"Joe the Plumber" is an Asshole
(Note: For this site's traffic, Joe the Plumber is the gift that keeps on giving. People still search for "Joe the Plumber asshole" and "Joe the Plumber jerk." Thanks, Joe, for being such a visible douchebag!)
(Update -- 8-18-09 -- Joe the Plumber wants to beat the livin' tar out of a woman! What an asshole!)
Was I the only one who thought Joe the Plumber sounds like a total dick? Here's a guy who's worried that if he makes over $250,000 a year, he'll end up paying more taxes. Cry me a fucking river, Joe. We should all have such concerns.
They say Joe the Plumber works 80 hours a week or whatever. Hey, I've got an idea for you, Joe, how about you work only 40 hours a week, spend a little time with your family, and make only $249,000 next year. That way, your taxes won't go up -- in fact, under Obama's plan they might even go down -- and you may actually develop some meaningful relationships and find out how to enjoy life!
Besides, Joe, if the economy keeps sliding, your business won't do so well, and if the federal budget continues being so grossly out of balance, the economy will definitely keep sliding. Remember the Clinton years? Balanced budgets do matter. They lead to a justifiably strong dollar and bring money into our markets. Not too many people are going to be installing new kitchens and bathrooms if the country goes bankrupt, Joe the Plumber, you jerk.
Wasn't McCain about "Country First" or something like that? This country needs to get its finances in order, and that's going to require some sacrifices. Since 95 percent of us are having a tough time making a go of it, it's up to the fortunate, the Joe the Plumbers of the world (and people who make 20 times as much as Joe, like Cindy McCain) to step up to the plate.
THIS JUST IN: Turns out that "Joe the Plumber" is related to Charles Keating. That's right, Charles Keating of McCain's Keating Five glory days. It did seem odd that the McCain campaign managed to get a record of this one conversation of Obama's; now it looks downright fishy.
BEFORE YOU SCROLL TO THE COMMENTS: I just looked at the logs and now I see what happened; some right-wing moron site linked here. I have given you guys your voice and will no longer be accepting comments on this post.
Comments
#1 Good lord. How bitter,
Good lord. How bitter, hateful, spiteful, and outright mean has the left become? Bad enough they claim that every election they don't win was due to cheating, but now anyone who dares question a candidate who is in favor of Marxist wealth redistribution is insulted and demeaned.
Unbelievable.
#2 Yup, we're pretty mad
Having our country destroyed by eight years of retarded policy and corruption will do that to ya'.
#3 10% of Americans own 90% of
10% of Americans own 90% of America's wealth. But I guess this is not a problem.
#4 So you solve it by TAKING
So you solve it by TAKING other people's money? What Constitution are you reading?
#5 Which Constitution am I reading?
The one that that has "ensure domestic tranquility" and "provide for the common welfare" listed as two reasons for its existence.
You people astound me. The people who benefit most from living in our great society are asked to contribute more. They're still rich. They'll get richer when the budget is in balance. Nobody benefited more from Clinton's tax on the wealthy than the wealthy. Warren Buffett gets this, but he's obviously a lot smarter than you.
#6 wow
youre a douchebag
#7 wow
you're witty.
#8 Wow you totally don't get it
Wow you totally don't get it do you. He doesn't make 250,000 a year. His company does, which he then uses to pay his employees, their health care and benefits. Joe is not concerned only for himself, but also his employees and their families. If he gets taxed to much he may have to fire an employee or two to make up the difference.
Joe should be praised for putting his neck out on the line and taking ownership of a small business. This employees other people and helps the community as a whole.
So no, Joe didn't sound like and "Asshole" he sounded like a guy who is concerned for the people around him.
#9 You're the one who doesn't get it
If his company makes that much, it's profit. If he fires an employee because he's making that much profit and doesn't want to pay taxes on it, he's an asshole. Thanks for reinforcing my point.
Now step aside and let the adults clean up the mess you kids have made.
#10 No, that's not profit:
No, that's not profit: that's called revenue.
After the costs of doing business are extracted from the revenue (salaries, health insurance, payroll taxes, Social Security, Medicare, etc, etc) there's usually a much smaller amount that remains - that's the profit, which means the company has to make the same amount of revenue the next month, if not more, in order to stay afloat and add to the profit made. Usually, the business owner operates at a huge loss to his own personal income for a long time in order to keep the business afloat, and even before he makes his very own first profit. $250,000 in revenue may well mean only $40,000 in profit for this plumber, sometimes even less.
