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Scenario:
You're 18. You decide to get a job. Great! Unfortunately, your prospective employer has to pay you 20% less because of employer-side taxes & workman's comp.
You WERE going to make $20/hr, but now that is $16/hr. Ah, well, that's still decent money.
Moving on...
You're 18. You decide to get a job. Great! Unfortunately, your prospective employer has to pay you 20% less because of employer-side taxes & workman's comp.
You WERE going to make $20/hr, but now that is $16/hr. Ah, well, that's still decent money.
Moving on...
You get your first paycheck! Hm? It feels a little light.
Oh. You're paying 15% on taxes, so it is $96 less than what you would've had. That's cool. You still have $544, because your state doesn't have its own income tax.
lol, suckers.
Let's spend those big bucks!
Oh. You're paying 15% on taxes, so it is $96 less than what you would've had. That's cool. You still have $544, because your state doesn't have its own income tax.
lol, suckers.
Let's spend those big bucks!
You need to register your car so you can keep getting to work. There's a $35 tax on that. Ah, well. That's how they get you! 
$509 left. Let's get some groceries.
You're used to eating ramen, so $100 ought to do it. What? State sales tax? That's at 10%...
So, $110 gone...
$509 left. Let's get some groceries.
You're used to eating ramen, so $100 ought to do it. What? State sales tax? That's at 10%...
So, $110 gone...
$399 left. Gotta pay your mortgage. $200, but at least you own it. Huh? There's something in the mail. Property tax? And you have to pay city & county because you live in-town?
Well, hardly gonna notice that if you pay it weekly...what's $13.50?
...
Well, hardly gonna notice that if you pay it weekly...what's $13.50?
...
You need to fill up your car. Oh, nice! Gas at $2/gallon. There's some small print on the pump, though...
27.4 cents/gallon tax for gas? What's that even mean?
You're just getting $20, and a $20 spends the same, regardless. Haha...
27.4 cents/gallon tax for gas? What's that even mean?
You're just getting $20, and a $20 spends the same, regardless. Haha...
Whoops. Forgot to pay the utility bill. $60 used? Oh, and sales tax. $66/week, then.
Damnit. And the internet. $25 more gone. But at least they don't tell you how much of it goes to taxes; just that some does for various fees.
Damnit. And the internet. $25 more gone. But at least they don't tell you how much of it goes to taxes; just that some does for various fees.
Well, you have $74.50 left to do with as you please! Not bad for 40 hours. Let's put $50 of that into crypto. $50 in, and WOO - turned it into $100!
Taxed at 25% or so, that still leaves you with an extra $25 to show for those WICKED GAINZ.
Taxed at 25% or so, that still leaves you with an extra $25 to show for those WICKED GAINZ.
Better cash out, though, because you're broke AF.
Back to $99.50! Not bad for 40 hours on CT listening to influencers in order to bang out that 2x.
So over the course of this week, you have spent nothing on entertainment. Nothing on fast food or drinks. Nothing but...
Back to $99.50! Not bad for 40 hours on CT listening to influencers in order to bang out that 2x.
So over the course of this week, you have spent nothing on entertainment. Nothing on fast food or drinks. Nothing but...
...the essentials. You don't have a girlfriend because you're a crypto trader, AND THANK FUCK FOR THAT. You still have that $99.50 to spend as you please.
While the government has...roughly $311.75 to do with as they please. And that's not including the car registration or 'net.
While the government has...roughly $311.75 to do with as they please. And that's not including the car registration or 'net.
At the end of the day, the government has taken roughly 49% of your taken-home pay away from you, in one form or another. But you barely noticed the cuts! And after internet & other nickels & dimes, you're likely looking at half or more gone.
What do you receive for that money? Cops who have thousands upon thousands of pages of codes & crimes they can arrest you for breaking? A vote that doesn't make a difference?
A home you don't really own, and $100 to spend after keeping yourself alive?
A home you don't really own, and $100 to spend after keeping yourself alive?
Even less than that if other taxes are involved. Like school tax, sales tax on paying for a vehicle, etc.
You don't just pay once. You pay for everything you do to stay alive. And if you avoid paying, you'll spend time in jail while other people pay taxes to keep you locked up.
You don't just pay once. You pay for everything you do to stay alive. And if you avoid paying, you'll spend time in jail while other people pay taxes to keep you locked up.
Taxes are a death by a thousand cuts. It is a strong-armed robbery that you don't even know is happening. A hundred tiny guns pressed against your back, or picking your pocket.
You don't see it go, half the time, and FUCKED if you know what they spend it on or have any choice.
You don't see it go, half the time, and FUCKED if you know what they spend it on or have any choice.
Also, let's not forget inflation!
Inflation is a regressive tax on the poor, because the rich can afford investments that outpace inflation. While the poor have meager options, and are usually living week-to-week.
With inflation, you'll see those $100-ish buying power...
Inflation is a regressive tax on the poor, because the rich can afford investments that outpace inflation. While the poor have meager options, and are usually living week-to-week.
With inflation, you'll see those $100-ish buying power...
...drop by as much as 50% over the coming years. And then more. And more. And more, until we decide that $10 left to us is the line they cannot cross. Of course, that $10 will barely buy you a box of kleenex for crying into.
