# Tea Party congressman only has 400k leftover! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826 "2011-09-19T14:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/201 "2011-09-20T19:24:33Z")
Oh, but he wasn’t complaining. He was just … mentioning it, apropos of absolutely nothing. Completely innocent bit of conversational trivia, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/202 "2011-09-20T19:44:10Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > …Davidm, so what? It doesn’t matter how much other people make or spend–the fact that other people spend less than him doesn’t mean he’s whining or complaining. I don’t recall saying anything about him whining or complaining, so take that strawman elsewhere. The context of the conversation was about taxes. He was arguing about why wealthy people shouldn’t have to pay more taxes than they currently do. Part of his argument was that the expense of caring for 6 people - $200 freaking thousand dollars - only leaves him with $400,000 to invest in growing his business. Given the context of the conversation, I have to assume that his point was that more taxes would leave him with even less to grow his business. Okay, fine. It can take what most of us consider to be large amounts of money to grow a business. I understand that. My point is that if he didn’t feed his family truffles and caviar[sup]\*[/sup] he would have more than $400,000 left to invest and thereby create many many many wonderful lucrative jobs.[sup]\*\*[/sup] My point is also that the fact that he seems to think that’s a normal amount of money to support a family that size indicates that he is out of touch with typical Americans and what they go through. [sup]\*[/sup]“feed his family truffles and caviar” is called “hyperbole”. It’s a rhetorical mechanism for emphasizing a point. I understand that he is likely including all living expenses. Even so, it’s still a lot of money to sustain a family of that size. [sup]\*\*[/sup]For those who don’t get it “many many many wonderful lucrative jobs” is called “sarcasm”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/203 "2011-09-20T19:59:35Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Oh, but he wasn’t complaining. He was just … mentioning it, apropos of absolutely nothing. Completely innocent bit of conversational trivia, that’s all. He was being interviewed and was asked about how much he made. The interviewer gave a false impression of how much profit he made, and he corrected her. What was he supposed to do? Just sit there and shake his head? It was absolutely apropos of what the interviewer was driving at. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/204 "2011-09-20T20:01:25Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Oh, but he wasn’t complaining. He was just … mentioning it, apropos of absolutely nothing. Completely innocent bit of conversational trivia, that’s all. This is the best part of life in RandRoverLand! No one has ANY motives unless they expressly state them. For example, Rand’s wrong to accuse me of knowing what’s best for people than they themselves do, until I say it. Because I haven’t said it, and therefore you can’t assume it’s my motive. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/205 "2011-09-20T20:02:30Z")
When it comes to a person taking care of their own family, why does it matter how much is spent by typical Americans? My wife and I will spend whatever we want to no matter whether a typical American spends that amount or not. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/206 "2011-09-20T20:12:11Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > When it comes to a person taking care of their own family, why does it matter how much is spent by typical Americans? My wife and I will spend whatever we want to no matter whether a typical American spends that amount or not. Because in the context of progressive tax rates the marginal utility of a dollar is of paramount importance. Cries that increased taxation will limit you ability to re-invest ring hollow when you could easily invest some of the money you are instead spending on living expenses. And because in the context of politics, acting as though $200k in yearly expenses is “typical” belies a worldview that is severely blinkered with respect to how “real America” lives. It’s not unlike posters that claim that their $250k income is “middle class”. It may feel that way to them, when compared to their peers, but to anyone with exposure to the masses of true “middle”, it’s laughable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/207 "2011-09-20T20:25:23Z")
When my taxes amounted to more than my parents ever brought in in a year, I paid them with a smile. The idea that the government owed me some sort of reward for doing well never crossed my mind. I didn’t get presents from Mommy when I did well in school either; it was expected of me. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/208 "2011-09-20T20:27:04Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Ayn Rand called. She says she hates you. > > -Joe Of course she does…he’s not a sociopathic serial killer. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/209 "2011-09-20T20:32:52Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > When it comes to a person taking care of their own family, why does it matter how much is spent by typical Americans? My wife and I will spend whatever we want to no matter whether a typical American spends that amount or not. And if you’re making more than $100,000, and you complain about how much you pay in taxes, you’re a whiner. Just so we’re clear. You, actually, should pay more in taxes. There should be a tax penalty for being in a worthless artificial occupation like [del]guy who whines on the internet while pretending to be a[/del] “tax lawyer”. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/210 "2011-09-20T20:34:01Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Because in the context of progressive tax rates the marginal utility of a dollar is of paramount importance. Cue any number of whiners talking about how THEY don’t get any less value from dollar #150,000 than Joe Stockboy gets from dollar #12,000, so marginal utility theory is bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/211 "2011-09-20T20:35:11Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > You, actually, should pay more in taxes. There should be a tax penalty for being in a worthless artificial occupation like [del]guy who whines on the internet while pretending to be a[/del] “tax lawyer”. Who doesn’t even do pro bono work, or at least does it so grudgingly that he might as well not. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/212 "2011-09-20T20:50:20Z")
I’m wondering why we ask these productive folks to pay any taxes at all? It’s not fair. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/213 "2011-09-20T21:14:17Z")
Hmm, is there any statement a rich person could make that would not be perceived as whining by you, Zeriel? How about “now that’s a tasty burger!” after a bite of a burger? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/214 "2011-09-20T21:28:51Z")
You guys eat hamburgers? Are they like, rich folk’s hamburgers? Do they just let you have a bite, or do you get the whole hamburger? Maybe that’s why folks will do anything to get rich, better hamburgers. But I can take a little extra time and make one fuck of a good hamburger. So I guess I don’t see the point. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/215 "2011-09-20T21:34:13Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You guys eat hamburgers? Are they like, rich folk’s hamburgers? Do they just let you have a bite, or do you get the whole hamburger? Maybe that’s why folks will do anything to get rich, better hamburgers. But I can take a little extra time and make one fuck of a good hamburger. So I guess I don’t see the point. When your betters look down at you, and address you directly (“You, boy, do this for me”), I mean, really, can anything else compare to the thrill? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/216 "2011-09-20T21:46:24Z")
Why do I always skim this thread title and think it’s going to be about a Congressman with a 401K? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/217 "2011-09-20T21:58:58Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Why do I always skim this thread title and think it’s going to be about a Congressman with a 401K? Because it’s hard to conceive of a guy being such a tone deaf douche that he would complain about a take home of only 600k? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/218 "2011-09-21T00:06:15Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Because it’s hard to conceive of a guy being such a tone deaf douche that he would complain about a take home of only 600k? > > -Joe He didn’t “complain” about that. He corrected the misstatement by the interviewer. I no it makes a better rant to say he complained. But he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/219 "2011-09-21T00:39:06Z")
Well, OK. how about _kvetching_? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826/220 "2011-09-21T01:52:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, OK. how about _kvetching_? Oy vey. Go ahead, give me a heart attack already. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-congressman-only-has-400k-leftover/596826.md?page=12)