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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPhil Mickelson apologizes for tax comments ('I'm retiring 'cuz taxes are too hi!")
"Golf superstar Phil Mickelson is feeling remorse after threatening to make drastic changes in his life, perhaps even retiring from the game, in response to seeing his taxes go up.
According to Fox News, Mickelson apologized late Monday for possibly upsetting or insulting anyone with his talk about increased rates.
"Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public," Mickelson said in a statement, according to Fox News.
Mickelson added that he doesnt have a definitive plan at this time but is trying to make decisions that are best for him and his family."
http://aol.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2013-01-22/phil-mickelson-apology-taxes-retirement-california-1-percent-millionaire
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BWAH-HA-HA!! He was getting absolutely barbecued by the general public for this, and knew he had to do some big-time damage control ASAP!
rurallib
(62,406 posts)that Mickelson does playing a game. One of the big reasons is because of the set up of the country he is in.
And he doesn't want to help pay for it.
lsewpershad
(2,620 posts)I will lose not lose anything by your abscence.
Botany
(70,489 posts)..... I think Phil's agent got some calls from his sponsors and he then called Phil
and Phil decided that he wants the gravy train to keep running.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)have to, you know, actually WORK FOR A LIVING and typically don't have positive reactions to sob stories on how to survive with hundreds of millions in the bank...
Botany
(70,489 posts)He gets the big bucks for wearing his sponsors' names and for doing commercials
and I have no doubt that his agent, lawyer, wife, and ...... told him to walk
back his comments.
BTW an extra 30 million @ a slightly higher rate is better then not getting that
money.
Right now Phil has money that is parked in some accounts that he will never need to touch
that will pay his grandkids college and house payments. He is #7 in all athletes for earnings
according to Forbes.
indepat
(20,899 posts)the most affluent and large corporations at the expense of exploding the Federal debt and GOP demands for guting social security and Medicare. This shameful diatribe says volumes about his character and patriotism imo. We don't need icons who resent paying their reasonably fair share of taxes, but are a.o.k. with gutting social security and Medicare.
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)He merely made an honest statement about his financial future which came out very badly. Mickelson is usually a fairly decent guy and lumping him in with the true elitist scum of this country is wrong.
KatyMan
(4,190 posts)but he made the remark that got him lumped in as the elitist that he is. Hindsight is 20/20
Dawgs
(14,755 posts)UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)his statement on Sunday was incredibly tone-deaf at best, given the fact that so many of those cheering him on each week have genuine concerns about paying essential bills from one week to the next.
okwmember
(345 posts)and told him what an asinine plan that would be.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)he said it and meant it. No amount of saying he is sorry is going to change the facts. I'm so sick and tire of people in the public eye think they can say what they want and then say their sorry and we are all suppose to forget about it.
librabear
(85 posts)I know a lot of people on here laugh at the concept that people will quit working if taxes are too high, but I strongly believe that it will happen. The question is how many and at what point.
FWIW, it's not the people my age (30y/o) that I am talking about. My wife and I have a good income and are very comfortable. But if we quit working we have a mortgage and kids to feed. We're 32 years away from SSI and our retirement account wouldn't last very long at all. But take this guy for instance. I know nothing of him other than what I just read in this thread. He could probably pick a lifestyle that would match his assets and the income off them. If he wants he can quit working any time he desires. There's lots of people like him when you think about it.
People that are close to retirement. I know many folks that were laid off at work never took another job. I can think of three right off hand. They were all maybe 55 or older. One is now on disability, but the other two just quit working. They had no desire to find another job and didn't need to.
People where one makes a high income and the other is low. How many doctors do you know that married nurses? I have a couple in my family alone. The marginal rate for the second income will be well over 50%. That nurse will be contributing to the family hardly at all. So why bother?
Yeah, we're talking about people that make high incomes here. But the fact is that we all want them to contribute to society as long as possible because their taxes help. If they stop working you and I have to pay more to make up for it. Folks on here are claiming that nobody will quit working if we raise the maximum rate to 87% or whatever it was in the 50's again. Never mind the fact that FICA, SSI, State Taxes, Local taxes are in addition to that rate which brings the rate close to 100%. I think there are a LOT of people that don't NEED to be working when you really think about it. I know that on my budget I can sustain my family (excluding daycare and the mortgage) on about $35-40k.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... or just trying to make a political point.
