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It doesn't help to give tax dollars to those who don't pay income tax, and besides we pay a lot to those who are at the lower spectrum, often to subsidize children they they could not afford to bear in the first place. It won't help to give tax breaks to the wealthy, in fact, we need to institute a more progressive tax code to tax the super wealthy more at this time in our history.
The Middle Class has always been, and will always be, the driver of the American economy. Unfortunately, short-sided, pro-corporation incentives have allowed good-paying middle class jobs to be outsourced by the hundreds of thousands, while wealthy CEOs gave themselves billions in bonuses as 'reward' for their cost-cutting.
The past 8 years has seen the greatest upward movement of wealth since the Hoover years. The results are proving to be the same.
America needs to find a way to empower the Middle Class, now with good paying jobs, and in the future with affordable education to equip American youth to handle the technical jobs that pay well.
I'm a single mother of 3, two of which are freshmen in college. I made 82K last year and was told that i do not qualify for the Hope or Lifetime education credit. So I guess my question is, WHO IS CONSIDERED MIDDLE CLASS IF I AM NOT? I am so tired of hearing about helping the low income. I have a friend, she only paid about 4K in federal income tax, but recieved 6K back on her tax refund.
I'm frustrated, its extremely hard to make ends meet and with these student loans i've just accumulated on behalf of my children, when will the government look out for me?
It doesn't help to give tax dollars to those who don't pay income tax, and besides we pay a lot to those who are at the lower spectrum, often to subsidize children they they could not afford to bear in the first place. It won't help to give tax breaks to the wealthy, in fact, we need to institute a more progressive tax code to tax the super wealthy more at this time in our history.
The Middle Class has always been, and will always be, the driver of the American economy. Unfortunately, short-sided, pro-corporation incentives have allowed good-paying middle class jobs to be outsourced by the hundreds of thousands, while wealthy CEOs gave themselves billions in bonuses as 'reward' for their cost-cutting.
The past 8 years has seen the greatest upward movement of wealth since the Hoover years. The results are proving to be the same.
America needs to find a way to empower the Middle Class, now with good paying jobs, and in the future with affordable education to equip American youth to handle the technical jobs that pay well.
You know, I never thought about it until this year. But because there are far more middle class people than "rich" people, then wouldn't it make sense to empower--economically--the largest, most influential class in society? Not to soak the rich so much, but not to cater to their every wish either. I have no stats on this, but just going on my own logic.
BTW...I do wonder what is considered "middle class" officially.
I'm a single mother of 3, two of which are freshmen in college. I made 82K last year and was told that i do not qualify for the Hope or Lifetime education credit. So I guess my question is, WHO IS CONSIDERED MIDDLE CLASS IF I AM NOT? I am so tired of hearing about helping the low income. I have a friend, she only paid about 4K in federal income tax, but recieved 6K back on her tax refund.
I'm frustrated, its extremely hard to make ends meet and with these student loans i've just accumulated on behalf of my children, when will the government look out for me?
Both credits are unavailable to singles filers with Adjusted Gross Income of more than $58K, and that was in fact the top end of the middle quintile (40% to 60%) for household income in 2007. The bottom end of that quintile was at $36K. At $82K, you'd have been at maybe the 77th or 78th percentile (and into the 90's as a female) and the Tax Man doesn't think of you as being middle class anymore at those levels, even though it can be very tough to support a 4-person family on that in many areas of the country.
I live in Essex County/Bloomfield. So what the government is saying to someone like me is. Do not send your child to a University, send them to community college or a business trade school. It seems that only those who's parents make less than $58K are given a chance by the government. Only those who make over $200K are given a break by the government.
Those of us who are in the $80K - $90K range are just left out there to survive on our own. But god forbid, we need help too.
I live in Essex County/Bloomfield. So what the government is saying to someone like me is. Do not send your child to a University, send them to community college or a business trade school. It seems that only those who's parents make less than $58K are given a chance by the government. Only those who make over $200K are given a break by the government.
