Alberta Politics Thread

[Slava]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Some folks on here think once you've hit $100k you swim in a vault of cash like Scrooge McDuck. $70k is baller status, I'm sure you've got the Bentley on back order with that massive flow.

I just attribute that to younger posters in general. when I first came out of school I thought that way, and if you keep living like a student then yeah, $40k a year is a lot of money. The problem is that not many people do that (there are some bloggers who are incredibly frugal of course, but that's not the norm).

[polak]

I'd be so content with $80K a year and no kids.

*sigh*

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Some folks on here think once you've hit $100k you swim in a vault of cash like Scrooge McDuck. $70k is baller status, I'm sure you've got the Bentley on back order with that massive flow.

On the other hand, a lot of people seem to think everyone in Canada is an educated professional with a good white-collar job. Most of the people who you hand the debit machine back to after buying stuff will never earn more than $40k. And there are whole swathes of the country where being the garden department manager at Rona is considered a damn good job.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just attribute that to younger posters in general. when I first came out of school I thought that way, and if you keep living like a student then yeah, $40k a year is a lot of money. The problem is that not many people do that (there are some bloggers who are incredibly frugal of course, but that's not the norm).

I mean I make around that range and I'm able to live pretty comfortably, so yeah, excuse me if I don't exactly feel sorry for people who can't live comfortably on $100k.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I mean I make around that range and I'm able to live pretty comfortably, so yeah, excuse me if I don't exactly feel sorry for people who can't live comfortably on $100k.

The point isn't whether you should feel sorry for anyone. No one is looking for sympathy from you because you live on less money and a different lifestyle studying political science in Victoria. Like I say, I held similar beliefs when I was a student. I used to say all kinds of dumb things like "I'd be happy to pay $100k a year in taxes, just give me the income to do it."

Now I don't pay $100k in taxes each year, but I'm working my way there. I can tell you that I don't want that problem any more though. Thing is that people have a very limited ability to empathize with other situations. It sounds like "I would just do this" when you're not actually in the situation, and then when you're actually in that situation it's not that simple.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Slava

The point isn't whether you should feel sorry for anyone. No one is looking for sympathy from you because you live on less money and a different lifestyle studying political science in Victoria. Like I say, I held similar beliefs when I was a student. I used to say all kinds of dumb things like "I'd be happy to pay $100k a year in taxes, just give me the income to do it."

Now I don't pay $100k in taxes each year, but I'm working my way there. I can tell you that I don't want that problem any more though. Thing is that people have a very limited ability to empathize with other situations. It sounds like "I would just do this" when you're not actually in the situation, and then when you're actually in that situation it's not that simple.

If you say so. I know plenty of people who have started to budge into the $100k+ territory that still maintain the "I would pay more taxes if it meant better services for those who need it" mantra.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I mean I make around that range and I'm able to live pretty comfortably, so yeah, excuse me if I don't exactly feel sorry for people who can't live comfortably on $100k.

Do you have kids?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Do you have kids?

Nope, and I'm fully aware that it makes a difference and that some people want and should have kids. I also think our tax system should be setup to help who do have kids, despite not wanting any of my own. That said, having kids is a choice and it should come with some personal sacrifices just as anything else in life is supposed. For the people making $100k with kids, especially in a dual-income situation where household income is likely above $150k, are there areas they could be sacrificing from? Do they have high-end electronics? Do they go out to eat a lot? How many vacations do they take and where do they go? I'm not saying people shouldn't have these things or that they're bad people for wanting them more than they want to help others. I'm just saying it's more often a case of people not wanting to give up the extra finer things in life they enjoy to help others than it is a case of actually hurting their abilities to provide for themselves and their family. I'm also totally open to the possibility that I'm off-base here.

[Ironhorse]

So you're essentially saying anyone who chose to have kids can eff off on doing things that non-parents do? Who is going to pay for your OAS and healthcare? Oh wait, my kids...

We are single income family make a bit over $100k, 2 children, and are now getting kicked in the junk repeatedly by the tax man. Heaven forbid I go on a vacation every once in awhile, or buy a new TV.

[Weitz]

Don't have kids then?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

So you're essentially saying anyone who chose to have kids can eff off on doing things that non-parents do? Who is going to pay for your OAS and healthcare? Oh wait, my kids...

