Speak Out: What Does $2,000 Mean to You?

stephen langone December 10, 2012 at 12:05 pm

The political environment in todays would is out of touch with the American people. Once voted in for the people and by the people is now marred by personal addenda’s and greed. If the sequestion was connected to political appointee’s vacation or benefits it would have been settled long ago. The American people are/will be struggling with the increase cost of living as well as a tax structure the not working.

herb warren December 10, 2012 at 02:12 pm

The possible tax increase if the President and the House do not come to an agreement on the artificial "fiscal cliff" is a drop in the bucket compared to what we will be hit with by 2016 --- the American public want a "nanny state" and the American public will be expected to pay for it..........and let us not forget that the interest alone on the $16 Trillion National Debt still needs to be paid --- so buckle your seat belt folks, its going to be a Bumpy ride.

M Miller December 10, 2012 at 02:13 pm

The president does not care about the middle class for all his big talk. If he really wanted to help us, he would stop campaigning and sit down with both Democrats and Republicans to hammer out a deal to save our economy. Insead, he won't budge from raising taxes on "millionaires" (mostly small business owners) and he won't deal with cutting entitlements. I want the president to stop using scare tactics ($2000 more in taxes, $75 more per paycheck) and start dealing with reality. To deal with all the increased costs that have come under Obama's presidency, my family has cut back on all extras like going to the movies, buying new clothes, eating out. We try to carpool. We don't take vacations to Disney or Cabo San Lucas or Europe or go on cruises. My 2 kids at college get very little in the way of extras (no college care packages, they live in the cheapest dorm rooms and don't get the full meal plan). And they are still having the time of their lives.

Martin Tillett December 10, 2012 at 03:32 pm

"Still having the time of their lives", after "cutting back all the extras" says it all. Americans have long been been on a spending spree for superfluous crap that contributes only to conspicuous consumerism that takes a toll on the environment and our humanity. People have a proven capacity to lead meaningful and happy lives without all the extras that we are told via media are requisites to having a decent life. Watching a movie rental as a family, having a family prepared meal at home with the cell phones off, or doing a stay-cation here in the DC area with family centered museums, historical and natural history sights is more rewarding in my view than any over glamorized visit to an amusement park or a cruise.
There are paths to happy and meaningful lives by application of our own creativity instead of supplanting it with commercially scripted notions intent on defining happiness as the accumulation of more consumer goods and services.

Sally Spangler December 10, 2012 at 03:54 pm

$2,000 is just about half of my present real estate tax to Fairfax County and then add about $1,000 more for what is euphemistically called my "Personal Property Tax". RE tax alone is about $4,600 for this 43 year old house and the half acre it sits on. PP tax is for a 2005 hundai and 2006 corolla. But then I have lived in Fairfax County long enough to remember when personal property meant the furniture in your house along with the machinery to plow, etc. the farm you were sitting on. Having a piano was on that list of items to be taxed!

Denise Johnson December 10, 2012 at 06:22 pm

Our family will immediately cancel our home phone to save $800 dollars this year. We will have to rely on "magic jack" and cell phones. We will also cut back on our food budget!

Wilber December 10, 2012 at 07:57 pm

I am one of the 2%. We make a little over $250K. What is going to happen is that no one outside of my immediate family will get anything unless is stolen by the government and given to them. I will hide legally hide money and take care of my own. Obama has divided the country and guess what? I will be fine. It is all the talk about millionaires and billionaires. There are not many of them around. What idiot believes that $250,001 is a million or billion? Screwing yourself my friends. There is a reason we are part of the 2%. We have busted our behinds and made it. Never asking for yours. We know how to keep it..... IN YOUR FACE!!!!!!!! All my 2% friends are thinking and acting the same way.

Kate December 11, 2012 at 01:59 am

Agreed Wilber. It's so true. Many people think the 2%ers should pay for everyone else. It just means we will give less to charities and keep what Obama doesn't take for our own families.

Kate December 11, 2012 at 02:03 am

People only believe what they want to believe and I think there is a middle ground. if we ALL got in to this mess then we should all help get out of it. That's not to say all taxes should go up equally but all taxes should go up and yes entitlements need to be cut as well. Medicare and social security weren't meant for people to live on.

Sally Spangler December 11, 2012 at 06:38 pm

Increased taxes to all across the board. Hide what you can where the tax people, federal, state and county cannot find it?!
Humm - think that will work? Remembering my childhood during the 1929 + years, Those on the bottom of that hidden cache bunch would not be able to live without a real hand out. If there are shelters and group homes for the indigent now - what would it be while the hoarders hoarded?

Dan December 12, 2012 at 02:36 pm

Wow. How thoughtful and compassionate of you.