Thursday, October 16, 2008

Spreading the Wealth Around

I've been thinking about Joe the Plumber and the "spread the wealth around" comment that Obama made and I realized something. I, too, am in favor of spreading the wealth around. In fact, I could argue that it is Biblical to spread the wealth around.

The issue isn't spreading the wealth around. The moral question is, "Whose wealth are you spreading around?"

The Bible tells us we are to spread the wealth around. Widows, orphans, needy people.

However, the Bible also tells us it is wrong to steal. If I take my money and give it to needy people, I have done a good thing. If I take your money and give it to needy people, I have stolen from you. Not so good. You get to decide what you do with your money.

Obama wants to spread Joe's wealth.
McCain wants Joe to spread his wealth.
There's a fundamental difference in the method.
The goal is the same.

Some things Joe can do with his hard earned money:
  • Squander it
  • Save it
  • Buy a really, really big plasma TV
  • Save for his kids college education
  • Buy health care for his family
  • Buy health care for his employees
  • Buy a house, car, whatever
  • Take a vacation
  • Hire an extra employee or two
  • Build a little office building for his business

Let's say Joe has a great year and makes $250,000. Under Obama's plan he would be taxed at 65%! What incentive would he have to make $250,000?
  • Let's give Joe $50,000 in deductions so his taxable income is now $200,000.
  • 65% (I'm told this is Obama's plan) of $200,000 is $130,000.
  • Joe gets to keep $70,000 of his money under Obama's plan.
  • Joe will have to buy his own health care. That's a minimum of $10,000 per year if he gets a crappy policy for his family.
  • Now he has $60,000.
  • Of course, being self-employeed he will have to pay his matching tax on the first $102,000 of income and since Joe makes $200,000 a year he will pay the max. About $7,650 extra.
  • Now Joe has $52,350 and he hasn't spent a penny on anything for Joe.

This is not only wrong, this is foolish. Joe will probably have to lay off an employee or two. Joe will not be able to hire more employees. Joe will have trouble buying plungers for his business.

Soon Joe will fold his business and go on welfare. This will be good for Joe. The checks will come in regularly. He will get better health coverage.

So, my advice for Joe is to forget the part about buying the business and head straight for the welfare office.

Save yourself the trouble, Joe.

6 comments:

Teacher/Mom said...

Great post! And so true. You guys know more than anyone how this will affect small business and all the Joes. What amazes me is that there isn't more noise from small businesses. Everyone who owns a small business should be knocking on doors and explaining this to other people. Of course, there is just one little problem. America has changed from being a nation of hard workers to nation of "hardly" workers. Back in the good ole days, a hard days work resulted in coming home dirty, sweaty and tired, but content because you knew your work was beneficial and fulfilling. Now, the words dirty and sweaty have nothing but rated X undertones to them, and no one is content because all they desire is for bigger, better and more of it. Of course, we know the secret to real contentment lies in Jesus.
And the people who find this contentment in Jesus are indeed the folks who are not seeking bigger, better and more for themselves, but are indeed the folks who are supporting ministries, and starting ministries, to help those whom God has instructed. Unfortunately, with Senator "Government" in charge, no one is going to have anything left to support or start these ministries. The government is going to be overwhelmed by all the lost jobs from all the small businesses shutting down, and all those workers now demanding their fair share of the welfare pool. So the government will decide to tax people even higher. Eventually, the top 10% are going to leave this country, if not physically, at least monetarily. Then they won't have to pay the ridiculously high taxes that are expected of them. And where will this country be left? As a socialist country run by a dictator who is getting his directions from a few radicals in the middle east.

Father God, our nation is ripe with sin. We admit that we have been living for ourselves and not for You. We admit that we have shoved You out of our lives by allowing Your NAME and Your Word to be blasphemed and desecrated by our government, our schools and our media. We admit that we have sought our own goals and plans and not Your will. Please forgive us dear Father. And for the sake of those of us still in this country who desire to see Your NAME and Your Word held up for praise and honor, we beg You to show mercy on us during this election time. Neither of these candidates is perfect. Neither one is totally in line with what Your Word says is Your will. But one of the candidates is much closer LORD. And we pray that the one who is much closer in tune with Your will and Your Word would be the one left standing on November 5th. We pray this, standing on the promises in Your Word.

