As someone who loves Bernie’s lofty goals, and would happily vote for him if he won the nomination, I guess I was a little shocked to discover how much he was going to raise my taxes according to the Vox.com calculator.
Bernie’s “Free” Healthcare and “Free” College is going to cost me around $9,000 EXTRA in taxes per year.
Hillary’s plan will cost me about $40 extra.
Donald Trump wants to give me a $4,500 per year TAX BREAK.
So that’s a $13,500 difference in my yearly taxes between Sanders and Trump.
With Bernie, by the time my son goes to college, I’ll have paid $162,000 in advance for that education… plus another $36,000 while he’s there.
Obviously, that wouldn’t change who I’ll vote for because I vote (D) no matter what these days, but holy cow.
I’ve been told by MANY Bernie fans that he would go after unfair Corporate tax breaks, the big banks and their sneaky way of avoiding taxes, the big oil cartels and their absolutely insane tax breaks, and millionaires and billionaires to pay for his plans.
I am not a corporation, a big bank, an oil cartel, or a millionaire or certainly not a billionaire!
Even worse, as someone who can afford this tax increase if I stretch my budget but who cares about those who CANNOT, I am shocked at how much Bernie is going to ask the poor to pay.
A single mother making $20,000 per year who has one child will be asked to pay $2,300 MORE in taxes.
A married couple making $40,000 per year who have one child will be asked to pay $4,830 MORE in taxes.
If more than 50% of Democratic voters in the primaries aren’t buying into this idea, I don’t see how this can be sold to the general population, especially Republicans who will be screaming “TAX AND SPEND, TAX AND SPEND!” until their throats are raw.
Any thoughts on how you would explain this plan to regular Americans who will only hear “tax increase” and tune out?
Edited to add:
I forgot to mention, my wife and I make more than $75,000 per year but less than $100,000 per year and have one child. So, yes, we can afford this tax increase, but how do we sell MOST Americans on it? That was my question, which some folks have tried to help answer while others have been busy flagging the Tip Jar because they don’t like facts. The fact is, Bernie will raise taxes. People don’t like their taxes to go up. How do you get past that to sell his plan to the average American?