Kobe gets whacked with taxes.....

[JustRalph]

Damn........ how does he survive?

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9911541/los-angeles-lakers-paying-kobe-bryant-24-million-lump-sum

"In his tax bracket, Bryant is subject to paying a federal tax at the top rate of 39.6 percent, which would mean $9.6 million will be withheld by Uncle Sam. As a California resident, he's subject to paying an additional 13.3 percent, or $3.2 million, in state taxes. California has the highest state income tax in the United States. The Medicare tax and surcharge would reduce his total take to about $10.9 million, Raiola said.

Bryant will pay so-called "jock taxes" to states in which he plays on the road. But those payments will be credited toward his California income tax.

Bryant's salary this season is the second-largest salary in NBA history, behind the $33.1 million Michael Jordan made in 1997-98."

[Robert Goren]

Even after taxes, Kobe is still the most over paid athlete in the world. It has been years since he has done anything to help the Lakers to win.

[Dave Schwartz]

Goren,

Kind of missed the point, did you?

[Robert Goren]

Goren,

Kind of missed the point, did you?What, that he is super rich and he didn't have an accountant smart enough to get him out of paying taxes. Actually we don't know that. All we have is what writer Darren Rovell says he he'd pay if Kobe isn't able to find away out of paying some of his taxes. The point is that Kobe makes a lot of money and could pay over half of it in taxes, which in all likelihood he won't. If you ask me the taxes he pays is a small price to pay to live the only country in the world where a person with his skill set can make at least 10 million a year after taxes. You don't hear him griping, do you? He is living the dream.

[JustRalph]

What, that he is super rich and he didn't have an accountant smart enough to get him out of paying taxes. Actually we don't know that. All we have is what writer Darren Rovell says he he'd pay if Kobe isn't able to find away out of paying some of his taxes. The point is that Kobe makes a lot of money and could pay over half of it in taxes, which in all likelihood he won't. If you ask me the taxes he pays is a small price to pay to live the only country in the world where a person with his skill set can make at least 10 million a year after taxes. You don't hear him griping, do you? He is living the dream.

strike two!! A swing and a miss!!

[TJDave]

strike two!! A swing and a miss!!

No, a homerun.

[classhandicapper]

If he's not satisfied with the quality of life he has in CA he should do what every other sensible athlete, entertainer, or highly paid individual around the world has been doing. They are leaving the cities, states, countries, etc.. they live in for greener pastures.

Citizenship should be a market.

If a city/state/federal government provides a much better standard of living and quality of life, then it makes sense to pay more to live there. If it's good enough, people will even move there despite having to pay way more in taxes.

But once that government becomes bloated, corrupt, inefficient, incompetent, makes enough poor policy decisions, and the quality of life starts deteriorating while the costs are going up, then it's time to head for the exits. That forces that government to either get its act together (which usually means shrinking) or sink into an economic and/or social abyss.

No one owes anything to a corrupt incompetent government at any level.

Packing you bags an leaving is an expression of freedom that puts checks on government much like throwing bad politicians out of office does. The difference is that it's the option that comes up AFTER the former has repeatedly failed. And since it is a way to express freedom from government, the left will always oppose it. That's why they are so in favor of putting things at the federal level instead of the state level. It's a lot tougher to hand in your citizenship and leave your country than simply moving from California to Texas.

[sammy the sage]

If he's not satisfied with the quality of life he has in CA he should do what every other sensible athlete, entertainer, or highly paid individual around the world has been doing. They are leaving the cities, states, countries, etc.. they live in for greener pastures.

Citizenship should be a market.

If a city/state/federal government provides a much better standard of living and quality of life, then it makes sense to pay more to live there. If it's good enough, people will even move there despite having to pay way more more in taxes.

But once that government becomes bloated, corrupt, inefficient, incompetent, makes enough poor policy decisions, and the quality of life starts deteriorating while the costs are going up, then it's time to head for the exits. That forces the government to either get its act together (which usually means shrinking) or sink into an economic and/or social abyss.

No one owes anything to a corrupt incompetent government at any level.

