Ed Schultz Reminds Brian Kilmeade That Most Americans Don't Make Anywhere Near $250K a Year

[Amerigo Vespucci]

September 14, 2010 04:30 AM
Ed Schultz Reminds Brian Kilmeade That Most Americans Don't Make Anywhere Near $250K a Year
By Heather

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/ed-schultz-reminds-brian-kilmeade-most-ame

Ed Schultz reminds Fox & Friends' Brian Kilmeade who was trying to make the best of the fact that most Americans want to see the Bush tax cuts expire, that most Americans don't make anywhere near $250,000 a year. As Ed noted only 2% of households make over $250,000 a year and the median household income in 2008 was $52,029.

Brian Kilmeade isn't the only one I've heard doing this. This might be one to start taking note of for a video mash up because I've heard a whole lot of them in the media use the phrase "the so called rich". Chris Wallace comes to mind on this past weekend's Fox News Sunday. When the middle class is getting hammered and seeing their wages stay stagnant while the rich get richer, I'd say there's a good case to be made that it's not unfair to call those making over $250 grand a year rich. They might not be uber-multi-millionaire-rich where they could live off of their investments and no longer have to work for a living, but anyone making that much is doing pretty well and maybe you might not describe those that make that much as "rich", but they're definitely wealthy. Whatever you want to call it, they're doing a hell of a lot better than most of the country.

And if you're making that much a year you can afford for your taxes on your income over the $250,000 household threshold go up a little. Speaking of which, that's another thing I get tired of while hearing these guys cry about how those tax cuts expiring are going to harm the ones right on the edge so badly. They act like the higher rates are going to affect their entire income. If you made $250,100 for the year after your deductions, the only part of your income that's going to be affected by the higher rate is that last $100, not all of it.

Someone needs to explain the concept of tax brackets to these clowns and the media needs to quit allowing any of them who are confusing the public about just how much more a year anyone that's just above the $200,000 a year individual income of $250,000 a year household income would actually see their taxes rise if the Obama administration's proposals end up being enacted.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "The little people don't matter. Sneer." - Republicons

"So why don't you proles just STFU, so we 'elite' republicons can enjoy our luxurious, gourmet. deluxe ongoing tax holiday. Sneer."

- Republicons

[burnsei sensei]

2. The truth . . .

it's a real thorn in the ass.
I wish more of the powerful would get such a rude awakening.

[Skink]

3. took me 20 years to make 250,000.

[kentuck]

4. What percentage of Americans make less than $30K per year?

The "median" statistics can sometimes distort the real world. If we take the "median" income of Bill Gates and myself, we are both billionaires...

[femrap]

5. Actually the median is a good indicator....

it represents the true middle....1/2 the people make less than $52K/yr. and 1/2 make more than that.

I find the average or mean to be very deceiving....maybe that is what you were thinking of?

Only 2% of Americans make over $250,000. I would have preferred it go to $150,000. That sounds rich to me!

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. That's households, not people.

That's the only way it can be so high - a typical young couple with two incomes between 25-30k each fall into the upper half, even though individually they would each be in the lower half.

Where I work more three quarters of the staff is college educated with a high number of Masters and PhD's, but fewer than 10% make over 52k - but most their households do. Virtually every one who isn't at least a section head works two jobs - the second job might take a few of them over that line.

I think if you talked people, rather than households, you'd find that 75% of workers make less than 52K.

ON EDIT: Of course, often you will find in the reporting a deliberate conflating of 'household income' and individual wages, even within the same report. Particularly if it comes from official sources.

EDIT AGAIN: And usually it is done by conflating the 'household median income' with the individual income average, which, coincidentally, are close - both in the 50k range.

[femrap]

8. Yes, households.

I'd like to see data on people. Maybe the Bureau of Labor could help. It's getting more difficult to get good data. For example, GWB abolished the tracking of male and female incomes...I guess women were getting a bit uppity and he couldn't have that.

Obama should reinstate female wages. He hasn't responded to my emails.

[MurrayDelph]

6. Murray Delph Reminds Brian Kilmeade

his elbow is the one between the wrist and shoulder.