesn’t really help much. The bills still have to be paid, or our kids get to pay them.</p>
<p>Last time the dues covered the bills was in the Clinton Administration. Time before that - Nixon.</p>
<p>zoosermom, I understand your point of view. It’s about fairness. You and your husband work hard, and I think you should reap the benefits of that labor. I feel the same way. I am happy to pay taxes for infrastructure, defense, social security and so forth. I feel it is our duty as citizens to support the schools and those who are truly needy or disabled. There are many other programs I support.</p>
<p>But, though we’ve always paid property taxes to support public schools, we’ve never used them. It seems fair to me that we should at least get a tax deduction for relieving the school systems of the education of our kids. As far as redistribution of wealth for other purposes, that’s just socialism run amuck. People that can work, should work, in my view. Those who work harder, or invest more time and money in their education, should benefit from those investments.</p>
<p>I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery. I didn’t know about it, but I’ll be thinking of you. Please keep us posted with how you are doing. :)</p>
<p>everyone pays SS up to the first $100k on wages. Not sure, but I believe most people with incomes over $1m make the bulk of their money from non-wage income.</p>