Is anybody else as upset about this as I am-

[SilverLily]

Originally posted by caitycaity
to be honest -- dh and i would contribute less to the economy with kids than we would without.

think about it:

right now we are dinks in our twenties with very little in savings. we choose to spend most of our money now b/c we can. we do have a limited amount of savings towards retirement, but that's it. we are big contributors to the economy.

when we have kids, we will be a bit older, and saving more towards our retirement. and with kids, of course, we will also start saving for their college funds. now having kids/not having kids will have no impact on our salary, so there is a finite amount. with kids -- we will end up saving more of our money than spending it as we would if we were single. we wouldn't be saving for anyone's college education.



at any rate, to sum up my feelings on this:

1) i don't think it's fair that there is a per child tax credit
2) i realise that life (and the tax code) are not fair
3) i let my elected representatives know how i feel on this issue
4) regardless of number 2, i have the right to express my displeasure about number 1. if you don't like it, ignore me.

I totally agree with you, caitycaity. My DH and I are making more money now than before we had kids, but we are probably only spending about the same on entertainment, things, etc. because we are saving more.

I agree with all of your points (1 - 4). I don't have a problem with people expressing their displeasure with the tax code. You and others on this thread seem to have no problem getting your point across. I just think some posters should learn that they aren't going to get anywhere when they call parents breeders, however veiled the name-calling was. Childfree people who don't like the tax credit for children need parents to help them elect officials that will make these changes. It won't get childfree people anywhere to insult and be condescending to parents who may agree with them, but they were too busy ranting to notice!

 

[caitycaity]

once again, silverlily -- i agree with you.

heck, i hope to be a parent myself some day, and no, i am not choosing to do so for the tax write off (tempting though... )

 

[amw5g]

Homer: Kids are the best, Apu. You can teach them to hate the things you hate. And they practically raise themselves, what with the Internet and all...I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy, unlike motherhood. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world ... except for some Mag Wheels, that would be sweet.

One man's take on it....
-Andrew

 

[Mskanga]

i focus on that alone b/c that is the only part of the tax package that i don't like.

For many of us, it's the only one we can take, ( and it's not a permanent one either ).

 

[SilverLily]

Oh, come on, caity! $1000 per child? If you have 5 children, you would get $5000 in credit! What a cool Disney vacation that could be!

I think I need to pop out a few more children ASAP...

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by Mskanga
For many of us, it's the only one we can take, ( and it's not a permanent one either ).

How can you not "take" the bracket cuts?

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by katerkat


But does the government give me a tax break for these guys? I pump money into the economy and the government doesn't care!

Let's vote for your cats and send them to Washington. I have 3 that would make nifty tax deductions. Cat food and litter aren't cheap.

 

[Mamu]

Gee all the disagreement about child credit. I for one think this is a good credit. It helps maybe a little for families who need extra help.

My concerns are in a world where both husband and wife need to work, why are we penalized. Also if I pay taxes once why do I have to pay taxes again on dividends.

Coming from taxachusetts, when the state finishes with you your lucky you can go out to eat.

This little bit of tax relief that is coming our way only means one thing instead of paying for 40 families to get a $400 refund check, I only have to pay for 39 families. I'm grateful but I still feel that I've paid my share over the years and I deserve a little back too. Why is it when the hard working middle class get a little back everyone is upset.

My DH works 10 hours a day 6 days a week. He does not sit at a desk he's an Ironworker, he builds the steel structure in buildings. Yes he makes good money, but he earns every cent he makes.

 

[disykat]

Lest anyone forget... these children are the future taxpayers - I know I'm counting on them when I reach retirement!

 

[madonna31]

Rats! I'm Canadian - I wish that I could add to this thread but since this doesn't concern Canada, I can't form a *real* opinion on this thread...

HOWEVER...I am thouroughly enjoying the entertainment - in fact I think I will subscribe to it! BUT (there's always a but) I will say this:

Here in Canada - we get a *baby bonus* check from the government once a month (it's like $20 bucks)...that's about $220 bucks/year, so me doing some quick math here - I have come to the conclusion that I have to move to the US to have kids - in order my *reward* of $400 bucks to have 'em!!! Woo Hoo!!!

As for taxes - lets NOT even go there. Do you have any idea what we pay here in sales tax for a pair of pants or some cereal? 15%!!!!! (I like going to WDW with 6% just for the *tax break*...)

Ok then....I've disturbed this "breeding" debate long enough...

GAME ON....

