Taxing Rich Doctors?

 

We pay $350k a year in taxes and can’t afford a house.

AOC wants to tax the rich.  She also denies that she’s levying a tax on doctors.

Democrats want to raise taxes on couples making above $450k a year.  My wife and I are both doctors.  That would certainly increase our tax burden.  We already pay about $350k a year in federal and state taxes (not including our insane gas tax).  We aren’t starving, so this isn’t a call for pity.  However, despite us making enough to garner such a large tax bill, we still can’t afford to buy a house.

Clearly part of our problem is the extraordinarily high cost of living in our chosen area.  We currently rent a place that has a leaking roof, a mouse infestation, and appliances which occasionally function as intended.

I didn’t become a doctor to become rich.  With the amount of time and training I’ve invested, the effort would have had a much bigger ROI in finance, tech or some other sector.

Still, I’d like to be able to afford a house.  That quintessential part of the American Dream.

So, yeah, stick it to us rich folks.  That’ll show us for wanting to own extravagant things like a single-family home…

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  1. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Make others pay.

    Or refund my FDIC deductions with interest and adjusted for inflation.

    FICA

    • #61
  2. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

     

    • #62
  3. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Make others pay.

    Or refund my FDIC deductions with interest and adjusted for inflation.

    FICA

    Yeah, I guess FDIC has been on my mind a lot lately.

    • #63
  4. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Yeah, I guess FDIC has been on my mind a lot lately.

    LOL this is another amazing topic I haven’t brought up yet. 

    Do you know what the FDIC is? They have some extra bank examiners that are basically redundant to everything else but the insurance is like 2% of all of the deposits. It’s really the Fed at this point.

    Such a stupid system. 

    • #64
  5. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Yeah, I guess FDIC has been on my mind a lot lately.

    LOL this is another amazing topic I haven’t brought up yet.

    Do you know what the FDIC is? They have some extra bank examiners that are basically redundant to everything else but the insurance is like 2% of all of the deposits. It’s really the Fed at this point.

    Such a stupid system.

    Let’s put it this way.  If a bank goes bankrupt, where do its deposits go?  And if the FDIC reimburses, where does the money come from?

    • #65
  6. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

     

     

    • #66
  7. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Flicker (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Yeah, I guess FDIC has been on my mind a lot lately.

    LOL this is another amazing topic I haven’t brought up yet.

    Do you know what the FDIC is? They have some extra bank examiners that are basically redundant to everything else but the insurance is like 2% of all of the deposits. It’s really the Fed at this point.

    Such a stupid system.

    Let’s put it this way. If a bank goes bankrupt, where do its deposits go? And if the FDIC reimburses, where does the money come from?

    The FDIC money that they have on hand is from “premiums”( or whatever you want to call it) is from the banks.

    If it’s a small bank it goes to another bank.

    The real FDIC is the Federal Reserve. Anything that the average person thinks of as money, like a money market or a deposit at the bank is going to be covered. They have an out on the $250,000 limit but I’m not sure the dynamics of that mean much.

    There may have been a time when the FDIC was a more serious concept, but now it’s a joke.

    • #67
  8. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

     

    • #68
  9. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):

    Your tax burden is crazy and unfair

    Is it?   what makes it “unfair”?  what makes it “crazy”?

     

     

    • #69
  10. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):

    Your tax burden is crazy and unfair

    Is it? what makes it “unfair”? what makes it “crazy”?

    If the government is paying for anything except actual, strictly defined, public goods, it is unfair one way or another. There shouldn’t be any central planning with the tax code. It either doesn’t work or it’s just a system for ripping each other off. If you are going to have an income tax, it should be a flat tax. There is no value added at Congress guessing at tax brackets and deductions and shoving them down our throats.

    A hedge fund guy on Twitter wants told me that our system is really Congress pointing a gun at everybody’s head to participate in an auction on what the tax code looks like.

    • #70
  11. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Everyone complains about the conditions of the roads, but if you ask if they would support a nickel a gallon increase in the gas tax to pay for better roads, most people say no [expletive] way.

    But if people suspected that their tax money might be efficiently used to improve their roads, I’ll bet they would approve higher taxes.

    Surveys show that most people are willing to explicitly pay $10/year to fight climate change.  In reality, they spend $2000/year in higher utility costs because of the Green Scam and don’t see it and don’t complain.   People are easily fooled.

    • #71
  12. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Biden wants to hire 80,000 more IRS agents. 

    All of this is just pure waste.

    • #72
  13. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Flicker (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Yeah, I guess FDIC has been on my mind a lot lately.

    LOL this is another amazing topic I haven’t brought up yet.

    Do you know what the FDIC is? They have some extra bank examiners that are basically redundant to everything else but the insurance is like 2% of all of the deposits. It’s really the Fed at this point.

    Such a stupid system.

    Let’s put it this way. If a bank goes bankrupt, where do its deposits go? And if the FDIC reimburses, where does the money come from?

    It used to be that people starting banks had to put up cash and they had real skin in the game.  In fact shareholders had a double liability.   That ended, when all the banks went belly up in the Great Depression, because only the US taxpayer can backstop systemic risk.  I guess that might be true, but I’d like the bankers to pay up first:)

    • #73
  14. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Five banks control everything and then throw in Black Rock or whatever. Too big to fail. They hold all of us hostage now.

