Hey working stiffs,
Working Stiffs goes along with the old saying: “The only two certainties in life are death and taxes.” But here’s a little twist on that wisdom: “The difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” Yep, it’s time to talk about the great American middle-class, or as I like to call it, “The Working Poor”—because lately, it seems like the government is doing everything except making life easier for us. Hey this gives me a great idea for a new series on AMC: The Working Dead!!!
If you’ve ever wondered just how much of your hard-earned cash ends up in Uncle Sam’s bottomless pit, brace yourself. The average middle-class taxpayer shells out a whopping 30-40% of their income on taxes! Between federal income tax, state income tax, sales tax, property tax, gas tax, capital gains tax, and even death taxes (because the IRS wants one last kick in the wallet even when you’re gone)—that’s nearly half of what you make each year. It’s almost like we’re working harder for the government’s budget than we are for our own dreams!
And what do we get for all this “generosity”? Apparently, we’re financing the cushy pensions of foreign leaders instead of investing in our own! You heard that right—while the retirement age for hardworking Americans keeps climbing higher and higher, our taxes are helping keep other countries’ politicians cozy in their golden years. Isn’t it nice to know that while we’re putting off retirement indefinitely, there’s some ex-president halfway around the world sipping piña coladas on our dime? Ah, the sweet irony.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at France. Right now, French workers are practically flipping over croissants in the streets of Paris because their government has the nerve to suggest raising the retirement age by two whole years. The French are rioting, setting cars on fire, and throwing baguettes at the parliament building (probably). But here in the U.S.? It’s almost like we’re saying, “Work until 70? Sure, why not! We’ll just download a good podcast to listen to while we limp to our jobs with a walker.”
And don’t even get us started on the comparison between the average middle-class worker and the benefits some undocumented folks are getting. I mean, seriously! Americans are outraged to see what our tax dollars are providing—free housing, healthcare, food assistance… Meanwhile, we’ve got folks who actually pay taxes struggling to afford a roof over their heads and a decent insurance plan. Makes you wonder, who’s really got the American Dream here?
Now, take the current younger generation. Millennials and Gen Z? They’ve just stopped believing in the American Dream altogether. The thought of a house, a secure job, and a family sounds like something out of a dusty history book. But hey, as long as they have the latest iPhone with a high-speed data plan, it’s all good. We’re witnessing a new version of the old Roman tactic: “Bread and Circuses”. Keep people distracted and entertained, and they’ll happily ignore the fact that retirement is becoming a mirage on the horizon.
All this is, of course, theory and conjecture. But hey, it’s good to get this stuff off our chests—if only because we’re already carrying the heavy weight of all those taxes! So, what’s the takeaway here? Maybe it’s time we all start throwing metaphorical baguettes and demanding better for the American middle-class. Or maybe we just need a good laugh… because, at the end of the day, humor’s the only thing they haven’t figured out how to tax yet! And after all “Laughter is the best medicine … except if you have diarrhea” and the only healthcare plan the middleclass can afford these days.
Cheers,
Mark R Steinpreis (Author)
The Voice of the Over-Taxed and Under-Appreciated Middle Class
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Photo by: Tima Miroshnichenko
