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The new Budget Plan by the Numbers & the State of the Economy.

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors---

With the State of the Economy in doubt and with numerous reports on various newstations reporting different numbers, we felt it necessary to update people on those reported numbers

stateoftheeconomy.jpg picture by vkdesigns

WHO PAYS TAXES IN THE US:

  • Top 1% pay 37% of all taxes
  • Top 5% pay 57% of all taxes
  • Top 10% pay 68% of all taxes
  • Top 20% pay 85% of all taxes
  • Bottom 50% pay 3% of taxes 
  • Bottom 25% pay no taxes

[Source] and [Source]

The top 5% percent pay 57% of all taxes and spend 30%. 80% of smallbusiness owners make 250,000+ a year. If expanding the numbers to include the top 20%, 22 million families or those earning over 120,000, pay for 65% of all taxes in the U.S. The 1st source above shows numbers from 1995 when Clinton was in office and at 39.6% matches obama's proposed budget announcement for 2011.

More on the affluent Tax Bill

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ANALYSIS

I believe it may be time, if talking about taxes, to debate the FAIR TAX plan in forums around the country. The fair tax essentially eliminates any kind of tax including inheritance and death taxes and brings back transparency to the whole process as income earners will see a gross paycheck return for the first time in their lives. The tax would only be applied to consumption which automatically lets the buyer know what they are being taxed for and for how much. This will also control spending by some to more reasonable levels and get people to live within their means. Common sense tells you that when you are in debt, you must save. Currently we're being told to spend and that we would then be taxed for it in 18 months. Essentially business would currently be hiring new workers, expanding their programs and then be inable to writeoff any expenses + pay higher taxes. So any gains made, will quickly be washed away. Where's the common sense here? Who is going to attempt to grow their business with that kind of a plan? Whos' going to open up more offices, stores when the money spent on doing so will be washed away? This latest move by our president is truly revolting and flies in the face of prosperity. 10 pros and cons of the fair tax.

18 months from now, Obama will repeal deductions. This is a serious contradiction to his stimulus bill. Anyone, regardless of party affiliation should be worried about this latest move. This is common sense gone awry.

It is ludicrous to punish success and reward failure. This also stifles ingenuity and innovation. Why would anyone attempt to better themselves, as in doing so once that status is attained,only to get taxed to death for those accomplishments. I don't care what party affiliation you have, it just makes absolutely no sense. But we all know why this is happening, at least those who follow politics do. This is to award the lobbyists and constituants who helped vote democrats into congress and the senate. But republicans are just equally as guilty as they did nothing in stopping the 9000 earmarks in the latest proposed bill. It's politics as usual in congress and that is one constant that is apparently not changing. This is no time to play politics, and these old games should be done away with for the good of the country.  Term limits need to be brought back into place to keep career minded politicians on track with their fiduciary duties, to work for their country's citizens, not their future in politics. With terms limits more things get done as every senator would feel urgency to deliver on promises.

For those who weren't aware, one of the biggest affiilates to Citigroup, Smith and Barney left weeks ago and joined another entity. With Singapore's prime minister approving the nationalizing measure of one of the biggest banks in the world, bank of america may follow. How does this affect you? It won't , your dollars are still insured with the FDIC(Up to $250,000 Now) but if you held stock with either banks, you are hurting right now.

They are now apparently also going after those who hold assets in banks in switzerland. Guess every dollar counts at this point.

Here's the problem with the current budget; 80% of tax payers or those earning 250k or more are small business owners. The taxes incurred on them will be passed down to the employees working for those business owners. So this ideal that lower income earners will not get taxed is a lie. Wages for associate managers and those in secondary leading roles will decrease, especially if the minimum wage gets increased as obama suggested he was going to try to do once in office. A small tax credit has been given to those who earn less than 75,000 but should not offset the total amount lost across the board.

The biggest possible future problems consist of impending inflation, which may occur when everyone spends their money at the same time once the economy shows sparks of life in a year (+/-).

Right now a possible depression can be contributed by the following; taxes on businesses, over-regulation of business, and import taxes. Unfortunately with that said, we're going down that road once again. On a positive note, if there is one, and there is: The U.S is looking better than most countries around the world. Japan is in terrible shape, and the european union is having problems with eastern countries asking for bailouts as Hungary recently did. Germany however, said no, and this may be repeated again in the near future. Protectionism in Europe is certainly growing and a Global Deal may be on the books as UK"s Gordon Brown proposed but highly unlikely to be taken into consideration.