We are single income family make a bit over $100k, 2 children, and are now getting kicked in the junk repeatedly by the tax man. Heaven forbid I go on a vacation every once in awhile, or buy a new TV.

Is that really what you got out of what I said?

EDIT: Although I will say that I find it a little interesting that people with kids think they're entitled to all of these extra-curriculars but are also the same ones who generally tell students to suck it up and eat ramen.

[Coach]

I'm a single person making between 50-60k per year. I'd like to go on vacations too, but I chose to put a down payment on a house a few years ago, so that's where my money goes. Just like you chose to have kids a few years ago, so that's where your money goes.

Why do you get both and I don't if you didn't budget yourself for it?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

So you're essentially saying anyone who chose to have kids can eff off on doing things that non-parents do? Who is going to pay for your OAS and healthcare? Oh wait, my kids...

We are single income family make a bit over $100k, 2 children, and are now getting kicked in the junk repeatedly by the tax man. Heaven forbid I go on a vacation every once in awhile, or buy a new TV.

I feel you. $100k doesn't go as far as $40k did when I was a student when you have to pay for everything for 4 people. I haven't taken a vacation in 3 years.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I'm a single person making between 50-60k per year. I'd like to go on vacations too, but I chose to put a down payment on a house a few years ago, so that's where my money goes. Just like you chose to have kids a few years ago, so that's where your money goes.

Why do you get both and I don't if you didn't budget yourself for it?

Maybe Ironhorse is a bit older than you are and has already made sacrifices to be in a position where kids, a house and vacations are possible.
Why do so many people think they deserve to be able to skip a step along the way and have everything now?

[polak]

Originally Posted by WCan_Kid

Maybe Ironhorse is a bit older than you are and has already made sacrifices to be in a position where kids, a house and vacations are possible.
Why do so many people think they deserve to be able to skip a step along the way and have everything now?

He's not saying that.

He's saying that just like you think it's people's fault for wanting everything now, having kids is just another thing you decided to do and now have to live with the consequences of budgeting for them... Ironhorse is saying that because of a slight increase in his taxes, he can no longer afford vacations. When it comes down to it, that's a budgeting issue, just like buying a house and having to spend most of your income on that is a budgeting issue for younger folk still under that high income level.

[northcrunk]

BTW. Having 1 kid was ok with 2 incomes. Once you have the 2nd having two incomes isn't worth it when you factor in how much day care is. $2000/m for 2 kids is about standard without going all fancy pants. We do still need people to repopulate this country so tax incentives help make it a little less hard. Hopefully though once my youngest is in school my wife will go back to work. The first 5-8 years is the hardest. Ever increasing tax rates do not help anyone.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by polak

He's not saying that.

He's saying that just like you think it's people's fault for wanting everything now, having kids is just another thing you decided to do and now have to live with the consequences of budgeting for them... Ironhorse is saying that because of a slight increase in his taxes, he can no longer afford vacations. When it comes down to it, that's a budgeting issue, just like buying a house and having to spend most of our income on that is a budgeting issue for younger folk still under that high income level.

You're just assuming that I think it's a generational issue, I don't. I have enough friends who are still in their 20's to know that thinking all "millennials" are lazy & entitled is silly. Lots of boomers and gen xers in the lazy and entitled camp just like there are lots of millennials who are hard working and grounded.

I think the problem Ironhorse is alluding to is that the current "tax the rich" attitude is hitting a lot of people who aren't necessarily rich, just finally in a position to actually enjoy the fruits of their labor. The truly rich, those who can actually afford these changes without noticing a drop in their lifestyles, just leave or find new tax shelters.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

BTW. Having 1 kid was ok with 2 incomes. Once you have the 2nd having two incomes isn't worth it when you factor in how much day care is. $2000/m for 2 kids is about standard without going all fancy pants. We do still need people to repopulate this country so tax incentives help make it a little less hard. Hopefully though once my youngest is in school my wife will go back to work. The first 5-8 years is the hardest. Ever increasing tax rates do not help anyone.

Yeah it's pretty hard to stomach day care costs for multiple kids in this city. For us it was six years where it was costing more monthly than our mortgage payments.

[polak]

Having kids sounds like a nightmare. Seriously.

I don't think I could have kids unless my gf and I were making double what we're making now. I stress enough over my own finances let alone having to take care of someone else.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by polak

Having kids sounds like a nightmare. Seriously.

This ecard always amused me.