I'd much rather pay a 70% rate on Phil's $30,000,000 than a 40% rate on $50,000.
Someone else will be glad to earn the money that Phil doesn't want.
librabear
(85 posts)Everybody retires, right?
Even people that make big incomes. At some point their income won't be enough to incentivise them to keep working. It's a fact of life for all of us. Maybe that number is $50k, $100k, $1m, $10m, etc. But at some point people will pack up their stuff and go home. This guy can spend the rest of his life snuffing crack with expensive hookers and not use up the rest of his money.
For most of us it would be something more subtle. Maybe you're a manager who makes $200k and is 50 y/o and you want to spend more time with your grandkids. You're tired of the stress of your job and decide that you don't need the take home pay so much. My MIL just retired teaching and is now working at a department store. She doesn't need the money either.
It's not just taxes I am talking about. Charlie Sheen did the same thing. He wasn't complaining about taxes though, he wanted the crack and hookers. The reason doesn't matter as much as the result.
My point is that we want these people to keep working and paying taxes.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)If one wants to work and make money, and doesn't because his/her tax rate will go up, he/she is stupid.
librabear
(85 posts)I don't.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)librabear
(85 posts)I'm also not in a position where I don't have to work. I'm not the person I am speaking of.
I don't know why it's so hard for people to see that at at SOME point people will quit working if taxes are too high. I think we can all agree that 100% is too high and 0% is too low, right?
I'll freely admit that I think the 87% rate I see people throwing around on here will destroy our economy.
shanti
(21,675 posts)lots of workaholics out there...
Bake
(21,977 posts)Let the wussie man retire. No big loss.
Bake
Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head here!
Bake
(21,977 posts)Just to drive the nail flush with the board ...
Bake
jeff47
(26,549 posts)We'd actually be better off with these guys retiring and being replaced by multiple other people.
Think of it this way: There were a lot more jobs before Wal-Mart. Creating one mega-store means a lot of individual stores cease existing and the total number of people employed goes down.
Similar things happen on a smaller scale when the people you describe retire - they are replaced, usually by multiple people. Spreading that wealth means more jobs - each replacement is hiring a gardener, instead of one guy hiring a gardener.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)I'm with you!
It's funny that some people don't understand this.
Pryderi
(6,772 posts)jeff47
(26,549 posts)If someone decides to stop working before they have satisfied demand, someone else will satisfy that demand.
You know what helps more? Less unemployment. And their early retirements help that. While we won't get as much tax revenue from each individual, the total tax revenue will be about the same.
There really is no danger caused by the rich going Galt. The rest of us will easily take over what they were doing.
librabear
(85 posts)Except when you consider small business owners. Many people don't want to own a business.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)There are plenty of people who do want to own a small business that don't.
librabear
(85 posts)A few small businesses retiring won't open up much market share. If they don't own one it's because they either can't afford to or don't want to.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)I need a regular paycheck, so I'm unable to start the small business I would like to start.
Back in the day, I could get financing for starting the new business to cover the time it took to set up that business. That's no longer possible, largely because there's not enough people seeking such financing.
But supply finds demand. With more people wanting such financing, someone will provide it. And if someone has cash but doesn't want to start a small business, they could provide such financing.
librabear
(85 posts)I run a small business. No interest in owning it. Too much liability and too much crap to deal with.
Owners want out too. I figure someday I'll be out of a job when it sells but that's OK. Then I'll be done travelling and spending too much time away from family.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)If their is a demand for a high paid athlete or a nurse or whatever, someone will fill the demand.
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)They are bloodsuckers and are destroying this country.
Here's a clue for you, dear: we already ARE making up for their greed and the piss poor amount of taxes they pay. WE are paying higher tax rates than THEY are. Where have you been in the past 12 years that you don't know that??
God, what a fucking stupid post.
librabear
(85 posts)Yeah, I'm not happy with them either. What's your point?
Kingofalldems
(38,444 posts)Currently disenfranchised with both parties.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)And you appear to be swimming against the tide here. So your point?
Kingofalldems
(38,444 posts)librabear
(85 posts)If they don't Want me here they'll get rid of me.
The day partyline affiliation starts being about an idea rather than blindly following a bunch of idiots in Washington, I might find myself More willing to admit to it.
I guess I'm not sure what I expected here.
