State GOP urges 'civil disobedience' over new Seattle tax, says residents should not pay (Bellevue: sales, job market)

[Blondebaerde]

I like that kind of inflammatory rhetoric, frankly, if it opposes the extremists in Seattle proper.

State GOP urges 'civil disobedience' over new Seattle tax, says residents should not pay | Fox News

Right on the edge of "over-sharing," the tax as-stated doesn't affect me ...quite yet... but guess who they're coming after next (in my opinion): the bulk of the tech people in Seattle. While not scientific, though I'm sure the data exists, I'm guess we're extremely bi-modal in Seattle in terms of income. Average so-called service worker pulling in c. $40K household(?), average tech worker household (w/several) wage earners c. $125K. Many tens of thousands in each forming statistical humps, or clusters, around the Haves and Have-Nots.

The Haves, who worked their butts off from all over the world with advanced degrees, certs, and training, are clamoring for ever-more housing and services...need I go on? The Have-Nots, clearly being driven out of Seattle limits and becoming increasingly frustrated.

An ex-girlfriend from about two years ago was in the $40K (household income) range. Talk about unbridled rage towards those she dealt with daily, that being mostly tech executives and Sr. managers. We didn't last all that long, her contempt (among other things) was extremely unattractive.

The way I see it, this is an end run to go after the Have's. The minimum wage BS was Step 1. This is next.

Op/Ed:

They can kiss my...

[f5fstop]

Seattle is fun to read about. Everyday I read something different.

Their tax on guns failed, their minimum wage hike failed, their mayor who is accused of child molestation in the 80s refused to quit, and today I read about a voucher program. Seattle's 'democracy voucher' under fire: 'Clear violation of 1st Amendment rights,' critics say | Fox News

And also they are paying for another study on minimum wage hoping to get a result they want so they can look good.

It's a city gone wild. Glad I don't live there.

[jakebarnes]

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

I like that kind of inflammatory rhetoric, frankly, if it opposes the extremists in Seattle proper.

An ex-girlfriend from about two years ago was in the $40K (household income) range. Talk about unbridled rage towards those she dealt with daily, that being mostly tech executives and Sr. managers. We didn't last all that long, her contempt (among other things) was extremely unattractive.

To be fair to your ex-girlfriend, many people in tech are smug, antisocial and unpleasant. I know because I work in tech. While there are many talented people, there are also a lot of managers who can barely turn on their computer pulling down higher wages than the engineers.

I like the money and the work but frankly I can't stand the people.

[CrazyDonkey]

You guys are hilarious. It is 2.25% on income above $250k for a single, $500k for a couple. Not on any part of $125k "techie" income. The sky is not falling. A minimal income tax on high earners is not Bolshevism.

Personally I'd rather see it go on the ballot. If the voters don't like it, however, they can vote out their district council member. That's how democracy works.

The tax must pass muster before the Washington Supreme Court before anyone will be liable to pay it. If it does, advising people to not pay a democratically instituted tax is, in my opinion, politically and civically irresponsible - but that is hardly anything new for today's GOP.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

I like that kind of inflammatory rhetoric, frankly, if it opposes the extremists in Seattle proper.

[url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/18/state-gop-urges-civil-disobedience-over-new-seattle-tax-says-residents-should-not-pay.html]State GOP urges 'civil disobedience' over new Seattle tax, says residents should not pay | Fox News[/url]

Right on the edge of "over-sharing," the tax as-stated doesn't affect me ...quite yet... but guess who they're coming after next (in my opinion): the bulk of the tech people in Seattle. While not scientific, though I'm sure the data exists, I'm guess we're extremely bi-modal in Seattle in terms of income. Average so-called service worker pulling in c. $40K household(?), average tech worker household (w/several) wage earners c. $125K. Many tens of thousands in each forming statistical humps, or clusters, around the Haves and Have-Nots.

The Haves, who worked their butts off from all over the world with advanced degrees, certs, and training, are clamoring for ever-more housing and services...need I go on? The Have-Nots, clearly being driven out of Seattle limits and becoming increasingly frustrated.

An ex-girlfriend from about two years ago was in the $40K (household income) range. Talk about unbridled rage towards those she dealt with daily, that being mostly tech executives and Sr. managers. We didn't last all that long, her contempt (among other things) was extremely unattractive.

The way I see it, this is an end run to go after the Have's. The minimum wage BS was Step 1. This is next.

Op/Ed:

They can kiss my...

1) You don't live in Seattle.

2) Breaking the $500k ceiling isn't all that easy even if both spouses are tech managers.

3) Developing and third world nations have a bi-modal social system and I don't think that's such a great model to aspire towards.

4) High income earners should be able to deal with it or else they aren't managing their finances most effectively.