This is basic economics and very basic accounting. Those who run small businesses know what I'm talking about. But those who love to steal from Maker Peter to pay Taker Paul will never get it... until they have a business of their very own.
If anyone's showing to be an a-hole here, it is the author of this tripe.
#11 Show me
where Obama's plan calls for taxing revenue, not profit.
Seriously, are you ignorant or just stupid? I run a small business, and my taxes come out of my profits, not my revenue. That's why I save my receipts.
#12 Charlie, I understand what
Charlie,
I understand what you are saying, and I appreciate your point of view. I just think if Joe is willing to risk his own money and livelihood he should be rewarded and not punished.
If you tax him he will not be able to put as much money back into his company as he should be able to do. Profit is not a bad thing, and it should not be viewed as such. If Joe makes money more than likely he does not take home with him, but invests in new wrenches and what not for his company. By reinvesting in his company he is able to keep up with the latest and greatest plumbing technology and compete with larger companies like Roto-Roter and Mr. Plumber.
If he cannot reinvest in his small company and grow it then the larger so-called evil corporations win.
#13 So you're voting for Obama, then?
Because his economic plan calls for tax breaks for small businesses.
And, by the way, when a business expands, when it buys capital equipment, that expenditure eats into its profit and LOWERS its taxes. In this way, taxing profits encourages investment.
#14 Name calling?
So Joe is your neighbor and you now insult him? Why? Because you think a political candidate that is a puppet for the global elitist has your best interest in mind? You think that he is somehow different then McCain. Ha that is laughable man. The goal is in place to destroy our dollar no matter what either of them do. Wake up and read between the lines. The only candidate that was a true change agent is Dr. Ron Paul but he probably would have been assassinated.
#15 Let me be clear
My neighbor Joe is not Joe the Plumber. He is a cool dude who works hard and will get a tax break under Obama's plan.
As far as the "political elite" goes: The reality is that we need to have a government. I would prefer to be governed by the best and brightest, thank you.
#16 you're not the only one
I also thought that he sounded like an arrogant NeoCon whose only intent in asking the question was to have his opinion of "Obama as a Socialist" confirmed.
#17 Thank goodness.
The mouth-breathers found this post. Now I know that at least one reasonable person read it.
#18 Here is the best part. Joe
Here is the best part. Joe the Plumber, isn't even a registered voter.
So yeah, when non-registered voters go to the political rally of someone they wouldn't vote for even had they been registered, it's not "the common man descenting." It's a political plant trying to give McCain at least one zinger in the debate.
I also find it really funny that McCain supporters are trying to call you out for not raising the level of discourse. They must be too retarded to operate the TV, and watch an entire McCain Ad without being distracted by shiny things in the room.
#19 Intentionally Inflamatory Posts Beg Flaming Responses
I stumbled on this post and found myself laughing at the entire conversation. I support Obama for the very reason's charliehiphop stated in one of his comments; we need a government of the best and brightest. Not of the mediocre. Somehow we always expect our athletes, soldiers, and scientists to be elit and yet we expect mediocrity from our government. How absurd.
However, calling "Joe the Plumber" an asshole is absurd as well. First, charlie, you don't have the information on hand to know if his $250,000 is profit/salary or if it's net sales. So blasting the man with incomplete information just makes you look like a right-winged bible-thumper. That tactic is in THEIR arsenal - it should not be in ours.
Secondly, how in the world can you denigrate a man who follows the basic precepts upon which this country was built? His entrepreneurial aspect is realized as an American citizen - it's what we are taught to praise and respect. Good for him for having the business acumen to have to face these issues.
Thirdly, you have no idea how meaningful or substantial his relationships are. You attack his character on the basis on a strong work ethic with now knowledge of who he is and how he lives his life.
In short, Charlie, you have presented nothing less and an ad hominem attack with little or no merit. You don't help "the left" with these statements - you make us look as bad as the "right."
Fail. Try again.
#20 Arrrggghh!
For the GAZILLIONTH TIME: NET SALES ARE NOT TAXED!!! Profits are taxed.
Did you read my post? It made a well reasoned argument for my statement that Joe the Plumber is an asshole. That is not ad hominem. Look it up.
You are right that I should not have attacked his relationships, but anybody who works as hard as Joe is reputed to work certainly pays a price in their personal life.