Kingofalldems
(38,444 posts)librabear
(85 posts)You call someone a republican, and they must automatically listen to Fox news and are against gay marriage. I do neither of those things by the way.
If someone is a democrat there's just as long as list of stereotypes about them. They're moochers, jealous of the rich, poor, dirty hippies, etc.
The fact is that it doesn't matter. If we can't get past the stupid politics and evaluate an idea based on it's own merit we're all at fault for the mess that our politics have become. Some of the folks on here are being very supportive of Carlos Miller, but when it was those two college kids doing exactly the same stuff at ACORN offices a few years ago everyone was pissed off. Same action: different response. I'm sure if you go to a republican forum they are sayign terrible things about carlos miller right now.
That's my point though. Most people aren't for or against ideas, they are against other people. They'll disagree with those people no matter what the other person is saying.
Kingofalldems
(38,444 posts)Look it up, you posted it.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)"Jealous of the rich" is a negative meme about Democrats (according to lb) and yet our friend uses it in several of his posts. Gee, who knew?
librabear
(85 posts)I wasn't calling anybody that or saying it was true. I was pointing out that it seems like nobody evaluates any ideas based on their own merits anymore. Identifying with a party just means you're just another sheep who can't think for themselves. Is being Democrat a principle or do you automatically agree with the party line? If it's a principle it means you disagree from time to time with the rest of them.
I can't remember - are democrats currently for or against the Patriot Act?
treestar
(82,383 posts)His contributions to society can stop. We don't are. Someone else can do it and make some of the money. He doesn't have to have all of it.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)As they have to note in the article because most obviously don't have a clue who he is LOL
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)"Old rich dude complains about taxes....film at 11!"
Pisces
(5,599 posts)plan that allows this to happen. He is pissed because he tried to buy the Padres and taking out 100 million today would cost him
a lot of money. His complaints are disgusting and he does need to back track and shut his mouth.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)turns into a vulgar, greedy person, when their money has been earned playing a game they love and would probably play for free.
These people, especially golfers have been pampered, clothed-for-free, paid obscenely well, and yet they complain when asked to pay their fair share.. on them all
librabear
(85 posts)Just curious. Nobody likes to define this.
uncle ray
(3,156 posts)and neither does Phil Mickelson.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)librabear
(85 posts)Until I hear otherwise my fair share and everyone elses is what the IRS says I am obligated to pay. If people think this guy didn't pay his fair share already (last year) it's between them and their congressperson. The problem isn't the people, it's the tax code. I am getting pretty tired of demonizing people for being successful.
that was the whole point of this thread wasn't it?
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)And way to spread fucking right wing lies.
I don't give a flying fuck how successful someone is. What I care about is that they pay back into the system that MADE THEIR WEALTH POSSIBLE.
God, I am sick to death of this stupid point of view that everyone is "jealous" of the rich. You really need to learn something about this issue and grow up.
librabear
(85 posts)As soon as the discussion turned from complaints about the tax code to a specific wealthy person who paid his taxes but didn't pay his "fair share" it turned into jealousy.
Here's a list of people who I don't think payed their fair share:
1. Martha Stewart: She may be a home and garden guru, but shes also a convicted tax evader. Before doing jail time for insider trading, Stewart was forced to pay $220,000 in back taxes and penalties to the State of New York, learning the hard way that East Hampton mansions also generate taxes. Her claim that she hardly spent time there didnt reduce her burden, or appease the state of New York.
2. Wesley Snipes: You know him as Blade, but the IRS knows him as a tax evader that used various means to hide a lofty income. Snipes was found guilty on three counts of failing to file a federal income tax return, owing the government $17 million in back taxes plus penalties and interest. His attempt to pay off a portion of what he owed during his trial to avoid the slammer, failed and in 2008, Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison. He began serving his sentence in December 2010.
3. Willie Nelson: After seizing most of his assets in 1990, the federal government forced Willie to pay over $16 million in back taxes and fines for his involvement with a bogus tax shelter, offering new meaning to the singers top-ten hit from 1975, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Offering a note of redemption for the famous crooner, it was later discovered that Price Waterhouse had not paid Nelsons taxes for years and invested the funds instead.
