CompuServe Messages

OK, so I'm into this thread a little late. >> >> The collectivist strategy of penalizing the 'producers' to help >> the 'non-producers' is a theme throughout Ayn Rand's writing. << >> Sure, right on, but we do not live in a collectivist society. We don't live in a collectivist society???? Have you done your taxes lately?? <G> Really, I was approached to perform some consulting services at a very hefty salary increase – 60%. After realizing that the contract would pay me as an ind. contractor, I cal'ced out the net after taxes. I mean ALL taxes, the US IT, state IT, FICA (15.3%), paying for my own medical, paying for my own pension (no use relying on Soc Sec being around, it won't), and come to find out that I will be taking a PAY CUT to take the job. And I'm in the 28% bracket! So, am I being 'penalized' for wanting to move up? Darn right I am!! And what are these taxes paying for? ENTITLEMENTS. I don't mean so much the po', but all the middle class entitlements as well. Including Soc Sec. Hey, I'd walk away from my 'investment' in FICA, if I never had to pay into it again. Can't do it on a country wide basis? Don't tell that to Chile, where they privatized their Soc Sec system. When you look at a 1.4 trillion dollar budget, divide it by 250 million population, you've got to figure Uncle is 'collecting' from somebody.