# I'm not sure why, but the "Tea Party" Tax Protests really rub me the wrong way. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149 "2009-04-15T05:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/141 "2009-04-16T03:34:19Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > _snerk_ > > So glad I was at work being one of the 10% that pay 70% of all the U.S. federal income taxes so you can sit at home watching TV being one of the 50% that pay no U.S. federal income taxes. Considering that same 10% takes home 90% of the income, I think you are getting off pretty easy. Stop whining about the bread and circuses that are left for the 50% you hold in such low regard. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_FNG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@Some\_FNG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_FNG)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/142 "2009-04-16T03:34:22Z")
FWIW, I covered a tea party this day and was I ever let down. Instead of just protesting fiscal issues, the organizer lit into a tirade of every political hot topic and completely diluted his own message. Even people in the crowd were confused. Immigration, abortion, religion, taxes- the only thing he didn’t mention (or I might not have heard) was guns… it might as well have been a GOP convention. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/143 "2009-04-16T03:35:47Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Considering that same 10% takes home 90% of the income, I think you are getting off pretty easy. Stop whining about the bread and circuses that are left for the 50% you hold in such low regard. Not to mention I wasn’t the only one with the television on. (FWIW, it was absolutely heartbreaking to see-and hearing these assholes bitching about their fucking TAXES only pisses me off more) ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/144 "2009-04-16T03:36:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Considering that same 10% takes home 90% of the income, I think you are getting off pretty easy. Stop whining about the bread and circuses that are left for the 50% you hold in such low regard. The percentage of the total income that is earned by those with incomes in the top 10% is a meaningless statistic. The pie is not fixed. The rish aren’t siphoning income away from the poor. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/145 "2009-04-16T03:38:33Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Not to mention I wasn’t the only one with the television on. (FWIW, it was absolutely heartbreaking to see-and hearing these assholes bitching about their fucking TAXES only pisses me off more) :rolleyes: If you actually paid U.S. federal income taxes then maybe you’d understand. Also, the world doesn’t come to an end just because a tragedy happens. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/146 "2009-04-16T03:42:10Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > For another thing, maybe I’m typing in Korean or maybe your reading comprehension is a little off tonight, but people are protesting because _they don’t think this is going to work!_ They think that because they have no fucking clue how anything works, let alone the economy. Most of those signs were beyond stupid. > [@Linty Fresh](#): > > They don’t have confidence in the president. So? They never did. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/147 "2009-04-16T03:42:18Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > :rolleyes: > > If you actually paid U.S. federal income taxes then maybe you’d understand. > > Also, the world doesn’t come to an end just because a tragedy happens. Never said it did. I just mentioned that I found other events more important than a Teabagging Party. Besides, for someone who’s always talking about how much he works and how much money he makes, you sure do spend a lot of time posting here. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/148 "2009-04-16T03:43:55Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > The percentage of the total income that is earned by those with incomes in the top 10% is a meaningless statistic. The pie is not fixed. Sure it is; you could not command the income you have without 400 in the peasant class to support it. Do you really think the world would consist of entirely wealthy tax lawyers if only most people weren’t lazy and stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/149 "2009-04-16T03:46:49Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Besides, for someone who’s always talking about how much he works and how much money he makes, you sure do spend a lot of time posting here. Hmmm… Guin, I know it takes you three hours to think through every post you make, but it’s not that hard for the rest of us. Also, I notice that you don’t seem bothered by me calling you a leech, you leech. Could it be because you are a leech? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/150 "2009-04-16T03:49:27Z")
Or, could it be that I’m not bothered by some petty little troll, who uses the same insults over and over again? Well, that and I don’t feel like hijacking this stupid thread and making it into an argument between you and me. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/151 "2009-04-16T03:49:59Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Sure it is; you could not command the income you have without 400 in the peasant class to support it. So you are telling me that there is a fixed amount of income for all US citizens and residents each year, and each year we all scrabble and fight over it. And if I get more than someone else, then it means that I’ve somehow deprived that person of income–that if my income were 50% of what it is then that 50% would somehow be shared among lots of other people. Is this how you think it works? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/152 "2009-04-16T03:51:03Z")
Watch out **Guin** , he’s going to trot out another fat jab again… ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/153 "2009-04-16T03:51:56Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Or, could it be that I’m not bothered by some petty little troll, who uses the same insults over and over again? Guin, you ignorant slut. You call me a troll while simultaneously getting on my ass for using the same petty insult over and over again. And the irony just goes right over your fat little head. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/154 "2009-04-16T03:52:23Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Watch out **Guin** , he’s going to trot out another fat jab again… He did it!!! Got it in one!!! 😃 (well, maybe not quite the way you meant…) Shall we have a little “tea party” to celebrate? _snicker_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/155 "2009-04-16T03:52:51Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > So you are telling me that there is a fixed amount of income for all US citizens and residents each year, and each year we all scrabble and fight over it. And if I get more than someone else, then it means that I’ve somehow deprived that person of income–that if my income were 50% of what it is then that 50% would somehow be shared among lots of other people. Is this how you think it works? Read for comprehension, dickwad. Or else you are scared to deal with what I really said, and would rather whack at a strawman of your own creation. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/156 "2009-04-16T03:55:31Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > He did it!!! Got it in one!!! 😃 > > Shall we have a little “tea party” to celebrate? _snicker_ Jolly good, \*\*Guin \*\*old girl! **Rover** , old Bean, allow me to teabag you, spot of cream with that, wot? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/157 "2009-04-16T03:55:42Z")
And neither one of you understand why I’m calling Guin fat. In several threads, she kept stating that I must believe Y based on the simple fact that I believed X. Which is as stupid as me deciding to believe that Guin is fat based on nothing at all. So, I decided to call her fat in that thread to see if maybe something like an intelligent thought would register in that morass of gristle and tin foil between her waxies. But of course she’ll never get it. And no, I’m not going to go through a 12 page thread to cite all the posts that I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/158 "2009-04-16T03:57:55Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Read for comprehension, dickwad. Or else you are scared to deal with what I really said, and would rather whack at a strawman of your own creation. Here’s what you said (emphasis added): > [@Fear Itself](#): > > Considering that same 10% takes home 90% of the income, I think you are getting off pretty easy. Stop whining about the bread and circuses \*\*that are left \*\*for the 50% you hold in such low regard. Your proving again that your head is firmly implanted in your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/159 "2009-04-16T03:58:54Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > And no, I’m not going to go through a 12 page thread to cite all the posts that I’m talking about. Of course not. Game. Set. Match. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/160 "2009-04-16T04:03:48Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > _snerk_ > > So glad I was at work being one of the 10% that pay 70% of all the U.S. federal income taxes so you can sit at home watching TV being one of the 50% that pay no U.S. federal income taxes. I was at work being one of the 5% that pay 60% of all the U.S. federal income taxes, so your share of that 70% is shit. There are others (not me yet, if ever) who are one of the 1% who pay 40% of all federal income taxes, so even my share of the tax burden is shit. The very very richest at the top of the pay scale pay a huge percentage of taxes. The very very richest take home an even larger percentage of the income than they pay in taxes. For fuck’s sake, I pay a far larger percentage of the money I bring home every year than Buffett does. (Not dogging on Warren, as even he thinks that it’s unfair, just using him as an example) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=9)