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Title: Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined
Source:
From The Trenches/CNS News
URL Source: https://fromthetrenchesworldreport. ... nd-health-care-combined/254956
Published: Oct 1, 2019
Author: Terence P. Jeffrey
Post Date: 2019-10-03 00:00:10 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 2344
Comments: 15
CNS News – by Terence P. Jeffrey Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2018 than they did on the basic necessities of food, clothing and health care combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The survey’s recently published Table R-1 for 2018 lists the average “detailed expenditures” of what the BLS calls “consumer units.” “Consumer units,” says BLS, “include families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses.” In 2018, according to Table R-1, American consumer units spent an average of $9,031.93 on federal income taxes; $5,023.73 on Social Security taxes (which the table calls “deductions”); $2,284.62 on state and local income taxes; $2,199.80 on property taxes; and $77.85 on what BLS calls “other taxes.” The combined payments the average American consumer unit made for these five categories of taxes was $18,617.93. At the same time the average American consumer unit was paying these taxes, it was spending $7,923.19 on food; $4,968.44 on health care; and $1,866.48 on “apparel and services.” These combined expenditures equaled $14,758.11. So, the $14,758.11 that the average American consumer unit paid for food, clothing and health care was $3,859.82 less than the $18,617.93 it paid in federal, state and local income taxes, property taxes, Social Security taxes and “other taxes.” I asked the BLS to confirm these numbers, which it did while noting that the “Pensions and Social Security” section of its Table R-1 included four other types of payments (that many people are not required to make or that do not go to the government) in addition to the average of $5,023.73 in Social Security taxes that 77.21% of respondents reported paying. “You asked us to verify the amounts for the total taxes and expenditures on food, apparel/services, and healthcare,” said BLS. “Based on table R-1 for 2018, your definition for food, apparel, and healthcare matches the BLS definition and the total dollars. Your dollar amounts for federal, state, and local income taxes and for property taxes are correct, as is the amount for Social Security deductions. For the combined pension amount [$6,830.71] that we publish however, in addition to the $5,023.73 for Social Security, there is an additional amount for government retirement deductions [$135.11], railroad retirement deductions [$2.85], private pension deductions [$608.22], and non-payroll deposits for pensions [$1,060.79].” That Americans are forced to pay more for government than they pay for food, clothing and health care combined has become an enduring fact of life. A review of the BLS Table R-1s for the last six years on record shows that in every one of those years, the average American consumer unit paid more in taxes than it paid for food, clothing and health care combined. In 2013, the average American consumer unit paid a combined $13,327.22 for the same five categories of taxes cited above for 2018, while paying a combined $11,836.80 for food, clothing and health care. In 2014, the average American consumer unit paid $14,664.13 for those same taxes and $12,834.34 for those same necessities. In 2015, it was $15,548.36 versus $13,210.83. In 2016, it was $17,153.30 versus $13,617.60. And, in 2017, it was $16,750.20 versus $14,489.54. Even when all the numbers for the last six years are converted into constant December 2018 dollars (using the BLS inflation calculator), the largest annual margin between the amount paid in taxes and the amount paid for food, clothing and health care was last year’s $3,859.82. The margin was so great last year that you can add the $3,225.55 Table R-1 says the average consumer unit paid for entertainment to the $14,758.11 it paid for food, clothing and health care, and the combined $17,983.66 is still less than the $18,617.93 it paid for the five categories of taxes. You get a similar result if you add the combined $2,903.50 that the average consumer unit paid in 2018 for electricity ($1,496.14) and telephone services ($1,407.36). Yes, Americans on average paid more in taxes last year than they paid for food, clothing, health care, electricity and telephone services combined. Was the government you got worth it? (Terence P. Jeffrey is the editor in chief of CNSNews.com.)
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
No one ever said that living in the best country on earth would be the cheapest – did they? “You get what you pay for” … Let me share with you the best things about living in America, OK, I'm going to limit myself to just ten items, because I really could go on for a while about my beloved country … 2. Freedom, glorious freedom. 3. Adherence to the social contract/limited corruption. 4. Reliable Infrastructure & Organization. Likewise, if I need to know how to do something -- how to get from Queens to Brooklyn or where to buy a new trash can or how much water I'm allowed to use this summer -- the information is freely available. I don't have to stand in six queues and ask three different government offices who give me four answers before I get there. It's simple, and easy. Simplicity is awesome. Also -- I can mail something and get an actual, useful estimate of when it will arrive at its destination. If the mail truck breaks down, another will come to maintain the service. There is no 'oh, well, the truck ran out of gas and now the truck driver went to go visit his mother so no more mail until April.' We don't roll like that here. 5. Entrepreneurial Spirit/Pioneer Spirit/Spirit of Individualism/Support for Bootstrapping/Love of Audacity. This is an advantage particularly over more staid nations, who place a greater value on tradition and the 'right' way of doing things. Americans are less concerned about doing it 'right' and more concerned about getting it done. Done perfect. 6. Duality of Identity, Commonality of Nationality 7. Wealth. 8. Access to Stuff. 9. Love of Self-Reliance. 10. Limited Role of Class Determinism. The correct question to ask is: Were the benefits your received from paying taxes worth you living in the greatest county on earth? Should you think they were not, Deckard – Then pease permit me to list 10 countries you can move to. Salute,
Dumbest comment ive ever seen you post.
