Who is this ASSHOLE in the press briefing that just said that making $250K is NOT alot of money???

[jillan]

And then followed it with - if Obama let ALL the tax cuts expire it would cut the deficit in half, so why not just do that?

Gibbs practically laughed in his face.

Anybody else watching? I would LOVE to know who he was.

[louis-t]

1. If it's so easy to make that much, then

why do only 2% of Americans make that amount?

[jillan]

4. He was actually serious - he said it's not alot of money depending on where you live.

True - it costs more to live in NYC than it does in Kansas - BUT as Gibbs said to this jerk, someone making 250K/year does not have to wonder how they are going to pay their electricity bill.


How can anyone be so out of touch???

[closeupready]

26. Further, the population of Manhattan is what, 1M or so? Out of 310M Americans?

n/t

[Warpy]

2. Had to be Pox News or the Wall Street Journal

because they're about the only fools who are still spouting that line of crap.

[Cassandra]

3. Whoever he is...

he's clearly overpaid.

[jillan]

6. The only good thing is that he was sitting towards the back, so he wasn't too important of a jerk.

[ejpoeta]

5. i guess this clown must make MORE than that, because that can only be not a lot

of money in proportion to someone making a lot more than that. i know for me that sure seems like a lot of money.... we make $40k a year..... $250k is a lot more than $40k.

[jillan]

7. That's pretty much what Gibbs told him - that many couples are happy to make 50K for a family of 4.

What an offensive question. I really would love to know his name.

[SoCalDem]

8. In some cities, $250K is not necessarily a lot of money, if one is sole support of a large family

This is what's so vexing when it comes to discussing income. Every family's needs are different, and there is always a lot of subjectivity when we get around to what a necessity is.

A lifestyle for one family, might be considered poverty-living by another with the same income.

Some families have individuals within them, who have expensive medical conditions that may not be covered by insurance. Many families financially support other family members who may not live with them.

The Princeton study exposed $75K as the breakpoint, where "happiness" is achieved and then not increased as more income flows in.

Perhaps a federal tax exemption on the first $75K of income, could address some of the disparity, and whatever shortfall affixed to the incomes over that:)

[jillan]

9. I have to disagree with you - I want to live in San Diego more than anything in the world, but

I can't afford it - so I stay in Phoenix and drive to SD every chance I get.

I know people who work in New York City - but commute from NJ....or I know someone who works in DC but lives in Virginia.

I know people that constantly worry how they are going to pay the rent, let alone the utilities.

You cannot tell me that 250K is not alot of money.

[haele]

16. If you don't have medical or long term care issues, a family of four can be comfortable in San Diego

at $75K a year income - if they budget and have reasonable expectations (reasonable sized home in a middle/working class neighborhood of 1000-1500 sq ft., keep the high priced toys to a minimum, one economical car per adult, etc...) they might even have enough left over to put aside some money into a college fund and/or savings every month. And that's in the city.
In the county, it could be even less - you could maintain a half-acre subsistence lot easily (smaller home, large garden, goats and chickens) on $75K a year - if you were willing to commute.
There are rudiments of a halfway decent county transit system, and most locations have "park and ride" if you don't want to stress your cars.
But ultimately, it initially takes research to find the good neighborhoods where you can find the $200-$300K houses, and you do need to have money to put down to keep a mortgage around $2K a month for 20-30 years.
The small WWII era 2 bdrm house we rent for $1500 a month in the middle of the city is tentatively "valued" (on Zillow) at $400K; even being on a double-lot off a canyon, I doubt if the owners could get more than $250K if they wanted to sell as is. Have decent credit and come up with $50K to put down (and figure for another $50K for much needed energy efficiency upgrades), and you can probably get a mortgage for around $1900 a month for 30 years on that house.

La Jolla, Del Mar, Carmel Valley - they tend to skew what people think housing is like in the area. The average family making $75K a year are not going to be able to live in the million dollar enclaves. But they can end up in a very nice older neighborhood or suburb.

It's when your family brings home only around $50K a year that you run into trouble finding a decent place to live in San Diego or some of the surrounding towns and cities. And the median income for a family of 4 in the county is only around that.

