Cheer up! It's not all bad

**KukriKhan** · 11-08-2009, 16:17

Originally Posted by Clarkson

So you can dream all you like about upping sticks and moving to a country that doesn’t help itself to half of everything you earn and then spend the money it gets on bus lanes and advertisements about the dangers of salt.

Yanno... maybe government ought to outlaw pay-stubs (you know, the little slips explaining where your earned money went). We always look at the "gross income", then at "net income" and get all worked up over the difference. My 'net' is about 45% of my 'gross' - I just have to remind myself that although the Boss says he's paying me $30 per hour, I'm really only getting about $14.

Would I rather be blissfully ignorant, or informed and ticked off over something I can't control?

**Don Corleone** · 11-08-2009, 16:22

Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Yanno... maybe government ought to outlaw pay-stubs (you know, the little slips explaining where your earned money went). We always look at the "gross income", then at "net income" and get all worked up over the difference. My 'net' is about 45% of my 'gross' - I just have to remind myself that although the Boss says he's paying me $30 per hour, I'm really only getting about $14.

Would I rather be blissfully ignorant, or informed and ticked off over something I can't control?

Why are you giving Nancy and Harry dangerous ideas?

Think about how many times people like Jag and Idaho have called take-home pay a government subsidy (because they didn't take 100% of your income, as entitled).

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 11-08-2009, 16:26

See, this is why it's a good thing that America is more conservative than Europe. You guys are guinea pigs, your misfortune is our guidance.

**KukriKhan** · 11-08-2009, 16:41

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

Why are you giving Nancy and Harry dangerous ideas?

Think about how many times people like Jag and Idaho have called take-home pay a government subsidy (because they didn't take 100% of your income, as entitled).

Yeah. I should've used some kinda sarcasm smilie, huh?

The real insult in my outfit comes in September every year, when the HR guys send us our annual "what you cost us" listing. They valuate sick leave, annual leave, 401(k) matching funds, Soc sec contributions, uniform allowance and so on, and so forth. In effect telling me that I cost them $75k per year, whereas my gross is $55k, and I take home $22k. It drives me crazy contemplating that I should feel rich (and I guess I am when compared to a sub-saharan goat-herder), but don't.

**Fragony** · 11-08-2009, 17:00

Weren't you kinda shot, how very nice of them. Military is just about the best paying job for a young adult here you will make more money than a docter and get any education for free.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 11-08-2009, 17:19

I too long back for the good old days. When Britain was still Britain. When there was still an an Empire. When the entire island was still functioning. When there was social mobility. When the trains were affordable and ran on time, on schedule and on the track.

And when the highest bracket of income tax stood at 95%.

**Seamus Fermanagh** · 11-08-2009, 17:28

The "progressive" income tax is the worst of all taxes. It does not encourage thrift as does a consumption tax and does not tax wealth and thereby redistribute that wealth evenly. The PIT serves best to keep people where they are economically or to encourage only minor improvements save for a very lucky few.