You have a great day. Later … Salute,
Gatlin: So what? A K A: Dumbest comment ive ever seen you post. I think what he's saying is that he's rich, loves paying taxes and doesn't really give a shit about Joe Six-Pack working two jobs trying to get by, who pays more to the IRS and other goob agencies than he is "allowed" to keep. Let's see how Gatlin feels when the stock market goes in the shitter.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Sure. To pay for the food, clothing and health care of the moochers, scammers, and illegals.
Gatlin is ok with that. I think he said that is why America is great or something like that.
Sure. Helping others is great as long as you're not $22 trillion in debt already.
He likely thinks that America is great because of people like him, the ones who always follow the rules and snitch on their neighbors. America is great because of people who happily pay their taxes, never complain about or criticize anything the government does.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Do you also have as many problems in all walks of your life? Or do you just find that griping about everything is therapeutic for you? Salute,
Which I might add, does see to be working on some feeble-minded folks, as expected. We pay more in taxes that we pay for lots of things in America. I can make up a list of many things to prove that. But of course, if I select certain things to show that – then it will be more effective propaganda. I say “so what” because I simply cannot see the catastrophic effect to show that “the sky is falling on America” when the total US tax revenue is barely equaled to 26 percent of gross domestic product and definitely well below the 33 percent weighted average for developed countries. https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing- book/how-do-us-taxes-compare-internationally I do agree entirely with your point, which I see to be – that’s it not really that the taxes are collected but how the money is spent in many cases. That definitely needs to be worked on. I have no problem with my taxes since Trump Gave Americans a Massive Tax Cut. But I will be happy to take time an read about reports from those who have a great personal problem. Salute,
You repeatedly find yourself attempting to tell everyone what I “think” – All the while never asking me to tell you exactly what I am thinking. Here is a 30sec Tip: Don’t Try to Read Other People’s Minds. Salute,
Dumbest comment ive ever seen you post. Probably on par with the one you made where you said that as a contractorm ut us wgeb an elderly citizen who has little money to spend tellq youL “I am old and on a fixed income” – you AUTOMATICALLY increase you estimate to him, or her. Right? But back to the discussion at hand. I ask: Do you find your tax rate too high – and if so, why? Salute,
The grammar and spelling queen of LF posted this? Day drinking perhaps
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. , The grammar and spelling queen of LF posted this? Day drinking perhaps Here, let me repost it for you – since you seem so interested in making sure everyone understands how Stone takes advantage of old people. I know that I appreciated it. Thanks … Salute,
When someone tells me give me a discount i'm on a fixed income. If I think they are lying I make sure they are on the high end of an estimate. Or if they have a liberal bumper sticker. If it is some old lady and she doesn't ask for a discount and I can tell she doesn't have much money. I will keep her price at the low end of the spectrum. Yep it's true. I also always do a little more than what was agreed to.
Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined
So what? 1. Space, glorious space.
Yes, Americans on average paid more in taxes last year than they paid for food, clothing, health care, electricity and telephone services combined.
This is only an advantage relative to comparable economies that are generally located in much more crowded countries. But man, is it delightful. Just the space to have a bit of land, grow a few things, and not have to look at my neighbors unless I want to is awesome.
Newspapers don't have to run their headlines by the mayor before going to print. The government can't force you or your independent weekly newsletter to print or say anything you don't believe. Men with guns will not kick down the door of your printing house and arrest you if you criticize the President. This is awesome.
It's hard to appreciate this until you've lived/spent time in a country that is just rife with economic and political corruption. But the very fact that if a light goes out on my street, I can call the city and have someone come out and replace it -- without paying a bribe or needing a friend in the maintenance office -- is awesome. I can vote and my vote will count (usually). If I go to the doctor, my medicine will not be fraudulently replaced with sugar pills. If I buy meat at the store labeled 'beef,' it will not secretly be ground up horse (usually).