4. Nicolas Cage: Cage inspired humor in Raising Arizona and sobriety in Leaving Las Vegas, but only irony when the star of National Treasure contributed to the national debt to the tune of approximately $6 million, according to the IRS 2009 charge. Accusing his ex-manager and accountant of making poor investment choices in risky real estate and failing to pay his taxes, Cage set out to make good with the IRS, but still paid considerable fines on the taxes. Be careful whom you trust with tax advice.
5. Marc Anthony: He may be the husband of superstar Jennifer Lopez, but fame didnt remove his obligation to pay taxes. In 2007, the IRS served Anthony with $2.5 million in back tax bills. Then in 2010, he received two additional bills totaling over $3 million for unpaid taxes on real estate. Marc Anthony blames management, but few empathize after the IRS claimed numerous years of zero tax payments.
6. Annie Leibovitz: It was December 8, 1980 when celeb portrait photographer Leibovitz captured John Lennon and Yoko Ono for the cover of Rolling Stone. Since then, her notoriety rocketed almost as fast as her spending. After years of extravagance and poor financial management, it seems paying taxes was just one expense she couldnt afford. Picture this: in 2009 Leibovitz owed $2.1 million in unpaid taxes for 2004-2007 and was forced to pledge the copyright to every photograph she has ever taken, or ever will, to get the loan she needed to pay her debts.
7. Darryl Strawberry: Mets or Yankees? Strawberry led them both to World Series titles, but like Pete Rose, he stumbled when it came to claiming taxable income. Both can likely recite their stats for every season played, but neither was very good at recalling income from autograph and memorabilia shows. After years of signing away without paying taxes, both received tax evasion convictions. The lesson? If you earn money from it, so should Uncle Sam.
8. Boris Becker: Christened Boom-Boom thanks to an impressive serve, the 90s tennis star impressed men and women alike with his talent, but the German tax authority? Not so much. Claiming to be living in the tax haven of Monaco from 1991 to1993, Becker was actually at home in Munich with his wife and kids. When the final ball dropped, Becker paid approximately $3 million in back taxes and interest on earnings from prize money, endorsements and appearance fees.
9. Survivor Richard Hatch: He survived the first season of Survivor, winning $1 million. But when it came time to paying his taxes, he stayed on the island and voted CBS off, claiming the network agreed to pay his taxes. In 2006, Hatch was found guilty of tax evasion and served part of a six-year prison sentence as a result. Then in March 2011, he returned for his third prison term for failing to file amended returns. Celebrity tax lesson: Dont forget to pay taxes on your income
especially before 51 million television viewers.
10. Heidi Fleiss: Known as the "Hollywood madam," Heidi Fleiss was sentenced in 1997 on tax evasion charges in connection with her high-profile prostitution ring. She served part of her seven-year sentence in prison and a halfway house. Her excuse? Apparently its a bit challenging to pay legal taxes on illegal earnings.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)He/she appears to miss the point you made in another of your pithy and wonderful posts. Thank you for being in this thread Zoe!
hughee99
(16,113 posts)I suspect that he does pay taxes, and even if he retires he'd STILL have to pay taxes. In fact, if he didn't pay taxes, I suspect the tax rate wouldn't bother him at all.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)I heard some right-wing radio nutjob asking that same question recently. Looks like you're doing a pretty good job of parroting the RW talking points.
Enjoy your stay here.
wiggs
(7,811 posts)I've heard it a dozen times here in CA...mostly from very wealthy who 'know' people who are thinking of leaving, or who claim it's an obvious move to leave a high-tax state for Nevada or Texas. The thing is, a few do leave but a lot more stay or come here. There's a reason we are the 7th largest economy in the world....people want to live and work here. Living in Nevada is a whole different thing and when it comes down to it, they don't move (as nice as some parts of Nevada are).
I heard the same thing many times on RW radio (Geraldo) when talking about raising taxes on the rich by 4%. One fellow called in and said he had 100 employees, made between 250K and 350K himself and if his taxes went up he'd have to close his doors and put everyone out of work...just so he wouldn't have to pay 1,000 or 2,000 more in taxes. That meme is allowed to stand as legitimate, even though the reality is quite different...it's just a thing RWrs say. He wouldn't do it.
If it's worth it to Phil to live somewhere he doesn't want to in order to save some tax money...then that's his priority, but it's likely it's not true.
librabear
(85 posts)Wasn't this a pizza store owner that was going to have to pay $2000 more in taxes per full time employee due to the ACA? That's actually $200k.
