Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

Let me put it in a way so you can understand.  I am smart enough to see what you do and it really doesn't help your case much.  It just shows a huge level of immaturity.

What is it I do? 

TAXES- It is common knowledge for anyone who has paid income tax ever in their life that a single income family is taxed less severely than a dual income family.  If you earn income (as you claim) from work you do (ie- part time or Interent job) then taxes are taken from your earnings. 

Why do you doubt I have income?  And where does the idea it's part time or internet work come from? 

The truth is that I am uncomfortable discussing my income or net worth, but it seems clear from your comments that my financial situation is not what you think it is.  But then I think it's difficult to really know anyone's personal financials without an audit.

These taxes go to things like schools, roads, etc.  Property tax doesn't necessarily go to these type of things. 

In the 4 states I have lived in, property taxes are the main source of funds the local schools.  One of these states has no state income tax, so they definitely don't get it from that. 

So, yes, you own a home but chances are the one income coming into your household is taxed far less heavily than a dual income house therfore less $$ your house pays into the system even if property taxes for your home and mine were equal. 

Who says my household is one income?  It's not.   So, you can't possibly know how much I or my household pays in taxes.  It's based on amount of income, not the number of sources. 

Example...a husband  with income of 50k  and wife with income of 50k will pay same taxes as a household where husband has 0 income and wife has 100k. 

Of course this is considering all deductions being equal etc.  Just a simple example.  It just isn't at all based on dual vs single income. 

My issue is simply this- everyone should pay an equal share into taxes- a flat rate so to speak.  No one income should pay a bigger percentage than another.  This is not currently the case.  The "rich" pay a much higher percentage than I do and so on down the line.  ( This is not the popular opinion I know but again it's mine to have. )

I am also in favor of a flat tax rate.

So, yes, it is the amount paid into the system and how much you take out. and for what reasons.   You talk about having income and paying taxes - is that strictly from your husband's earnings or yours as well? 

You must have missed this.  I have income, and I pay taxes.  Why is this so difficult to believe? 

And not that I have done any studies on this, but from my chats with many homeschooling parents, I'm fairly certain most of the moms have some income.  Not that I think it is important or necessary to have a paying job to be a good parent.  It just seems to be the norm.  That's why I would like to know why you imply otherwise. 

You eloquently avoid that making it sound very arrogant that what you do is invaluable to the world. 

How did I do this?  I honestly don't recall mentioning anything that would make you write this. 

At this point, if I wanted to receive welfare assistance I could not. 

Me either

I do not avoid public services I am just not entitled to use many of them.  This was in reference to your comment that I am abusing the system by using public schools. 

You're confusing me with another poster... again

As for sales tax, I'd be willing to bet that a dual income house has far more sales tax than a single income- maybe not. 

Sales tax is based on purchasing things so it is more likely related to level of income (rather than number of income sources)

INCENTIVES- I have heard it suggested that women who stay home should somehow receive some form  of incentive from the government to do tso.  Either in way of acutal income (a salary ) or an equal type write off on their tax returns making  it more feasible (in theory) to stay home. This is in response to dual income families getting the deduction for child care exspenses that typically one income families do not have therfore do not receive at tax time.  How do you feel about this?  I'm truly curious.

My opinion is that child care expenses should not be deductions.  This sort of goes along with the flat tax rate issue to me.

Your posts are very interesting, however, I do not think you really understand what I am trying to say.  Maybe I'm not saying it the best

I could be missing the point.  Sometimes I take things too literally. 

Are you saying that homeschooling is only a viable option for families that can or do live on one income?  And you have an issue with that?

I have to reply even though it's not directed at me...

<<<It is common knowledge for anyone who has paid income tax ever in their life that a single income family is taxed less severely than a dual income family. >>>  No, as I explained to you earlier... If my husband makes 70K per year and we have two children we will be taxed EXACTLY like you are if you make 35K and your husband makes 35K and y'all have two children.  You do not know what you are talking about.  In my state, our PROPERTY taxes pay for schools - NOT the income taxes.  Property tax also helps to pay for our libraries and other community needs.  Sales taxes usually pay for roads, but not in all states or counties.

TO YOU, it is common knowledge that money is taken out of your paycheck.  Well, if you so desire, don't have the money taken out...it still won't change the amount of income tax you will pay in the year.  Double the amount of tax that comes out of your check and you STILL will not change the amount of tax you pay in the year.  What you have here is common misconception - not common knowledge!  You are clueless so you should take that tax class or not speak of something you know absolutely nothing about.

