To President Obama from Northern VA: You're Welcome (Blacksburg, Fairfax: middle-class, townhouse)

[joand2girls]

Originally Posted by VRE332

What you're saying is right, however without any middle class we will be in deep do-do. It would be cheaper to give them handouts then having them on the streets committing crimes.

How about the concept of working for your money - Teach them how to fish do not hand them the fish. If you give handouts it may be easier but you are not solving the problem. Oh and if they are going to commit crimes - guess what they will do so with or with out the handouts.

[Do a Barrel Roll]

I'll make one correction to this: Hampton Roads (and the college campus populations) also helped Obama win Virginia, so thanks to them as well

Originally Posted by SmerkyGrl

And can we get the metro out to Tyson's Corner too? That'd be helpful. :P

That's what I was Implying when I said "a good present to Northern VA, for starters, would be some rail through a major business district."

[arabellava]

Originally Posted by VRE332

What you're saying is right, however without any middle class we will be in deep do-do. It would be cheaper to give them handouts then having them on the streets committing crimes.

Please explain to me how giving more handouts will prevent anyone from doing crime (in NOVA). For what I've seen, people on "handout programs" learn not to do much just to keep the handout since working actually would have them losing that handout (since the handout is more than a no HS or college grad would make). That's the current state. Crime tends to be from lower income/lower education people who have little educational or work inspiration or ability. A few more dollars would prevent? Middle class (in current definition) is not the driver for crime (though there are many cases- even of wealthy- no class is immune). I've read comments on how if this socialism goes in place how those who are in the close to 250k cutoff will not have a lot of incentive to do much and just take the handout (these were comments from citizens). I'd like to understand the other side. Thanks.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by arabellava

Please explain to me how giving more handouts will prevent anyone from doing crime (in NOVA). For what I've seen, people on "handout programs" learn not to do much just to keep the handout since working actually would have them losing that handout (since the handout is more than a no HS or college grad would make). That's the current state. Crime tends to be from lower income/lower education people who have little educational or work inspiration or ability. A few more dollars would prevent? Middle class (in current definition) is not the driver for crime (though there are many cases- even of wealthy- no class is immune). I've read comments on how if this socialism goes in place how those who are in the close to 250k cutoff will not have a lot of incentive to do much and just take the handout (these were comments from citizens). I'd like to understand the other side. Thanks.

I'm not sure, but it's probably cheaper to hand out food stamps for the people who need them, than to put more officers in uniform and pay for their retirements.

[FindingZen]

Using the fish analogy... there are those who would say that some are hoarding access to the fish, let alone the means to learn how to fish.

There are probably people on both ends of the economic spectrum who could contribute a fairer share of their effort and resources. I'd imagine that whom one believes could be contributing more may have determined one's vote this year.

As affluent as Northern Virginia is today, I would imagine that there are generations of natives, if not also some recent transplants, who have not been able to take advantage of the opportunities that many others have, at least partially due to my interpretation of the fish analogy. That said, the educational system here, even in the less-desirable areas, is still better than many places across the country. I'd certainly advocate for today's youth to take advantage of that.

Originally Posted by joand2girls

How about the concept of working for your money - Teach them how to fish do not hand them the fish. If you give handouts it may be easier but you are not solving the problem. Oh and if they are going to commit crimes - guess what they will do so with or with out the handouts.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by arabellava

Please explain to me how giving more handouts will prevent anyone from doing crime (in NOVA). For what I've seen, people on "handout programs" learn not to do much just to keep the handout since working actually would have them losing that handout (since the handout is more than a no HS or college grad would make). That's the current state. Crime tends to be from lower income/lower education people who have little educational or work inspiration or ability. A few more dollars would prevent? Middle class (in current definition) is not the driver for crime (though there are many cases- even of wealthy- no class is immune). I've read comments on how if this socialism goes in place how those who are in the close to 250k cutoff will not have a lot of incentive to do much and just take the handout (these were comments from citizens). I'd like to understand the other side. Thanks.

If I'm not mistaken, I thought that Obama intended to end Bush's tax cuts that favored the upper class to provide relief primarily for the middle class. I have heard that both lower- and middle-income households might receive tax credits... but I don't see that as an outright check written out to people.

I suppose that the dilemma that Northern Virginia faces is that as an area where a relatively high number of householdse make above $250K, the revamping of taxes would affect more people here than in many other areas. Perhaps the question then would be how the state and local governments respond to that to benefit what is arguably the driving economic force of the Commonwealth?

[irisheyes13]

Originally Posted by fittmom

I especially will be interested to hear from the one's who were caught on camera saying that with their vote for Obama it would mean a life of not having to worry about paying for gas for their car or paying their mortgage anymore....wow

Was that not amazing to watch...

Originally Posted by car54

Well, this Virginian is NOT a happy camper, to put it mildly.

This guy campaigned against me and my family. Mostly due to a large inheritance, I am one of those awful people who make more than $250K a year.

How many times did candidate Obama say he was going to put the screws to me and my ilk? Sheesh, my tax bill is OBSCENE now!

The bulk of the holdings that I inherited were earned by my maternal grandfather, who immigrated to America from Italy in 1907. I will be DAMNED if I'm going to sit and watch the money he worked so hard for taken from me and my family and given to those who have NO right to it.

I don't know what the heck I'm going to do, but everything is on the table, including emigration.

I am sure your grandfather worked hard for that money and I agree, it should be the families money. My own personal opinion is that many Americans work hard with the hope that their children and grandchildren will have it better then they did. That does not mean that folks barely getting by are not hard workers because I know my own parents worked their butts off and still struggled at many points in their life but they did it so we would have opportunities they never had. My husband and I now do that for our kids and it galls to to think that if we leave anything to them, it may infact go to others who think they won't have to make their house payments anymore!

Originally Posted by tgbwc

This may not be true this time around. Considering the strong control they have in Congress, people like Pelosi, Reid and Frank are totally unblocked by the President. They will pretty much be able to do whatever they want, big government will get bigger, more people will expect that the gov't will do things for them...and that worries me.

I could not agree more.. Those are scary people and now the checks and balances are gone..

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by Tone509

If I'm not mistaken, I thought that Obama intended to end Bush's tax cuts that favored the upper class to provide relief primarily for the middle class. I have heard that both lower- and middle-income households might receive tax credits... but I don't see that as an outright check written out to people.

I suppose that the dilemma that Northern Virginia faces is that as an area where a relatively high number of householdse make above $250K, the revamping of taxes would affect more people here than in many other areas. Perhaps the question then would be how the state and local governments respond to that to benefit what is arguably the driving economic force of the Commonwealth?

If those tax revamps go through, my guess is there will be a whole lot fewer people making $250K. Maybe $249,999 but not $250K.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by Tone509

If I'm not mistaken, I thought that Obama intended to end Bush's tax cuts that favored the upper class to provide relief primarily for the middle class. I have heard that both lower- and middle-income households might receive tax credits... but I don't see that as an outright check written out to people.

I suppose that the dilemma that Northern Virginia faces is that as an area where a relatively high number of householdse make above $250K, the revamping of taxes would affect more people here than in many other areas. Perhaps the question then would be how the state and local governments respond to that to benefit what is arguably the driving economic force of the Commonwealth?

Is it individuals making $250K or households? $250K for a household is not a huge amount. My understanding is that the number, (as fluctuating as it may be), applies to individuals.

[irisheyes13]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Is it individuals making $250K or households? $250K for a household is not a huge amount. My understanding is that the number, (as fluctuating as it may be), applies to individuals.

According to today's newspaper, it is the household income not individual.