Second Presidential Debate

[AOII Angel]

I don't want to have to cut coupons, spend a max of $100 a week on groceries. I'm not an elitist. I worked long and hard to get where I am. I lived off of $9000 a year...a YEAR for four years in medical school. Worked 120 hrs per week with 36 hr call every three nights as a surgery resident for the grand total of $35,000 for two years before moving to a more reasonable residency that only required 70 hrs a week with 30 hr call once or twice a week. I did this for 6 years while my student loans accrued interest that I couldn't pay since the payment is $1000 a month. From Kindergarten through residency, my education lasted 27 years! Add into that my husband's med school debt, my mortgage and you see a woman with a LOT of debt with a husband who makes a minimal salary as a fellow at Hopkins. No one will choose to go through what I did just to pay more than their fair share once they finally get to the point where they are paid appropriately for their level of education. I deserve to be comfortable, and I'm not going to be made to feel guilty that I make a good living.

[ajuhdg]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I worked long and hard to get where I am. I lived off of $9000 a year...a YEAR for four years in medical school. Add into that my husband's med school debt, my mortgage and you see a woman with a LOT of debt with a husband who makes a minimal salary as a fellow at Hopkins. No one will choose to go through what I did just to pay more than their fair share once they finally get to the point where they are paid appropriately for their level of education. I deserve to be comfortable, and I'm not going to be made to feel guilty that I make a good living.

Exactly what I'm saying! I don't know if you're practicing now, but that's certainly not an easy job...pretty much 'on-call' 24/7. You busted your ass through school, why do you have to contribute more.

That's why I don't get why people are so upset that he's not going to tax the wealthy. It's not like everyone making 6 figures is stealing it from little-old-ladies coffee cans.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Exactly what I'm saying! I don't know if you're practicing now, but that's certainly not an easy job...pretty much 'on-call' 24/7. You busted your ass through school, why do you have to contribute more.

That's why I don't get why people are so upset that he's not going to tax the wealthy. It's not like everyone making 6 figures is stealing it from little-old-ladies coffee cans.

I am an Obama supporter, because taxes to me are not the most important issue in this election for me, but...I was so mad at Biden when he basically said that it was time for people who made over $250,000 to be patriotic and pay more taxes! What!??? I'm not patriotic paying the taxes that I already pay, caring for many poor, nonpaying patients in Prince George's County, MD? Yes, I'm currently in practice...only for 1 year, so I haven't had much time yet to enjoy my success!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I am an Obama supporter, because taxes to me are not the most important issue in this election for me, but...I was so mad at Biden when he basically said that it was time for people who made over $250,000 to be patriotic and pay more taxes! What!??? I'm not patriotic paying the taxes that I already pay, caring for many poor, nonpaying patients in Prince George's County, MD? Yes, I'm currently in practice...only for 1 year, so I haven't had much time yet to enjoy my success!

Tying patriotism to the payment of taxes is a slippery slope, in my opinion. If you're going to be doing that, then you should not be taking advantage of any tax credits or deductions, and you should be paying the full amount of taxes levied each year. If you suggest that those who are against paying higher taxes are unpatriotic, and you're not paying every dime of your tax burden, it's a bit hypocritical.

[AGDee]

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

Yeah, in our medical group, it's set up differently than other health systems where I've worked. They all get paid from health system itself, the health system does all the billing and gets the money directly and the health system provides the benefits, including the malpractice insurance. It's a massive medical group practice. They sacrifice some in pay, but they save overhead on office space, billing, insurance, etc.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Tying patriotism to the payment of taxes is a slippery slope, in my opinion. If you're going to be doing that, then you should not be taking advantage of any tax credits or deductions, and you should be paying the full amount of taxes levied each year. If you suggest that those who are against paying higher taxes are unpatriotic, and you're not paying every dime of your tax burden, it's a bit hypocritical.

I completely agree with you, and I hope you didn't misread my statement above, because it is completely ridiculous to imply that more affluent Americans are not patriotic for opposing a tax increase while middle and lower income Americans can maintain their patriotic appearance while doing the same thing!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I completely agree with you, and I hope you didn't misread my statement above, because it is completely ridiculous to imply that more affluent Americans are not patriotic for opposing a tax increase while middle and lower income Americans can maintain their patriotic appearance while doing the same thing!

Oh no, I understood you completely - I was agreeing with you.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Oh no, I understood you completely - I was agreeing with you.

Good...just making sure!
By the way, I'd like to look at Biden's tax returns...you think he patriotically refuses to use deductions and loopholes?