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Location: Georgia, on the Florida line, right above Tallahassee
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A restructuring of the taxes could be used that would lower tax burdens of the lower and middle classes and increase taxes on the top wage earners who are now strangling the economy. http://www.city-data.com/forum/busin...structure.html
Under the expanded program, developers whose projects receive City Council approval will get a 12-year property-tax break, which in recent years saved builders $2.7 million annually. The rest of the city's property owners — mainly home and condo owners — will have to make up for the loss in tax revenue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennibc
Lots of people that are upper middle to upper class consider themselves "middle class" For those of us who are really in the middle class to read that people making six figures think of themselves as part of the middle class, in a little unnerving.....it's just an observation that everyone in this country likes to think of themselves as middle class, including people that live in trailer parks that would be more accurately characterized as the working poor.
That said, in Seattle, I think 150 buys you a traditional middle class lifestyle. That people in other parts of the country can have if they are making 60K
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I grew up eating what my dad could kill, most days of the week. I know what dumpster diving means, from first hand expericence. I've worn "double hand-me-downs" (Two brothers.) I was wearing clothes that were 8 years out of style. I got my shoes from the big "Shoe Bin" at the dollar store. I spent mucho time in that bin trying to find a match for a shoe that fit.
I think the last summer I had "off" was when I was 13. I don't recall working that year.
Does that make me poor? No. But it sure does give you a hell of a reference point when people say they are "poor." And I wasn't POOR. Poor people didn't have food sometimes, or ate hotdogs and mac and cheese as a LIFESTYLE and not as a "Hrmm, I'll have some mac and dogs tonight." choice. Poor people begged the church for food. Poor people didn't have electricity. Poor people got government cheese (OK we did, too. And I was on the free lunch program.) But I never thought of us as "poor." Poor people had no windows in their house, just cardboard over the busted window. They didn't have AC. They had box fans, etc.
Poor in this country is with two adults working full time, they cannot afford to pay for an appropriate apartment and utilities, buy groceries; pay for transportation to and from work, and enough left over for living expenses (including contraception) and a small amount of savings. One kid at most: children are the most expensive luxury item you can buy in this society and are not an investment.
Rich is when you do not have to work at all, but you have all your necessities of life paid for (home and car) and enough passive income (minus taxes) that you can break even without working, or draw down your assets so that they will last for your expected life expectancy (including health care and potential nursing home care).
As you can see, people who play the public dole game successfully are RICH as far as I'm concerned.
Middle Class is the group that works full time and pays for everyone else, rich and poor, while retaining about 1% of their earnings for themselves.
A restructuring of the taxes could be used that would lower tax burdens of the lower and middle classes and increase taxes on the top wage earners who are now strangling the economy. http://www.city-data.com/forum/busin...structure.html
Under the expanded program, developers whose projects receive City Council approval will get a 12-year property-tax break, which in recent years saved builders $2.7 million annually. The rest of the city's property owners — mainly home and condo owners — will have to make up for the loss in tax revenue.
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I grew up eating what my dad could kill, most days of the week. I know what dumpster diving means, from first hand expericence. I've worn "double hand-me-downs" (Two brothers.) I was wearing clothes that were 8 years out of style. I got my shoes from the big "Shoe Bin" at the dollar store. I spent mucho time in that bin trying to find a match for a shoe that fit.
I think the last summer I had "off" was when I was 13. I don't recall working that year.
Does that make me poor? No. But it sure does give you a hell of a reference point when people say they are "poor." And I wasn't POOR. Poor people didn't have food sometimes, or ate hotdogs and mac and cheese as a LIFESTYLE and not as a "Hrmm, I'll have some mac and dogs tonight." choice. Poor people begged the church for food. Poor people didn't have electricity. Poor people got government cheese (OK we did, too. And I was on the free lunch program.) But I never thought of us as "poor." Poor people had no windows in their house, just cardboard over the busted window. They didn't have AC. They had box fans, etc.
Heh. defining poor.....can you, really?
Being Poor is relative to the situation.
You= poor
Me= middle class
Warren Buffett= upper class
that was easy!
Poor = owning a non running "Joadmobile" (from grapes of wrath)
Middle class= being able to pay to have the vehicle repaired
Rich = selling that puppy on ebay for ten grand
Poor : those who struggle to meet their need for food, clothing and shelter, as well as transportation, acess to sanitrary necessities, etc.
Lower middle class, those who, through work, can provide for the above necessities, and perhaps even own modest property, but who can also sink into poverty in the event of accident, illness or job loss.
middle class, those who have been able to save enough to secure some measure of financial security through hard work but who can also be left bankrupt through accident, injury or job loss.
upper middle class, those who have high enough paying jobs that their life includes considerable luxuries (vacations, luxury vehicles, easy access to higher education, modern adult "toys"), as well as large and very nicely appointed homes, etc. If their jobs come with excellent health and life insurance packages, and such "upper end" jobs do, they will have quite a secure future, unless they spend very unwisely.
Wealthy or Rich. . .those who actually have more money than is necessary to live a luxurious lifestyle.
Sad thing is, those that have luxuries, fancy cars, Mansions, boats, Planes, vacation homes, fanciest of clothes, still cannot live and be completely happy. And those marriages cannot buy them happiness.
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