I'm not a rich man, but is 250k a lot of money? Sure in some parts yes, but not in major cities. If u make that much on ur own, ur doing well. But it's not hard to make that with dual income. (Cont.)

I come from in immigrant family and at one point I probably could say that 250K wasn't a lot. (During the age of 0-5) Yes, I know that did happen, my parents where well off and boom.. out of no where my parents lost almost everything. So, the part that I really remember is when I was applying to colleges and didn't even have the money to pay for my application fees. Thanks to some programs, they assisted me. With that being said, I will pay my fair share in taxes, but we need to be realistic. I have worked hard to be where I am today making close to 130K (alone), supporting my parents and make sure I give back to the community I'm in. Trying to say 250K is not a lot, as many mentioned, it's all depends on your lifestyle. IMO, if you work hard you should have the privilege of selecting your own lifestyle. I am though, against higher taxes for people who make 250K. Whether you make 50k or 260k the tax rate should not be set by the government who gets to choose where to invest it. I really do think that you (tax payer) should have a say where to invest you money within your communities. Again, I shared my story with you, don't judge, it's my opinion and this is what makes this country a great place.

Wow. I continue to be amazed at the condescending judgments and assumptions made about the lives of other people we don't know. Not to mention the hypocrisy (no one can tell you how to spend your money, but you can tell others how many children to have? Ok. This isn't China.) Given this thread started by demonstrating that what looks one way on paper doesn't tell the whole story (e.g. a 250k salary can look like a a person is wealthier or harder working than what may actually be true), we should be able to extend that same theory to others we don't know or whose decisions we may not understand, correct? Or do we only extend that grace to others like us? Wow. And here's something to think about: the US population has doubled in ONE generation's time...and it isn't just about "someone having 8 kids working for minimum wages". And again, you dont know how others end up in their situations (what if that person lost their job and is doing what they can to bring in some income? You'd call them lazy if they didn't work, yet you chastise them FOR working? Ok.) What I have learned over the years: You know what you know. Everything else is a theory, hypothesis, or assumption.

250k puts you in the top 0.1% of the world so yes it's a lot of money

OP is right. We shouldn't tax the rich at a higher rate. Our schools and infrastructure will fix themselves

The idea that you should be living a lavish lifestyle is the problem. Is it a lot? Yes, no matter how you slice it. At 250k, you have the ability to do things for you and your family that a family with a combined income of 50k can't. Your grandparents and generations before them made less, saved more, and lived well. They had nice things, but only a small set. The idea that we are all entitled to Gucci, Prada, and five star hotels, Michelin star dining, and luxury living is the reason we are in the mess we're in. If people didn't live-up to their incomes, things would be a lot better off.

When you can buy a house in 5 years of post tax income, that's a good lifestyle. So yes you are very naive and entitled.

What we consider "normal" is all relative. Some people would kill for a shared room with a sibling rather than a shared room with their whole family in a small apartment.

OP - The problem here is your view of the world is skewed. 250k gives you such a peace of mind that you take it for granted and think is the norm. There's enough people in your social network making that much that you think a lot of people do. That's just not the case. And now with the availability of social media, you see a much greater access of viewing the lifestyles of the ultra rich (multi millionaires & billionaires) and think you're not as well off. That is just not the case though. In perspective, it is a substantial amount of money that gives a great peace of mind that others don't have

I agree with both sides of the argument. My wife and I make over $300K combined and that's an insane amount of money on paper. But with multiple kids in a major city, a ginormous portion of the net income gets eaten up by housing cost and childcare cost. Add student loans to that and the family fixed cost are much higher than the average US household income.

Dude. Never say that in public. 250 doesn't go as far in NY or SF, but it's a lot of money.

Your definition of normal is so fucking skewed it's not funny.

I agree with OP. My household income is north of 300k and other than having a very well funded retirement, I don't feel we live like 1%ers. I don't miss any meals, either. But don't feel wealthy.

Haha I mean is that the rich? Seriously, might make me sound very naive and maybe you can teach me something, but when the avg home is going for 4-500k and u have 2-3 kids, ur not living lavish American lifestyles on that income.

People need to get out more and see how the rest of the world lives...

What about the US? I feel like those families are very middle class. My parents Make around that much, and are far from rich. They don't struggle but don't live 1% lives at all.

And that's what every dem candidate thinks to tax at a much higher rate. Sounds messed up to me. That is all.

But your housing costs are because you likely live in a nice home. That you own. Nobody is saying that you live a lavish lifestyle. Those who do should be taxed even higher. But you live a very comfortable lifestyle that's in the top few% in the nation. Paying back the social contract is perfectly reasonable

When you look at how most of the world lives, that's very excessive. Oh my kids need a giant bedroom to themselves, let's buy a giant SUV to ferry my children, let's send them to college that costs $200k. By the way, don't you think education would be lower cost if rich people contribute a bit more to society?

the US national 2016 poverty line for a family of EIGHT was $40,890 https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines.

in 2015, the US census found that 13.5% of the US lived under the poverty line. https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html

reality check man, 250K is a lot of money, especially for a 3-4 person family

OP: millionaires think they are middle class too. And seriously, get your head out of your ass (or out of the country) and see the world. Publicly funded things like education and healthcare works very well.

On second thought, please stay wherever you are and don't pollute the world with your ignorance and don't breed.

What everyone here is missing is that income is a poor representative of wealth. Net worth is a much better measure.

By basic math, it's not 1% rich because you're lumping yourself in to the same group that makes millions a year. That's just a dumb statement to make unless you don't understand math, logic or percents. Is 250K a lot of money? Yes. Should it be taxed progressively and not as a regressive tax? Yes. I'm more than happy to pay my fair share to make sure we all live better as a society.