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says......................................Why all the whining and crying and woa is me, I don't get a child tax credit, because I don't have children? You guys are bigger babies than the children!
We have one child and we are scoring big time $400.00!!! Going to Vegas, with 12 straight reds on the roulette table, I can bank a million!

Line 51 Adoption Credit. You may be able to take this credit if you paid expenses to adopt a child. Waaaaa, it's not fair, I don't want to adopt a child.

Line 53 Qualified electrical vehicle credit. If you placed a new electrical vehicle in service in 2002 see Form 8834. Waaaaaaaa, it's not fair, I want a gas guzzler.

Line 53 New York Liberty Zone business employee credit on Form 8884. Waaaaaaaaa, it's not fair, I live in California.

Line 53 Nonconventional source fuel credit. Ya gotta check IRC sec. 29, to see if you can get this credit. Waaaaaaa, I have no idea what this means, so it's not fair.

Line 53 Empowerment zone and renewal community employment credit. See Form 8844 for details. Waaaaaaa, this doesn't even sound like english, so it's not fair.

Line 53 Qualified zone academy bond credit. Sorry, you need to be a S corporation shareholder to get this. Waaaaaaaaa, I wanted to be a S corp shareholder cause I thought S meant single, but I can't get this credit, so it's not fair.

Maybe the tax code just isn't fair to anyone.

Maybe you should stop being petulant children, and realize these children you seem to hate so much will pay for your medicaid, social security, and safety, just as our parents paid for us. In a warped way of thinking, not having children leads to an end of our civilization. So maybe you should pay even more, if you don't have children, oh wait, maybe you do! Maybe it is fair after all.

I did not see one post protesting the tax breaks I listed, and not one of them will produce/breed a future taxpayer.

Of course I don't know as much as many of you, so I could be wrong. Maybe we should transfer billions and billions of dollars from tax payers to the unfortunate poor, say over a period of about 40 years, and see what we get for it. Oh wait, we did that, and the return was negative.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Good points disneedad.

The way I look at it is that EVERYONE that pays federal income tax is going to save something because of the rate cuts. Some will save more because they are paying more than others, and others will save more because of other changes (reduction in marriage penalty, increased child credit, etc).

I'll take my savings and whistle on my way to the bank, and not worry about the parts of the cut that don't affect me.

 

[disneychrista]

I just heard on foxnews that the senate just passed a bill that will extend the credit to those who would normally NOT qualify for it. I guess this is good news for me, because I wouldn't qualify for the full $400 ($1000). But I still believe that those who did/do not pay taxes should not be getting a "refund."

Here is a link to the story Senate Approves Child Tax Credit for Low-Income Families

 

[bsnyder]

disneychrista - you're correct on the action the Senate took.

They caved. How disappointing.

As others have said, you can't give a refund to someone who didn't pay anything to begin with. This is an extension of welfare, pure and simply.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

I'm glad they "caved."

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says..................................... disneychrista, stick to your beliefs. Years from now when you are rich/ famous or both, or at least better off, you can say I didn't let my situation change my view, and now that it's better, I won't let my situation change my view, it's still the same. That is integrity, something so few have today.
I remember trying to go to UW, University of Washington, I never went but I am a Huskie for life. I had a 3.3 gpa, which was borderline. My freinds mom was a coun "sell" ar, who said just apply under some minority program and you are in for sure. I still remember my quote. "If I'm good enough, I'll go, if I'm not I won't"
I wasn't good enough. And I thought I was a liberal back then! Now I see I have always been for fairness, no special treatment, , so disneychrista, stick to your guns.

BTW, What part of Norcal are you from. We are in Sacramento.
Stick to the right, it's called the right because it is right!

 

[SnowAngel]

Thanks for this thread... quite interesting to hear others opinions on things and how people may disagree and agree over things. It all depends on your perspective and the way your life is. There are all ways to look at the issue and everyone is right in their own way.

While I also agree you shouldn't get money when you paid no money.. but hey free money.. It's nice but think when you get that money it's coming from someone else who paid that tax.
but then is life fair?? Isn't owning a home a luxury or having a business.. no one asked anyone to have those things.
All in all remember other countries have higher taxes than we do (first coming to mind is Great Britan)


But thanks for the taxes.. it pays my salary ---

on a side note .. I think it's funny that I get paid from taxes and have to pay taxes

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by JoeThaNo1Stunna
I'm glad they "caved."

You're glad that they are going to be sending welfare checks to people that didn't pay a penny in income tax? I'm kind of surprised - you don't normally strike me as being a socialist...