Those of us who are in the $80K - $90K range are just left out there to survive on our own. But god forbid, we need help too.
Uhm.....nothing is wrong with community college....but in any case, if you knew your kids were going to attend college, why didn't you save to send them or help them out some?
Are not eligible for scholarships at a four year college or university?
Can they not take out federal loans?
I'm not sure if this has happened already but there is this program called College Goal Sunday that might be of some help to you. Good luck.
Location: Just transplanted to FL from the N GA mountains
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08
why didn't you save to send them or help them out some?
I can't speak for the other poster, but I know what she is going through. Right before our son went off to college we were faced with astronomical medical bills for a parent fighting cancer, a stock-market down-turn, and a job change. Our college savings went defunct very quickly. And then, when you add in the fact that the FAFSA EFC is based in part on those savings and certain income levels you'll find that it really doesn't matter whether you've saved or not, the middle class family does get royally ripped when it comes to paying for college. Your better off being completely rich and paying full tilt, or flat broke and paying little to nothing.... JMHO
I can't speak for the other poster, but I know what she is going through. Right before our son went off to college we were faced with astronomical medical bills for a parent fighting cancer, a stock-market down-turn, and a job change. Our college savings went defunct very quickly. And then, when you add in the fact that the FAFSA EFC is based in part on those savings and certain income levels you'll find that it really doesn't matter whether you've saved or not, the middle class family does get royally ripped when it comes to paying for college. Your better off being completely rich and paying full tilt, or flat broke and paying little to nothing.... JMHO
I understand. I do.
My parents didn't save a dime for my college education. They just figured I'd get scholarships to pay for it all since I did so well in high school.
I do have a scholarship that pays for my tuition and I pay for my books with a federal loan/
I hate the FAFSA, I really do. I don't see why you just can't check a box on your tax return and say you'd like this to be considered for financial aid for college. I'm not really explaining it well but...yeah.
It would be nice if the government raised the income level to qualify for the Pell Grant and raise the amount that you receive for a pell grant.
Of course that money's got to come from somewhere so...
It doesn't help to give tax dollars to those who don't pay income tax, and besides we pay a lot to those who are at the lower spectrum, often to subsidize children they they could not afford to bear in the first place. It won't help to give tax breaks to the wealthy, in fact, we need to institute a more progressive tax code to tax the super wealthy more at this time in our history.
The Middle Class has always been, and will always be, the driver of the American economy. Unfortunately, short-sided, pro-corporation incentives have allowed good-paying middle class jobs to be outsourced by the hundreds of thousands, while wealthy CEOs gave themselves billions in bonuses as 'reward' for their cost-cutting.
The past 8 years has seen the greatest upward movement of wealth since the Hoover years. The results are proving to be the same.
America needs to find a way to empower the Middle Class, now with good paying jobs, and in the future with affordable education to equip American youth to handle the technical jobs that pay well.
It doesn't help to give tax dollars to those who don't pay income tax, and besides we pay a lot to those who are at the lower spectrum, often to subsidize children they they could not afford to bear in the first place. It won't help to give tax breaks to the wealthy, in fact, we need to institute a more progressive tax code to tax the super wealthy more at this time in our history.
The Middle Class has always been, and will always be, the driver of the American economy. Unfortunately, short-sided, pro-corporation incentives have allowed good-paying middle class jobs to be outsourced by the hundreds of thousands, while wealthy CEOs gave themselves billions in bonuses as 'reward' for their cost-cutting.
The past 8 years has seen the greatest upward movement of wealth since the Hoover years. The results are proving to be the same.
America needs to find a way to empower the Middle Class, now with good paying jobs, and in the future with affordable education to equip American youth to handle the technical jobs that pay well.
Care to define who is the "super wealthy".... sometimes I wish that everyone who says "wealthy" would define on who "they" are.... I am not psychic...
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What income is considered middle class