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CURRENT BILLS DO THE FOLLOWING:

  • A family (2 or more) making $250,000+ would see an $11,600 tax increase
  • A family (2 or more) making $120,000 would see a $6000 tax increase
  • A family(2 or more) making $76,000 would see an $800 tax reduction
  • A Family(2 or more) making $36,000 would see a $1200 tax reduction
  • A single Individual making $36,000 would gain a $400 tax credit
  • A couple making $36,000 would gain a $800 tax credit ***
  • Add $714 Billion dollars to the baseline budget.
  • add $13 a week for those earning 250k o less, after which it wil be $8/wk
  • Housing plan to help 9 million home owners
Tax credits would go to offset costs past down from small busineses owners.
*** - increased to 1000 and made permanent

Analysis: War on the top 30% of the economy. End of prosperity.

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PROPOSED ENERGY BILL: (more)

$300 Billion dollar tax on anyone who uses the following services:

  • Heating Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Gasoline
  • Electricity

Obviously this proposed bill makes the notion Obama made last year, that noone making less than 250k not being taxed, as false.

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OBAMA'S NEW BUDGET PLAN:  (Complete Plan)

  • 3.5 TRILLION Dollar Total Budget
  • $989 Billion in new taxes (over 10 yrs, starting in 2011)
  • 2.6 Trillion borrowed in 2009
  • 1.1 Trillion will be borrowed in 2010
  • 3.6 Trillion will be spent in 2010
  • Saves 300 Billion in interest on the national debt
  • 1.5 Trillion in savings for winding down the Iraq War
  • Would bring deficit down to 537 Billion by 2013
  • Would tax small business owners 40-50% in 2010

Those making 250k or more: (Total - $636 Billion over 10 years)

  • $118 Billion towards a Capitol Gains Hike (starts in 2011)
  • $338 Billion towards the expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts
  • $179 Billion towards eliminating itemized deduction

Businesses:(Total - $353 Billion over 10 years)

  • $5.3 Billion excise tax on Gulf of Mexico oil and gas
  • $210 Billion towards internation enforcement and other tax reforms
  • $62 Billion to repeal deduction for tertiary inejectants
  • $24 Billion towards tax carried-interest as income
  • $5 Billion to codify "economic substance doctrine"
  • $3.4 Billion to repeal expensing of tangible drilling costs
  • $49 milion to repeal massive loss exception for interests in oil natural gas
  • $889 million to eliminate advanced earned income tax credit
  • $17 Billion to reinstate Superfund taxes
  • $1 Billion increase to 7 years geological and geophysical amortization periods
  • $13 Billion to repeal manufacturing tax deduction for oil and natural gas co's
  • $61 Billion to repeal LIFO
  • $3.4 Billion to repeal expensing of tangible drilling costs
  • $634 Billion(over 10 years) to be set aside in a reserve fund for changes in health care system

Taxes:

  • 250k+ - 39.6%

Pages: (134)

Surprises:

  • NASA'S Budget to increase to 18.7 Billion from 16.3 Billion
  • Those donating all their income to charity would still be taxed over it.
Obama's Hope: For the deficit to halve by 2013.

BUDGET SUMMARY TABLE  (Caution: this may boggle your mnd)

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STATE OF THE ECONOMY

CURRENT NUMBERS:

  • Unemployment: 7.6% (rose .4% from jan) Largest increase in white adult men (+2.5% since 3q 2008)
  • Currently 11.62 Million people are unemployed in the U.S
  • Avg 30 yr fixed: 5.06%
  • Avg Home Prices: -18.3% (lowest ever)
  • Median Home Value: 170,300 (lowest since q3, 2003)
  • Avg Home Sales in Jan: -5.3%
  • Economy Contraction: -6.2% (over 3 months) worst ever
  • Nation's Current Debt: 10.9 Trilion+
  • EArnings have gone up $1.88 since 3q 2008)
  • Dow Jones (6763) Lowest since 1997. Went down 299.64 points today (3.2.09)
  • Dow Jones down 38% since September 2008.
  • 2.2 Trillion in wealth lost in Dow Jones in 2009
  • S&P down 11% to 700.82 in february (2nd worst since 1933)
  • 30 Trillion Dollars in Stock Losses since Q1 2008. (7 Trillion was lost from q3 2007-q1 2008)
  • 4 Trillion Dollars lost in Housing values since 2006. (23%)
  • Exports fell at an annual rate of 23.6%, down from 19.7% (sharpest fall since 1970)
  • Bill Bernanke has estimated the recession to continue into 2010, w/possibility of recovery
  • Avg Nation Gas Price - $1.92/gallon
  • Consumer spending down 4.3% in Q4 2008 (biggest fall since Q2 1980)
  • Warren Buffet net worth - 49 Billion (from 89 Billion in q1 2008) - Proclaimed "Worst economy on record" 
  • 1 out of 5 homeowners in under water(ows money to lender)
  • 1 out of 8 homeowners is in forceclosure or negotiations
  • 1.3 Trillion inherited from Bush(not verified)
  • 274,399 Foreclosures in January
  • There are currently 11.620.000 Million people unemployed
  • 20% of all teenagers are currently unemployed
  • There are currently 47 million people without health insurance
  • 2.4 Trillion is spent each year on healthcare
  • MGM Grand - 13 Billion in debt
  • 4.4 Million jobs have been lost since December 2007
  • 50% of all jobs have been lost in the last 4 months alone
  • New home construction up 22% since January 2009
  • Home construction down 48% since February 2008