In America, the streetlights actually work. The electricity is on all the time - - not just for 2 - 6 hours a day. You can turn on the tap and drink the water that comes out. It is impossible to overstate the value of this, and the difficulty of maintaining a system like this in a nation of 450 million+ people. This is -- wait for it -- awesome.
If you dream it, you can do it. In no other country is an unlikely story as likely as in the United States. We don't understand the concept of 'getting ideas above your station' -- we want people to dream big. Shoe shine kid who turns a streetside stand into a multi-million dollar business? Great. Garage band that develops a following and eventually sells ten million concert tickets? Excellent. Run for it. Risk it. We love audacity.
My favorite thing about being American is the hyphenation. You don't have to give up any other identity to become American. The American identity is purely additive. We are a cobbled-together country of immigrants, indigenous, and ex- enslaved, and that makes our origin stories diverse in a way that few other places are (Brazil comes to mind, of course). But the one thing that we all share is a desire not to forget where we came from, or to ignore our history, but rather to bring it to the forefront of our new, American identities. It's not a matter of choosing between being Black and being American, or being the child of Indian immigrants and being American -- you can be both. In America, you can always be both. It's like a sweater that stretches to fit you, but maintains its own integrity.
The United States is a very wealthy country, and this is the reason why we can have such complex, reliable infrastructure; such a strong, protective military; one of the largest international aid systems; and so many opportunities for investment, re-investment, invention, and re-invention.
This sounds frivolous, but trust me -- it's not. Getting things that you need (or even just want) is easy in the United States. Possibly not as easy as in central Europe, but definitely better than driving around half of a city trying to hunt down the specific water pump you need, then having to wait 7 months for someone to bring one back to the country.
Goes along with the audacity/individualism thing, but more generally, Americans love doing things themselves. It's not a shameful thing to decide you want to fix your own roof or build your own house -- it's admirable. It's not a signal that you were too poor or cheap to hire a professional; it's a sign that you believe you can accomplish a challenging task to a high standard if you just put your mind to it. We love that.
I would never, never say that America doesn't have a class system. What I will say is that nowhere is the burden of class as light as in the United States. You don't need generational wealth or the correct family name or caste lineage or history of being landed gentry to be respected, admired, and treated well. And your socioeconomic class can change throughout your life; between yourself and your children; between your parents and yourself; and because you want it to. You are not required to live the script of your birth. You can be someone different. Was the government you got worth it?
Gatlin
#2. To: Gatlin (#1)
Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined So what?
#3. To: A K A Stone (#2)
I must leave for now.
Gatlin
#4. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#5. To: Deckard (#0)
Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2018 than they did on the basic necessities of food, clothing and health care combined
#6. To: misterwhite (#5)
Sure. To pay for the food, clothing and health care of the moochers, scammers, and illegals.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6)
I think he said that is why America is great or something like that.
#8. To: A K A Stone (#6)
I think he said that is why America is great or something like that.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#9. To: Deckard (#8)
America is great …
You always have lots of problems with America.
Gatlin
#10. To: misterwhite. A K A Stone, Deckard (#7)
Perhaps I am just not seeing the problem with taxes that some of the “government haters” posting to you are seeing – and I am just seeing this article as simply another anti-government blog attempt to program people top hate America. 
Gatlin
#11. To: Deckard, A K A Stone (#8)
He likely thinks that America is great because of people like him, the ones who always follow the rules and snitch on their neighbors.
Gatlin
#12. To: A K A Stone, Deckard, misgterwhite (#2)
Americans Spent More on Taxes in 2018 Than on Food, Clothing and Health Care Combined So what?
Gatlin
#13. To: A K A Stone (#12)
Gatlin: ...as a contractorm ut us wgeb an elderly citizen who has little money to spend tellq youL
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#14. To: Deckard, A K A Stone (#13)
Gatlin: ...as a contractorm ut us wgeb an elderly citizen who has little money to spend tellq youL
Nah, just sloppiness not to proof read when speed keying. Probably on par with the one you made where you said that as a contractor, when an elderly citizen who has little money to spend tells you “I am old and on a fixed income” – you AUTOMATICALLY increase you estimate to him, or her.
I will guess that your buddy Stone really appreciated you calling attention to that and having it reposted.
Gatlin
#15. To: Gatlin (#14)
Probably on par with the one you made where you said that as a contractor, when an elderly citizen who has little money to spend tells you “I am old and on a fixed income” – you AUTOMATICALLY increase you estimate to him, or her. I will guess that your buddy Stone really appreciated you calling attention to that and having it reposted. I know that I appreciated it.
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