    None of this is producing more democratized credit that increases productivity and prosperity in a dispersed way like it used to. 

    The other thing is, investment banks should not go public. All of that money needs to be personally on the hook. It’s like ridiculous compound finance. Lehman Brothers was leveraged 43 to 1 on mortgages before they collapsed. Dick Fuld still has all of his homes.

    No value added.

    • #74
  15. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Biden wants to hire 80,000 more IRS agents.

    All of this is just pure waste.

    Good luck with that.  Almost every business in the country has “Now Hiring” signs out.

    • #75
  16. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

     

     

    • #76
  17. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    It is one thing for people who want a bigger safety net to say, “I would be willing to pay more in taxes if it meant I would get a . . .pension, healthcare, etc.” We don’t have that in America. Instead we have, “I would be willing to force Bob to pay more so I can have . . . “

    You can say that again. Everyone complains about the conditions of the roads, but if you ask if they would support a nickel a gallon increase in the gas tax to pay for better roads, most people say no [expletive] way.

    Because only 1 cent of every 5 cents would go to roads. 

    • #77
  18. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    EHerring (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    It is one thing for people who want a bigger safety net to say, “I would be willing to pay more in taxes if it meant I would get a . . .pension, healthcare, etc.” We don’t have that in America. Instead we have, “I would be willing to force Bob to pay more so I can have . . . “

    You can say that again. Everyone complains about the conditions of the roads, but if you ask if they would support a nickel a gallon increase in the gas tax to pay for better roads, most people say no [expletive] way.

    Because only 1 cent of every 5 cents would go to roads.

    You think that much?

    • #78
  19. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Because the tax code is so complicated, Biden erased his FICA tax. What good is this? It’s all arbitrary BS. It’s as fake and unreal as anything Soviets thought up. It has nothing to do with more productivity, more opportunity, and more output disbursed fairly

    Why don’t we ask enough fundamental questions? 

     

     

     

    • #79
  20. Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler Member
    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler
    @Muleskinner

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Because the tax code is so complicated, Biden erased his FICA tax. What good is this? It’s all arbitrary BS. It’s as fake and unreal as anything Soviets thought up. It has nothing to do with more productivity, more opportunity, and more output disbursed fairly

    Why don’t we ask enough fundamental questions?

    He’s got to owe more than that. I doubt he’s been reporting the income on the 10% share for the Big Guy, assuming the returns he makes public are the ones he filed.

    • #80
  21. Nanocelt TheContrarian Member
    Nanocelt TheContrarian
    @NanoceltTheContrarian

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family,  is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives.  Not to be allowed.   

    • #81
  22. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Because the tax code is so complicated, Biden erased his FICA tax. What good is this? It’s all arbitrary BS. It’s as fake and unreal as anything Soviets thought up. It has nothing to do with more productivity, more opportunity, and more output disbursed fairly

    Why don’t we ask enough fundamental questions?

     

     

     

    Well this is a bombshell!  This is the first I’ve heard of this.  How much lower will the Biden Presidency fall? He’s got incoming missiles on all fronts, and the Press’s Maginot Line is crumbling posthaste.

    • #82
  23. CRD Member
    CRD
    @CRD

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    I will not under any any circumstances conform to living with otters!

    • #83
  24. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Oprah’s Montecito mansion would make a spectacular low income, multi-family residence.

    • #84
  25. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Oprah’s Montecito mansion would make a spectacular low income, multi-family residence.

    Is that a wall I see?  I thought they didn’t work.

    • #85
  26. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Their dream was probably shattered with covid, cities hardest hit.

    • #86
  27. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Oprah’s Montecito mansion would make a spectacular low income, multi-family residence.

    Holy crap!  Looks like a country club..

    • #87
  28. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Oprah’s Montecito mansion would make a spectacular low income, multi-family residence.

    Is that a wall I see? I thought they didn’t work.

    Golly.  She must have a really big family…

    • #88
  29. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Nanocelt TheContrarian (View Comment):

    The aim of Progressives is to eliminate single family dwellings owned by single families. They are trying to abolish the suburbs. You will soon be forced into renting a duplex or multiple family dwelling (high rise, other?) along with otters families. The American dream, along with the American traditional family, is in the cross-hairs of the Progressives. Not to be allowed.

    Oprah’s Montecito mansion would make a spectacular low income, multi-family residence.

    Holy crap! Looks like a country club..

    It looks like some palaces I’ve seen on the internet.  (And of course, on the Beverly Hillbillies.)

    • #89
  30. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    It is one thing for people who want a bigger safety net to say, “I would be willing to pay more in taxes if it meant I would get a . . .pension, healthcare, etc.” We don’t have that in America. Instead we have, “I would be willing to force Bob to pay more so I can have . . . “

    You can say that again. Everyone complains about the conditions of the roads, but if you ask if they would support a nickel a gallon increase in the gas tax to pay for better roads, most people say no [expletive] way.

    I would support seizing the nickels in the gas tax already earmarked for transportation and using them to pay for better roads. 

    • #90
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