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EXPORT DATA:

  • Singapore: Down 35%
  • Taiwan: Down 43%
  • Japan: Down 46%
[Source]

HAPPENINGS AROUND COUNTRY:

CALIFORNIA:

  • $12.5 Billion tax increase
  • Cuts $14.8 Billion in spending (8.6 Billion in education alone)
  • $5.4 Billion in loans
  • Receives $7.8 Billion in stimulus funds
  • Currently has a $42 Billion deficit
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BAILOUTS
  • 45 Billion to BofA (10.28.08)
  • 45 Billion to CitiGroup (10.28.08)
  • 40 Billion to AIG (11.25.08)
  • 30 Billion to AIG II (3.2.09) (61.7 Billion in revenue loss - Largest in U.S history)
  • 25 Billion to JP Morgan (10.28.09)
  • 25 Billion to Wells Fargo (10.28.09)
  • 14.284 Billion to GM (12.29.08)
  • 10 Billion to Morgan Stanley (10.28.08)
  • 10 Billion to Goldman Sachs (10.28.08)
  • 7.579 Billion to PNC (12.31.08)
  • 6.599 Billion to U.S Bancorp (11/14/08)
  • 5.5 Billion to Chrysler (1.2.09)
  • 5 Billion to GMAC (12.29.08)

_______________

FUTURE BAILOUTS:

  • BANK BAILOUT 3: Proposed 750 Billion in added bailout money for banks
  • AIG asking for an additional 30 Billion (3/17/09)
  • GM II , Ford, Six Flags, Station Casinos, Univision, Rite Aid, Visteon
  • more...
  • Hidden bailout for GE?
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TEA PARTY REVOLTS: (40 cities took part on 9/27/09)

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PROJECTIONS:

  • $1.75 Trillion deficit (12.3% GDP) - (was 21.5% of GDP in 1945)
  • If unchanged, will add 3.7 Trillion to debt in 20 months.
  • If unchanged, would add 4.7 Trillion to national debt by 2013
  • If unchanged, would add 7 Trillion to national debt by 2019 (3x as much as bush added in 8 yrs)
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TAKEOVERS
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LINKS

CONCLUSION

Educate yourself to the numbers and the history of these recessions and you will be in better position to know how to compensate for the lack of common sense being employed in washington as Economics 101 says that taxes put on companies are trickled down to the consumer with higher prices on goods and services.

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_________________________________________

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Comments (21)

Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Good Evening!  I have to say that one of the groups to which you posted TRULY contradicts the way I'm feeling after reading these statistics/facts--OPTIMIST!  What ARE you thinking?!  LOL

My hubby and I were discussing this just last night and we're quite concerned about our children who are 19 and 20--being small business owners, with two in college, this new plan could, very well, put us under.  Not to mention, they've taken away the college grants that we would then attempt to use if we couldn't afford college. 

For us, it's a sad state of affairs.

Debe in Charlotte

Mar 02, 2009 10:59 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Sorry Mirela--I wasn't bashing your group, just saying that the post isn't driving me to be optimistic!!!

Debe in Charlotte

Mar 02, 2009 11:01 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Just added some optimistic info. In short, the U.S is doing far better compared to Japan and the 27 European union countries. More on that will be added soon. I'll try to lift your spirits a bit Debe. But we gotta try to stay real at the same time. 

Thanks for reminding us about the pell grants. That's important information. We have friends who are in your similar situation, it's indeed sad.

Mar 02, 2009 11:06 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
OK. You edited the blog and it dropped from the top. Up you go again. Please send me an e-mail whenever you edit it. If I'm around a computer I will put it back.
Mar 02, 2009 11:18 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Mirela, Right, forgot about that. Give us about 30 minutes to add some final content. at 9:00 est will be finished.