We are a family of four on a HH income of around $170k and most months we save/invest $8000-$10,200 (that's including a 401k contribution). This year we're on the high end.. I expect to end 2017 having socked away ~$110,000. We are admittedly on the extreme a la MrMoneyMustache-stoic style savings plan, but still... if we can manage this then it's gotta be damn near impossible that a single tech worker making $250k or more will be subject to an economic hardship for paying the 2.25% tax any of the income above $250k. The single tech worker making $300,000 will have to pay $1,125. The single tech worker making $275,000 will have to pay about $563.

Oh my God! How will they manage!

5) It's going to have to battle out in court first and tax structures are rather resilient. So we will see...

On a personal note: I vote as a Democrat most of the time and I am not in favor on taxing labor... like, at all. Instead I would tax the hell out of non-essential consumer products. Maybe anything outside of food and health care. Our family does very well on a low-consumption lifestyle. Others would see the benefits too if it became more normalized and it's good for the biospheric layer that we all depend on as well.

[cmswazey]

It's illegal. Last time an unconstitutional tax was tried in WA-1930-it was overturned.

[margaretBartle]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

You guys are hilarious. It is 2.25% on income above $250k for a single, $500k for a couple. Not on any part of $125k "techie" income. The sky is not falling. A minimal income tax on high earners is not Bolshevism.

Naivete is cute, but also dangerous.
If the courts find that Seattle does, indeed, have the authority to tax its citizens' income, how long do you think that tax rate will last?

The first IRS tax rate was 1%. The first sales tax in Washington was 2%.

He is quite right to be concerned. Just because a city income tax is not a short-term concern should not preclude it being a real concern. Especially if the high-earners just move to Bellevue.

[margaretBartle]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

1) The single tech worker making $275,000 will have to pay about $563.
Oh my God! How will they manage! .

You are quite right about that, but do you really think the tax rate will only be applied to incomes over $250K? You haven't been studying your history if you do.....

[fnh]

We are a family which would pay the tax most years. We are perfectly fine with it. I would much prefer to send my money to local government than to the current kleptocracy in the other Washington. I'll bet the state GOP would decry any "civil disobedience" efforts to defund the federal government.

No one loves paying taxes but I recognize that tax rates are historically very low, then I also note the deterioration of public services and the extreme inequality that has developed in my own lifetime. Do you not think the "greed is good" policies have contributed to the rise of trumpism? I do not want my children's children living in a third world country, which frankly the US is very rapidly becoming.

[Blondebaerde]

Flying Mom's DH and I are at about the same stage in respective careers, we are all aware of salaries (give or take $10K) thanks to various aggregation sites and respective personal experiences in the job market. So, no: at this time, the proposed tax does not affect me. Nor, as also pointed out, do I live in Seattle. That doesn't matter, I'm approximately one to two career jumps from that level, number one (assuming equity is counted as income); and number two, my international employer has a modest and growing satellite office based in Seattle and dollars to donuts they'll find a way to come down on companies like mine with additional blanket taxation as well. Sooner, or later. At that point, yes: it comes out of my profit sharing for the year. If you do not see that on the horizon, as part of some asinine "social justice" or "end income inequality" crusade, you are blinded by idealism. At that point, it's personal.

Nor does it matter, at current: regardless, oppressive taxes on the wealthy, with zero accountability to a Socialist-leaning local government, need to be opposed at every turn. This is not Sweden with insane taxation to support huge safety nets for bums, vagrants, illegal aliens, and swarms of hostile "refugees". Each step, without exception, is that much closer to making oh, I dunno, the "unequal and oppressive typical tech workers making $100-275K" next? That is indeed the exact logic tyrannical governments use to tax and otherwise suppress the people across a long arc of history.

That is *exactly* where they are going with this, to remove that bimodal median household income hump I alluded to earlier. Because, don't you know, "equal outcomes" are what matters, not "rise to your level of merit based on work ethic and skills." That we even need to have such a conversation in America is insane, Ronald Reagan must be rolling in his grave.

Somewhat analogously, in terms of American rights, the previous is exactly how they erode 2nd Amendment rights too in oppressive tax-hell states like California and Illinois. It is only when 100K close and personal friends and I in an organization called the "NRA" lobby, cajole, and threaten legal and economic action that the line is held. Some years are better than others. However, it always, *always*, requires vigilance. And still, still, they do everything possible to suppress a lawfully-armed citizenry in each state. Supreme Court be damned, apparently.

Which is the also the case here, city of Seattle anyway. "Only" another $560 or whatnot per year, were I in the affected income bracket? My money confiscated, for...what, exactly? Which group of bums is accountable, with a transparent budget? Where, exactly, would that confiscation go: to "feed the homeless" or other unacceptable BS in the city? Or to help hire 200x more police, to start cleaning up the streets? I will assume the former, not the latter, until proven otherwise.