those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

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those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:20pm

From someone in the top 2% you hear so much about:

"My family isn't wealthy. I have no funded retirement plan save Social Security, if it is there when I need it. I have no guarantee of permanent health care. I am paying off school loans for our three children. A meaningful number of my friends have lost their jobs, and all who are still employed, including my family, have taken significant pay reductions. My brother-in-law has been told to take every Friday off with a 20% cut in pay, but his work load hasn't changed. Everyone I describe here earned over $250,000 per year....
Apparently our president thinks that living in America is so wonderful that we will never leave, despite being directly attacked and held responsible for the political class's inability to constrain its desire to buy votes with our money. He should think again.

Glen Esnard

Newport Beach, Calif."
Yes, it's a real letter

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:21pm

And if you're really looking for suggestions where to go, Glen...

Go to Hell!

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 04:21 PM

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:40pm

Newport Beach ain't da hood.

Glen is doing just fine $$$.

So I say to Glen.. psst... go ahead and move.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 04:40 PM

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:44pm

He's either exaggerating his income or his difficulties -- or most likely, both.

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:49pm

Or he is over-extended.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:50pm

You know what Joe, I tend to agree that if you live in one of the major cities on the coasts, or perhaps even Chicago (I am thinking LA, SF, NY, DC, Boston and Chicago off the top of my head), and you are a family, making $250,000 does not mean you are rich. It usually means you are upper middle class. If you are talking individuals, then yeah, $250,000 is a fine benchmark. For families I would be fine with a compromise that actually raises the ceiling a bit.

But, that is just me.

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:52pm

I am puzzled by a man who makes over $250,000 a year and has NO savings for retirement. No 401K? No IRA? No Mutual funds?

And is he really so obtuse that he thinks someone making $40,000 and someone making over $250,000 would suffer equally if asked to take a 20% pay cut?

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:55pm

Are there such things as tuition tax credits? I don't know because I'm barren.

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 4:55pm

I lived pretty well in Chicago on 20% of $250,000. Roof over my head, a 401K, pretty good savings account, regular vacations- I was even able to weather a year-long unemployment gap with my savings.

#10

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 5:03pm

I thought the same thing, re IRA, Joe -- which adds to my theory that this guy is overstating his income (a la Joe the Plumber) or is just a complete moron with money management.

#11

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 5:05pm

The whole SS/401K makes no sense to me either, and I was not responding specifically to Glen, just the cost of living issues and differences.

If the whole point is to target the wealthy, as opposed to those who do OK or relatively well, $250K is not that high a threshold. (thought it would also make a difference if one is using gross, adjusted or taxable income - if you are using taxable then I have less sympathy).

#12

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 5:05pm

I agree with WOSQ - he is probably over-extended.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

#13

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 6:37pm

$250,000 is the 98th percentile of income in the US- in that only 2% make more.

I guess you could change it to the top 1% or top .5% of taxpayers should pay more and see what the arguments would be then.

#14

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 7:08pm

I just think one more layer should be added between the disgustingly rich, and those who are really middle class/upper middle class in some of the more expensive parts of the country.

#15

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 7:28pm

A lot of the sub-prime devastation was tied by certain politicized groups to programs intended to assist the lower middle class and impoverished when in reality much of it was due to over-extended wannabes buying McMansions and larger when they couldn't afford to.

btw Hell is a nice little town, freezes over every winter - they tried to set a world record for a hearse parade last weekend - fell seven hearses short. Their car club, Just Hearsin' Around, sponsors the annual get-together. It kicked off Hell's prime season - http://www.hell2u.com/

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 07:28 PM

#16

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 8:42pm

I am in agreement with YWIW.. I know many families making somewhere in the neighborhood of $250K, and I would certainly not classify them as filthy, stinking rich.

I'm not saying anyone should pity them, but they are not living in mansions and driving Bentleys. In the area I live, two people with long term jobs as public school teachers could easily make 200K. I think a lot depends on where you live.

"This show had the WORST magnets on Broadway!"

#17

Obama vilifies those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:12pm

I love it when the democrat party calls $250,000 super rich. That's hilarious. Do they know that it is 2010?

#18

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:28pm

I agree with WOSQ and D2--the issue here is overextension, and it's not just this one guy.

The country overall is overextended, from the individual level up through the local and state governments, and right on up to the federal deficit. Everywhere you turn, no one has enough money.

That's the frustration that is fueling the "tea parties": the frustration that says "I was supposed to be able to afford this" or "I work harder than I used to but I'm more broke than ever before" or "I can't find a job that pays me as well as my last one. I'm afraid I never will."

It's not their salaries that are the point. If you used your savings for a down payment for a house that's worth less than your mortgage, a $250,000 salary is not worth what it was five years ago, especially when you spread the take-home over three kids. And recent layoffs at your company have left you feeling there is no such thing as job security" anymore.

The people the Democrats have to watch out for are not the crazies and the wingnuts and the people with misspelled racist signs. The Democrats need to listen to the people with three kids and a mortgage and a home equity and bills piling up and no better scenario in sight. There are millions of them and no one's looking out for them. The Democrats need them.

Someone needs to tell the president and the Democrats that it's not about the "Tea Party"--it's about the economy, stupid. And it's not about another "stimulus" that benefits only corporations.

It's about giving the people "hope." But this time, it's gotta be real.

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 10:28 PM

#19

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:33pm

The average annual income in the US is under $50K and, yes, it does matter where you live. The areas that are hideously expensive are so because the people there are hideously overpaid, relatively speaking.

#20

Obama and Moochelle: vi those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:35pm

I agree with every word Pal Joey wrote! And, I won't have to "come out" later. He's right!!

#21

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:42pm

Shut the duck up, you stupid cretin.

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 10:42 PM

#22

Obama and Moochelle: vi those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 10:44pm

I wonder what teachers in Ohio made? When they had jobs?

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#23

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 11:02pm

Here's a very smart analysis of the tea-party movement from Nate Silver, who writes the "Five Thirty-Eight" blog at the NY Times website.

Assessing the G.O.P. and the Tea Party By NATE SILVER

Updated On: 9/20/10 at 11:02 PM

#24

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/20/10 at 11:11pm

He's a smart cookie.

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

#25

those of us who make $250,000 or more are vilified

Posted: 9/21/10 at 12:16am

Happiness is making $25,000 and living on $24,999.

Misery is making $100,000 and living on $100,001.

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