18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
and out of gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind will see.

19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD;
the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20 The ruthless will vanish,
the mockers will disappear,
and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down-

21 those who with a word make a man out to be guilty,
who ensnare the defender in court
and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

22 Therefore this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob:
"No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
no longer will their faces grow pale.

23 When they see among them their children,
the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
those who complain will accept instruction."

Isaiah 29:18-24

Teacher/Mom said...

So have you heard Obami's new comment about Joe the plumber? He is totally making fun of him! He says, basically, that he's only a plumber and who's ever heard of a plumber who makes a quarter of a million dollars. I think all plumbers and plumber's unions should actively start protesting.

Unknown said...

COLLEGE students:

"Spread the Grades" (think about it)

If you have a 3.5-4.0 GPA = 3.0
If you have a 3.0-3.40 GPA = 2.8
If you have a 2.8-2.99 GPA = 2.6
If you have a 2.6-2.7+ GPA = 2.4
If you have a 2.0 - 2.5 GPA = 2.2
If you are failing GPA = 2.0

We will use the GPA credits we collected from the fortunate students
to raise the GPAs of the less fortunate students. This will insure that those students that have lower grades will have the same success that those who have good grades have had. We feel that this will insure a fair distribution of grades AND make
it more FAIR in the job market after our students leave college.
We feel that this will attract more highly qualified students to our
institution and increase the academic standards as well. Those
students who cannot make good grades will not be at a disadvantage
when they look for a job. It will also insure that any student can
take any course and pass. Our institution will produce the best and
brightest people who will lead the world!
We will also implement this same "spread the grade" program for our engineering, technical, legal, medical and dental schools as well!!!! Think of the professionals we can graduate!!!! We will also be eliminating all entrance requirements so as to open more opportunities to all students.
This is only fair, as this type of program may soon be implemented in the real world.
We want to stay abreast of the real world so as to better prepare our students for life after college!
Remember...study hard for good grades ...or not, someone else will
carry you through.
IF YOU DON"T SUPPORT ACADEMIC WELFARE>>>DON'T SUPPORT GOVERNMENTAL WELFARE!
think about it!!!!

Nate Carlson said...

Not that I'm necessarily a fan of Obama or his tax plan, but this seems to be a little out there. Please check your facts on this stuff before posting - it really doesn't help anyone to spread incorrect information!

Just a pretext - I'm not a tax expert, and haven't studied this in detail, but a few quick Google searches disprove the 65%.

See:

CNN Money and Wikipedia.

Joe will pay more, but not anything like the numbers you posted.

Linda said...

Nate,

I actually heard that there rate was going to be 68%. It is currently 28%.

If that is true, my numbers are low.

Also, Obama is using equivocation when he defines "tax credit". A credit by nature is something that goes against a bill. Under his play, people who didn't pay in and don't owe money will get money back.

This is welfare in disguise.

Linda said...

I have limited Internet access at the moment, but want to make a comment regarding Nate's comment.

I'm standing by my original numbers with the exception of adding back the $7650 in extra taxes.

The 65% number inclueds ALL taxes. Federal and state withholding, FICA and Medicare (which for a self-employeed person is double. My numbers had not taken into account any state taxes.

I will get you the Heritage Foundation link that explains this in a day or so.

Currently, wages over $102,000 are not subject to FICA. As I understand it, Obama plans to make ALL income subject to FICA and Medicare.

This isn't just about $$$ and the destructive business impact of higher taxes, this is about justice and morality.

One of the first things Obama wants to do is remove all restrictions on abortion. Including things like parental notification.

In my book, anyone who wants to take my money and give it to someone else is a thief and anyone who takes innocent lives is a murderer.