Item — HN Reader

I just got a $220 check in the mail from the state of Virginia related to the US Federal tax changes passed in 2017.

I have $10s of thousands in the bank, and my wife and me have a combined > $200K income.

I feel so selfish cashing this check, seriously, there are so many services/things the state needs this money for to serve people that haven't been as fortunate as me. I've been so lucky to be born in this country to middle-class parents. I would carelessly spend $220 on silly things over a weekend I probably don't need

Just tax me more already!

3 comments

You can send it in to the treasury. Or even better yet, donate it to a worthwhile charity that will have a greater positive impact than whatever your taxes would help.

That’s cool how you and your wife are so rich though and can afford more taxes and spend $220 on silly things.

I feel the same way about Oregon's "kicker" tax rebate

So give it away?

Yes for sure, but for the many other upper middle class people like me most likely the $220 is gone to sit in a bank or spent frivolously.

I don’t think you can speak authoritatively about other people like you. Maybe they have kids in college and need a text book. Maybe they are getting hit with unexpected medical expenses. If I assume things about other people’s money, I’m very likely to be wrong.

I once made $25k and my boss made $50. I thought ve was rich and couldn’t even imagine what to do with all that money. I could have said “for him most likely the $220 is gone to sit in a bank or spent frivolously.” I would have been super wrong. Finances are private and unique. Talking out my ass about what other people should spend their money on is boring and useless.

It's not "speaking authoratively", it's basic human nature. Whatever is the default option will be the majority behavior.

If the default is not to help others, then most will not. That's the way the world works. That's why taxes work.

This is not an argument about morality or judging others.

You said “but for the many other upper middle class people like me most likely the $220 is gone to sit in a bank or spent frivolously.”

That is not a correct statement. I think it’s much more likely to be spent on whatever that person deems valuable. Perhaps you think it’s frivolous, but that doesn’t make it frivolous. You don’t know the size of their family or the circumstances requiring expense.

I feel confident "someone like me" is going to weather unexpected medical expenses or a kids textbook far better than someone making < $50K a year facing the same thing.

Oh most definitely. I don’t think someone with a high income has it easier or the same as someone making under $50k. But just because it’s easier doesn’t mean it is easy.

If it goes in the bank, it gets invested. If it’s spent frivolously, it goes to someone who was able to provide value to you. It isn’t “wasted” in either case.