Of course, medical issues or other large expenses (legal bills, college, child or disabled/elder care costs, child support, etc) are what kills the budget of the average family. If any of the above need to be budgeted in, the family needs to be bringing in close to six figures just to live a little over a paycheck to paycheck existence.

In my mind, the bigger issue in this discussion is the value of people and work in this country. In a race to the bottom line, despite the protestations of Politicians, Corporations, and Chambers of Commerce, the respect and value of an individual, their family, and their contribution to society as a whole has decreased to the level of a cheap, disposable Made-in-China tool set.

What's sad is how the standard of living for the average American family has progressed over the past 25 years -
that the average family making $75K a year nowadays is living at the same level as the average family making $20K a year 25 years ago was living;
and since wages are pretty much stagnant since the mid-1980's, the family making $20K a year 25 years ago - at the same type jobs requiring the same type experience and skill levels as were required then - would only be making $40K a year nowadays - with less benefits to cover regular expenses available than they had 25 years ago.

A child of the late 70's following in his or her parent's footsteps would be financially worse off now - at the very same stage of work and life experience - than the parents would have been 25 years previously. And I don't see that changing very soon.

Haele

[jillan]

17. You proved my point - I can't afford to live in San Diego. I don't make 75K a year....

not even close.

[haele]

19. That's why most families can't afford to live here, even those that work here.

Why my family lives paycheck to paycheck and are thankful that the owners are not going to raise the rent, even on a "good" income that almost everywhere else in the US should put us in the top 30% income bracket.
We lucked out when we found this place. And until we can get a handle on the family medical costs and start saving, our finances and credit get screwed so badly so we couldn't save up to buy a short-sale double-wide and qualify for lot rental (and they're running around $800 - $1000 a month) in a half-way decent Mobile Home park in the 'burbs.

Haele

[elleng]

11. I suppose it could be true in NYC and SFO and LAX maybe,

but its still 'a lot' in DC/environs.

[Codeine]

23. I could live comfortably in any major city in America

on a quarter mil annually, easily.

[Codeine]

14. A quarter of a mil a year is a fantastic income anywhere.

It burns me when even people at DU can make a statement so boneheaded and at odds with economic reality. If you make that much you're in the top few percent of Americans for income.

[liberal N proud]

10. Reality check time

This person obviously needs a dose of reality or in other words they get paid too much.

[TheKentuckian]

12. Anybody that doesn't think 250k is a lot of money ought to be a warrior against poverty

If 250k isn't a big deal then the thought of the nothing that our minimum wage and servers making like 2.50 plus tips ought to make you see red.

If you think 250k is tough, just okay, or a notch or two above struggling then how is it acceptable that folks would be expected to survive and care for families on 10% or less of that in the same town.

We are talking over 16 minimum wage jobs (assuming 40 hours a week 52 weeks a year which we know is bull) here.

[G_j]

15. +1000

[truebrit71]

13. I will swap my paycheck with anyone making 250K a year right now..

I don't care where you live, unless you have a prodigious cocaine habit 250K is PLENTY of fucking money..

[Newest Reality]

18. When you are pulling in

$20K per month before taxes, you are making more in one month than a large portion of us do in a year.

Yeah, there are the costs and trappings of a "lifestyle", but if so, then it's all a big joke on the rest of us.

I feel that the predominance of low wages is more about power than finance. With some frugality and common sense, many of us would have the chance to become more financially independent (if not completely) with an income of $250K. Saving half of that per year would allow a cash purchase of a home and a car in no time. One could work to build something like an estate or a future or a great retirement and even retire comfortably, early.

No, we, (the unwashed masses) are controlled and manipulated by income, lest we become dangerous by acquiring time, peace of mind and the capacity to self-actualize. This system, in that respect, is NOT about freedom at all.

[Blue_Tires]

24. +1

[JVS]

20. Wait till you see it said here.

[Codeine]

22. Maddening, isn't it? nt

[Sheepshank]

21. Clearly what he really means is that any person with any income can live beyond their means.

And therefore shouldn't be burdened with their share of taxes.

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. "A Lot". n/t