Those Privileged to Work and Should Spread the Wealth

This morning, CBS’s Sunday Morning had a rare moment of -- should we call it objectivity?

The segment came on right before the record-setting rock skipper section. (51 skips – great Americana story even though a kilted Scott was also featured!)

Last week, Ben Stein commented that this was not the time to raise taxes on the top income-earners…those who create jobs.

CBS certainly could not let that statement stand without a firm rebuke.

This morning, Sunday Morning passed the mike to Linda McGibney, producer and writer on Sci Fi channel. Sci Fi? Really?

She likely knows as much about economics as Steven Colbert knows about immigration.

Ms. McGibney comments included: “I am willing to pay this tax increase…it is the cost of doing business…some of us need to sacrifice for our country.”

OK, Ms. McGibney. Write the federal government a check. I'm sure someone can give you the address.

She also said, “having a job is a privilege” – a privilege? She continued that those having that privilege should “spread the good fortune.”

I had no idea that work was a privilege and that those of us lucky enough to get up every day, work hard to earn a living and take care of our families, were also fortunate. What does privilege and fortune have to do with it?

I guess to some whether or not we earn a living is a roll of the dice. Either you are lucky enough to work or you are not. It’s that simple to this sci fi writer. Maybe in some alternate universe that is the case, but not in America.

But it gets worse. Ms. McGibney goes on to say that those of us lucky enough to work are greedy if we don’t want to use government as the vehicle to spread our wealth. Linda called this the cost of doing business. Really?

Who creates jobs, Ms. McGibney? Haven't we seen that using the government to spread the wealth just doesn't work?

Ms. McGibney's thinking is wrong on so many levels.

I love the nature segments which Sunday Morning leaves their viewers with. Today, it featured the tall cactus outside Tucson, Arizona. Frankly, Ms. McGibney's commentary left me a bit prickly.

Why do I watch CBS?

Did Obama Lie? Health care tax will hit middle America

Then-candidate Barack Obama said, "No family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase." (September 12, 2008)

One little-known fact about the health care bill that Obama pushed and Congress passed is found in the 2011 W-2 Tax Forms.


Title IX Revenue Provisions—Subtitle A: Revenue Offset
"(Sec. 9002) Requires employers to include in the W-2 form of each employee
the aggregate cost of applicable employer-sponsored group health coverage
that is excludable from the employee's gross income (excluding the value of
contributions to flexible spending arrangements)."


So starting in 2011—next year—the W-2 tax form sent by your employer will be
increased to show the value of whatever health insurance you are provided.
It doesn't matter if you're retired. Your gross income WILL go up by the amount
of insurance your employer paid for. So you’ll be required to pay taxes on a larger
sum of money that you actually received. Take the tax form you just finished for
2009 and see what $15,000.00 or $20,000.00 additional gross income does to
your tax debt. That's what you'll pay next year. For many it puts you into a
much higher bracket. This is how the government is going to buy insurance for
fifteen (15) percent that don't have insurance and it's only part of the tax increases, but it's not really a "tax increase" as such, it a redefinition of your taxable income.

Also, go to Kiplinger's and read about the thirteen (13) tax changes for 2010 that
could affect you.

If this doesen't get to you, then check your pulse. You may be a flatline...

Should you want to verify this, go to http://www.thomas.gov/, enter "HR 3590"
in the search box and look for "CRS Summaries."

Is this a tax increase? Does Obama think we are stupid?