Just How Much Out Of Touch Is This Guy?

[dales]

Romney: 'Middle-income' between $200K and $250K

By The Associated Press
Published: September 14, 2012
Updated: September 14, 2012 - 11:35 AM



BOSTON --
Mitt Romney is promising to reduce taxes on middle-income Americans.

But how does he define "middle-income"? The Republican presidential nominee defined it Friday as income of $200,000 to $250,000 a year and less.

The definition of "middle income" or the "middle class" is politically charged as Romney and President Barack Obama fight to win over working-class voters. Romney would be among the wealthiest presidents, if elected, and Democrats have repeatedly painted him as out of touch with average people.

Obama also has set his definition for "middle class" as families with income of up to $250,000 a year.

Romney's comments came an interview broadcast Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"No one can say my plan is going to raise taxes on middle-income people, because principle number one is (to) keep the burden down on middle-income taxpayers," Romney told host George Stephanopoulos.

"Is $100,000 middle income?" Stephanopoulos asked.

"No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less," Romney responded.

His campaign later clarified that Romney was referencing household income, not individual income.

The Census Bureau reported this week that the median household income — the midpoint for the nation — is just over $50,000.

Obama wants to extend Bush-era tax cuts for those making less than $250,000, while Romney wants to extend the tax cuts for everyone.

Romney has not explained how he would keep his plan from growing the nation's deficit.

Gawd, not only is this buffoon out of touch with reality, he is dumb as a sack of hammers.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Middle income is not equal to middle class. And ones middle class status is determined by where he lives as much as how much he makes.

$50k (as middle income across the USA) is less than $200,000 to $250,000 so technically Romney is covered. I don't believe he is saying that middle income is between $200K and $250K as he did say "or less" (something the headline conveniently leaves out). He is probably talking about a "top" on who is to be considered middle class, mush the same as Obama's $250K limit.

Living in the N YCity metro area that salary would probably put you in upper middle class depending on where your house is, your school taxes/property taxes etc.

[Long Run]

Non-story that someone tried to make news out of. Not like there's real news out there, you know, like the Middle East is a piece of bad news or luck away from exploding.

[Gob]

Most of us would interpret "middle income" as "Middle class income" if used in that context I would think. If nothing else, it does highlight how far off the middle the middle class actually are.

[Long Run]

Since Obama agrees that $250,000 household income is the upper end of "middle", there is no disagreement. In America, those who earn in the 200K range, while generally doing well and usually grateful for their lives, consider themselves to be middle class (upper-middle, actually). Economists, slicing and dicing income demographics, may say such people are upper income, but most such people, especially those in expensive cities consider themselves, and are considered by most others, as still part of the great middle class. Of course, those who earn high wages for a long period of time will attain a bunch of assets and eventually come to the view that they are now in the upper class, rather than being in the fat part of the bell curve.

[dales]

Rolling down the slope of no return.

[rubato]

The terms "middle income" and "middle class" have been used with great fluidity of definition depending on what, usually dishonest, purpose the writer or speaker had in mind at the time.

Historically the "middle class" in Victorian and late Victorian England were called "middle" because they were in-between the hereditary wealthy and the masses of very poor people who were the great majority. They were by modern standards extremely wealthy and typically had 2 or more full-time servants.

In the United states it is considered a mark of virtue to call oneself "middle class" so that people who are plainly poor do so as well as people who are very rich. Poor people do this because it is shameful not to have attained 'middle class' status and rich people do so to lie and deceive you into thinking that their network of problems and issues is related to those making $50,000 and they understand the hardships and struggles of the average person. Mitty is no more deluded than the people themselves who are making $200,000 to 250,000/yr who often call themselves "middle class" even though they make 4-5 times the median income, he is just pandering to their own dishonesty.

As someone with experience of both ends of the spectrum I can say with certainty that if you make $250,000/yr (taxable) for any significant period of time you are "rich" which is also confirmed by examining the US census bureau's income statistics.

The median household in the US makes $50,000/yr and Mitty only cares about those who make $250,000.

yrs,
rubato

[oldr_n_wsr]

Mitty is no more deluded than the people themselves who are making $200,000 to 250,000/yr who often call themselves "middle class" even though they make 4-5 times the median income, he is just pandering to their own dishonesty.

Obama included.

[rubato]

You must be in 'opposite land'.

Obama does not say they are 'middle income' and in fact wants to raise their taxes.

yrs,
rubato

[oldr_n_wsr]

You must be in 'opposite land'.

What a nice thing to say. At least I try nd understand the opposite of my views, maybe there is a valid point out there. Those locked into "all republicans are bad/stupid/not worthy" or "all democrats are limo liberals who think they are smarter than your average bear and only want to spend taxpayer money" can remain ignorant forever.
I am just trying to figure out what is being said by the "opposing" parties. So far I don't see much difference between the two in this discussion.

Obama does not say they are 'middle income' and in fact wants to raise their taxes.

yrs,
rubato

And here I thought he had the tax raise pegged for those who made OVER $250,000. Or have I misread the statement when he talked about $250K being middle "class" and would raise the taxes (or not renew the Bush tax cuts) for those making more than that?

The median household in the US makes $50,000/yr and Mitty only cares about those who make $250,000.

AFAIK, Obama's "cut -off" is the same. Did he lower this?