Mar 02, 2009 11:23 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
Debe: Optimists have to first assess the reality. Being well informed is very important to finding your balance. Being an optimist doesn't mean life is a bed of roses. It only means that you find the roses wherever they may be... Friction causes change... Only pressure can make a diamond... You can't render that diamond magnificent without the optimism and expectation that it will be so and by skillfully cutting it. The discussions ignited by this blog will give us ideas that will better our lives and help us maintain our good attitudes. Knowledge is imperative. Our economic situation is unfolding. We can't bury our heads in the sand. We have to deal with it. Once we know exactly what the facts are, we can deal with it properly and maintain our Optimism.
Mar 02, 2009 11:31 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Well said, that's exactly the purpose here; to inform people on the current  numbers and what the best thing to do is from here on out. We aren't necessarily giving advice although Everard could certainly give a lot since he's very knowledgeable, but hopefully people will add to the conversation and give their 2 cents on how people should proceed at this point forward as anything that comes on Obama's desk will be passed. 

UPDATE: Ok mirela, if there is anything we missed we'll add it in our sequel once the energy plan is passed.

IMportant Note: the FDIC insures people up to 250,000 untill December 31,2009, when the financial  bail out package expires.


 

Mar 02, 2009 11:34 AM
real estate real estate
Providence, RI

I was just about to say the samething. It is ludicrous to punish the smart and successful. I wonder what is the philosophy to punish those successful people.

Mar 02, 2009 03:04 PM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Hi Huitang,

Well the logic  behind it right now is the fact that, without the increase in taxes, the rich and middle class put together couldn't break a dent in the debt, so they have no choice to increase taxes. Due to the recent data from china's exports, it now also seemingly looks like China's economy is shrinking. Trying to find a silver lining there as it won't impeed business' from going overseas if they are trying to avoid getting overtaxed.

Thanks for stopping by Huitang. How's business in your area?

Mar 02, 2009 09:03 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Bookmarked, will  comment later too much to digest at one time.

Thanks for doing this.

Tragic isn't it. Folks are not trying to figure out ways to get under that majic 250K number.

Mar 02, 2009 10:55 PM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate

I just flagged this for a feature.  It's too good not to be shared.

Mar 03, 2009 12:39 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

Missy, Thanks for stopping by. btw: we've always wondered, how do you like it over at agent genius?

Mirela, wow thanks. Although we were a couple days late with it but it's still relevant as the numbers since the announcement haven't changed. Whether it gets featured or not, we're proud to have it up on your board :) 

Mar 03, 2009 05:03 AM
Sandy Childs
Keller Williams Realty - Spartanburg, SC
Realtor - Spartanburg, SC
The sad truth about all of this is that the bulk of our voting population does not understand and way to many people don't care. We were shocked when Americans were interviewed by Fox news and many of them didn't know where the major continents are located. We live in an age where more information is available than ever in history, and so many, know so little.
Mar 03, 2009 05:00 PM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

UPDATE: Just added a slew of new information and corrected any old info.

note: we're going to start adding posts that add additional information related specifically to real estate.

Here's the first:

Mar 05, 2009 04:33 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

UPDATE: adding a great post by Jeff Corbett with some scary lending office #'s.

Mar 10, 2009 07:58 PM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

UPDATE: Foreclosure information for February and all related articles in months past encased within.

Mar 12, 2009 07:23 PM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

UPDATE: adding some new housing numbers and info about Obama's budget plan.

Mar 17, 2009 02:46 AM
Everard Korthals
---Preferred Lifestyle Advisors--- - Lancaster, PA
Mountain Realty

UPDATE: as you may all know now, the governement has announced it will pump 1.15 Trillion. (yes trillion) bonds into the economy and in the process buy 300 billion treasury bonds to accomplish this.

There's also word that the deficit, as part of the budget, will increase by a trillion dollars this year. More news on this coming soon.

Mar 19, 2009 11:10 AM
David Painter
Keller Williams Realty - Spartanburg, SC

This is a lot of information to digest. This will take some time to go through. You did a great job.

Mar 23, 2009 06:27 PM
Jeff Stinson
Kasteel Property Management - Property Manager - Springville, UT

When my wife and I watched the State of the Union we were really impressed with Obama's grasp of the economy and we are excited to tell everyone we decided to apply Obama's tactics to fix the country's financial problems to our own personal finances.  Our finances have been a little tight lately and we are confident that we can fix them by following Obama's lead.  We have decided to make a budget that will cut unnecessary spending, reduce over spending, and we'll make the hard decisions to eliminate expensive things we can live without. 

But as Obama clearly stated, we should start next year because, "that's how budgets work".  By following Obama's plan we should also spend, spend, spend this year to prepare for the budget next year.  It's a great plan - I don't see how it could fail. 

P.s.  This is a joke.

www.kasteelproperty.com

Feb 04, 2010 02:06 PM