Are the rich paying their 'fair' share?

[Jon Miller]

I must be stupid if I think money is only useful for obtaining goods and services.

I had a non-direct relative who (my age) quit being a teacher and became a vice-president of a major US corporation (I think there were a couple of years in between).

I am sure this had nothing to do with him being from a wealthy family and everything to do with his rare ability.

JM

[Al B. Sure!]

So we should punish people for saving their money instead of spending it now because it might enable them to live in a less ****ty neighborhood where they won't get mugged?

Median household income 19133: $16,206
Median household income 20151: $103,899

It's not easy to save when your household income is $16K

[giblets]

Obviously the people who are wealthier are just smarter/better than those who are poorer. That is why they are so good at making more income. It has nothing to do with the advantages of wealth, which have been well documented in studies/etc.

JM

I think there is a correlation between intelligence and income. So yes, the wealthy are smarter on average.

[giblets]

Yup. I won this argument.

That's just one non-monetary advantage to being rich.

You've defeated yourself. And once again reminded us of your poor life choices.

[Jon Miller]

Obviously the people who are wealthier are just smarter/better than those who are poorer. That is why they are so good at making more income. It has nothing to do with the advantages of wealth, which have been well documented in studies/etc.

JM

[Al B. Sure!]

QFT

Yup. I won this argument.

That's just one non-monetary advantage to being rich.

[giblets]

So we should punish people for saving their money instead of spending it now with taxes on investment income because saving might enable them to live in a less ****ty neighborhood where they won't get mugged?

[Al B. Sure!]

I'm sorry. Your (and HC's) argument was that the benefits of living in a low-crime area are paid for by the much higher real estate taxes paid.

Of course the government does extort them into paying higher property taxes than people living in the ghetto.

I think that has more to do with living in a nice neighborhood (something that is taxed, by the way) than being rich.

When it was shown that the Philly property tax rate is higher than Fairfax's, you pointed to absolute value.

When I showed that the difference in absolute dollars paid by homeowners in the two areas is a mere $1000/year and that couldn't possibly account for the fact that 19133 has SIX TIMES the crime rate of Fairfax... you now say what exactly?

You're going to have to explain.

[Hauldren Collider]

Looks like you should leave north Philly and move to Virginia. It might save your life.

QFT

[giblets]

I honestly don't feel like explaining why people shouldn't be punished for not choosing to live in a cesspool where they get mugged every other day.

[Al B. Sure!]

There's also a few thousand more homes in 19133 than in 20151.

Can you tell me how a measly extra $1000 a year per home in Fairfax translates as the cost for 1/6th of the crime rate?

Please, kind sirs, explain it to me.

Don't forget we have ~4% city income tax and 8% sales tax.

[giblets]

Looks like you should leave north Philly and move to Virginia. It might save your life.

[Al B. Sure!]

How much is the property you live on worth? A property in a nice neighborhood is worth a lot more.

Average home sale price in my 19133: $90,000
Average home sale price in 20151: $350,000

Average tax bill 19133 (given the rates I gave previously): $2709
Average tax bill 20151 (given the rates I gave previously): $3745

Total crime risk rating (100 represents national average) 19133: 228
Total crime risk rating (100 represents national average) 20151: 39

That sure is a strong extra $1000! That extra $1000 in property taxes a year means Fairfax has 39% of the national crime rate while North Philly has 228% of it!

Something else to keep in mind:

Median household income 19133: $16,206
Median household income 20151: $103,899

http://www.moving.com/real-estate/compare-cities/results.asp?ZIP1=19133&Zip2=20151&sbmtZIP=Get+Report

[giblets]

Philadelphia: 9.432% of assessed value (assessed value is 32% of market value) = 3.01% property tax rate on market value
Fairfaix County: 1.07% of assessed value (assessed value appears to equal market value) = 1.07% property tax rate on market value

Philadelphia sales tax: 8%
Fairfax County sales tax: 5%

How much is the property you live on worth? A property in a nice neighborhood is worth a lot more.

[Al B. Sure!]

It's a privilege of living in a neighborhood that doesn't suck. Of course the government does extort them into paying higher property taxes than people living in the ghetto.

Philadelphia: 9.432% of assessed value (assessed value is 32% of market value) = 3.01% property tax rate on market value
Fairfaix County: 1.07% of assessed value (assessed value appears to equal market value) = 1.07% property tax rate on market value

Philadelphia sales tax: 8%
Fairfax County sales tax: 5%