Chances are this guy will either divide his franchises into smaller companies to avoid the 50 employee penalty or make all the workers part time. He's not really leaving but he's not paying those taxes either.
Guys at work and pretty much anyone/everyone at networking events won't shut up about it. They are all bemoaning the state of California and plotting their escape.
Having said that, there are serious concerns being voiced by corporate execs that they can't recruit elite talent at the executive level due to California's restrictive tax code and the overall intrusiveness of our state's regulatory policies. I'm not personally a critic of California, but we are talking about greedy sociopaths and they will definitely follow the money. When you have states like Texas/Nevada that essentially allow you to have a free ride, it will be tougher for California to compete in the future.
wiggs
(7,811 posts)but at the end of the day they recognize that they and their employees want to live in California. Some go, most stay, some come here. That's why our economy is huge. It's not collapsing. People aren't leaving in droves.
It's ironic that those who talk about leaving for lower tax states are threatening to leave revenue GENERATING states (blue) for states that TAKE (red) more from the federal government.
Helen Reddy
(998 posts)are paid obscenely well. But....
Keep in mind, golf (like tennis) is an individual sport. The athlete has to PERFORM at high levels in order to receive a paycheck. Unlike a baseball or football player who can sit on his duff all season due to an injury or just plain underperforming will STILL get paid. A golfer is sick and can't play? No pay
For every millionaire golfer, there are thousands who work their tails off with little financial gain.
OmahaBlueDog
(10,000 posts)Most NFL players don't last five years in the league. Many don't last the season after they are drafted.
MLB? How many guys never make it out of AA or AAA Minor League ball?
Lot's of would-be hockey players are in unpaid leagues. They hope to get a shot at the NHL, or a college scholarship to one of the schools with an NCAA hockey program.
Helen Reddy
(998 posts)UncleYoder
(233 posts)Good old Phil DOES make 30M sitting on his ass.
Helen Reddy
(998 posts)have the luxury of "sitting on his ass".
He has worked his butt off to be that desirable to business' who hire him to sell their products/services.
I do not fault him for making insane wicked good money. I fault his lack of good sense to complain about his tax rate.
OmahaBlueDog
(10,000 posts)Make fun if you will, but when Phil's tax situation calls to mind the stirring words of Ann Romney -- "Stop it! This is hard!"
Pryderi
(6,772 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Surely you've earned enough by now to take a well earned rest. If your services are needed, doubtless somebody else will be able and willing to rise to the task. If your services are not needed, then the money spent on them can go to a more useful purppose.
Seriously...get over yourself. We really don't care whether or not you decide to retire.
joe1991
(178 posts)It's the I did all by myself" false mentality.
He grew up in a country full of freedom and huge benefits, but doesn't want to pay for the privilages.
Would he have made those millions being a good golfer in Ethiopia?
And now that he has more money than he could spend in several lifetimes, the lust and addction to money take over. He can only think of having more precious gold and trinkets.
Lex
(34,108 posts)Gimme a freakin' break.
Whine when you got real money problems, asshole.
wilt the stilt
(4,528 posts)That is his name on tour. He is widely known to be a complete phony. There is an old joke about Phil.
"with Amy(his wife) The breasts are fake and the smile is real with Phil the breasts are real and the smile is fake"
also I read the article and he lumped in social security. He doesn't even know he pays on only the first $110,000. His real rate is 50%.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)What is he going to do? Spend his free time working in a factory?
smokey nj
(43,853 posts)Read it to Mr. smokey, he loves it too!
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)and I still really don't care.
I have now devoted 3 minutes to being aware of him, which is a much larger share than he deserves of the limited amount of time remaining in my lifetime.
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)If I have to hear one more whiny ass snot nosed white male millionaire whine about how they only get to keep $20 million a year it is going to be the end.
Ganja Ninja
(15,953 posts)Then you have the nerve to bitch about your taxes.
Some people should be beaten with a sock full of horseshit.
Kingofalldems
(38,444 posts)Initech
(100,062 posts)Anyone find this eerily similar to when Angus T. Jones called "2 1/2 Men" "ungodly filth"? And then he immediately apologized to CBS?
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Everyone who walks away from a huge payday gives an opportunity to someone who is in a lower tax bracket.