Sales tax is based on what you buy - not how many hours you work or how many people in the home bring in an income.  If you buy more crap than I do then you should pay more tax!  If I am poor with one income and you are equally as poor with two, you may buy more than me...it's not fair that you get the goodies and we both pay the same tax!

As far as incentives, I think the government should keep their big fat noses out of it and not offer any incentives for how a person chooses to raise their child.  I don't think anyone should get a reward for paying someone else to do the job either. 

If you think the rich pay too much tax, you are more clueless than I thought.  Rich people (or their friends) make the tax laws, they make them to benefit them - one way or another.  It is the very poor who pay NO tax at all but they have no income.  It is the working poor and the middle class who pay the most when you compare earned income to tax ratios.  The system is broken, I'll give you that but it does NOT work the way you think it does.

You talk about "taking out of the system".  I don't understand what that means.  I use the library and I drive on public roads but I do not and will never again use the public school system.  I work, as does my husband but he pays the bulk of the taxes because he earns the bulk of the income but as a family, the income is shared, so is the tax.  Income tax is based on income, it is the same for EVERY American family - no matter of how many people earn the income.  If the family is living at what the government considers a poverty level, then the family gets a tax break.  It has resulted in a lot of dishonesty and theft, so what the government has done is the opposite of teaching anyone to fish.  Yep, it's that kind of stupidity that keeps me from sending my kids to a government school - ever!

The incentive you mention for childcare is for single-income or dual-income families. Again, it does not matter how many people in the family earned the income - if you pay someone to care for your kids, you get to take it.  It is limited for those who are considered wealthy by the governments standards but otherwise, if you didn't pay child care then why should you get to take it? 

INCENTIVES- I have heard it suggested that women who stay home should somehow receive some form  of incentive from the government to do tso.  Either in way of acutal income (a salary ) or an equal type write off on their tax returns making  it more feasible (in theory) to stay home. This is in response to dual income families getting the deduction for child care exspenses that typically one income families do not have therfore do not receive at tax time.  How do you feel about this?  I'm truly curious.

I am not necessarily in favor of a tax break for SAHMs, but your position on this is rather hypocritical. You have NO problem taking a tax break for YOUR CHOICE to put your kids in daycare so you can earn money, but you are upset at someone else wanting a tax break for the added expenses of raising a child at home? For many families, not having that extra income IS an added expense, and for many families, the cost of quality daycare coupled with the expenses of working (gas, pantyhose, etc.) far outweighs the income benefits.

If your attitude is "You chose to have kids, pay for them yourself" shouldn't that also apply to not giving tax breaks to dual income families who also CHOSE to have kids, knowing they couldn't afford to stay home to care for them?

TAXES- It is common knowledge for anyone who has paid income tax ever in their life that a single income family is taxed less severely than a dual income family.  If you earn income (as you claim) from work you do (ie- part time or Interent job) then taxes are taken from your earnings.  These taxes go to things like schools, roads, etc.  Property tax doesn't necessarily go to these type of things

Please educate yourself about taxes.

We live in a state with no state income tax.. We own our house free and clear (no mortgage). I personally wrote out checks to pay our property taxes. One was to the county to pay for things like roads, etc. (we are outside of city limits so do not pay city taxes). The other check was almost three times as much and was paid directly to the school district.

Since we don't pay city taxes, we have to pay out of pocket for certain services if we want them. I just wrote a check yesterday to the city library to renew our library card for another year.

Everytime we buy something,we are charged the same amount of sales tax as anyone else who buys the same thing. It has nothing to do with income.

My husband and I both work at home and pay federal taxes on our combined income. There are people out there who make more (and therefore are taxed more) on a single income than we are on our dual income. We are also taxed on income earned from our investments (My parents are both retired and part of their income comes from investments and no one would classify my parents as gamblers).

We are homeschoolers. There are several moms in our homeschool group that do work -either regular type jobs or are self-employed at home. Some of the families bought houses prior to homeschooling when both spouses worked and simply adjusted their budget so the mom could stay home and not work. We all pay property taxes which go toward paying for public schools and other services (defined by where you live). Even if a person rents, part of the rent payment goes toward paying property taxes - some of which goes directly to the school district.