Unfortunately that's EXACTLY what's happening in Fla...everybody coming from corrupt/bloated/taxed states...to down here...then whining...then getting taxes RAISED to repeat same ole ............. :bang:

[Robert Goren]

If he's not satisfied with the quality of life he has in CA he should do what every other sensible athlete, entertainer, or highly paid individual around the world has been doing. They are leaving the cities, states, countries, etc.. they live in for greener pastures.

Citizenship should be a market.

If a city/state/federal government provides a much better standard of living and quality of life, then it makes sense to pay more to live there. If it's good enough, people will even move there despite having to pay way more more in taxes.

But once that government becomes bloated, corrupt, inefficient, incompetent, makes enough poor policy decisions, and the quality of life starts deteriorating while the costs are going up, then it's time to head for the exits. That forces the government to either get its act together (which usually means shrinking) or sink into an economic and/or social abyss.

No one owes anything to a corrupt incompetent government at any level.Spoken like a true patriot. Thankfully our fathers and grandfathers didn't think that way on Dec 7, 1941.
As for shopping around for a tax haven to live, ask John McAfee how that worked out for him.

[classhandicapper]

Unfortunately that's EXACTLY what's happening in Fla...everybody coming from corrupt/bloated/taxed states...to down here...then whining...then getting taxes RAISED to repeat same ole ............. :bang:


Sorry to hear that. Some people never learn. They think "If the government only did it this way it would have worked out". The problem is that by its very nature government is corrupt, so it tends to be incompetent also.

There are still imbeciles that think pure communism/socialism would have worked if done properly.

[classhandicapper]

Spoken like a true patriot. Thankfully our fathers and grandfathers didn't think that way on Dec 7, 1941.

They saw the VALUE in paying high taxes and going to war to save what they perceived as a unique and great country that maximized their freedom and opportunity. And they were even willing to die so that their children and grandchildren could still have that. It WAS a great country and it was a just war.

I wonder how many of those same people would die for what the country is becoming now?

It's an interesting question, but I'd guess fewer.

When faced with that same choice for Vietnam, many chose to head for the exists because it wasn't worth dying for a war they didn't believe in.

It's always a value choice. That kind of freedom can put a check on government. Without it, we are less free. When you are less free, there is less to be willing to pay and die for.

[Robert Goren]

Sorry to hear that. Some people never learn. They think "If the government only did it this way it would have worked out". The problem is that by it's very nature government is corrupt, so it tends to be incompetent also.

There are still imbeciles that think pure communism/socialism would have worked if done properly. There are even more imbeciles who think that a very limited government would work if was done properly. Never mind that it never has ever any place. Gee, if we just bring back Jeff Davis and the Confederacy, everything would be alright. Heck, we wouldn't have new flags made since everybody already has one.

[Robert Goren]

They saw the VALUE in paying high taxes and going to war to save what they perceived as a unique and great country that maximized their freedom and opportunity. And they were even willing to die so that their children and grandchildren could still have that. It WAS a great country and it was a just war.

I wonder how many of those same people would die for what the country is becoming now?

It's an interesting question, but I'd guess fewer.

When faced with that same choice for Vietnam, many chose to head for the exists because it wasn't worth dying for a war they didn't believe in.

It's always a value choice. That kind of freedom can put a check on government. Without it, we are less free. When you are less free, there is less to be willing to pay and die for.Apparently quite a few, considering how many people are enlisting these days.

[TJDave]

No one owes anything to a corrupt incompetent government at any level.

In a democracy, citizens owe it to themselves to fix corrupt government.

It's their government and their fault.

Those who run are traitors.

[delayjf]

There are even more imbeciles who think that a very limited government would work if was done properly.

When was it ever tried?

[delayjf]

[QUOTE]What, that he is super rich and he didn't have an accountant smart enough to get him out of paying taxes.[/QUOTE

Kobe and Hollywood don't have a choice, they work in CA. But CA taxes are the reason Tiger moved to FL - that save him 13% right off the top. If I were Tiger, I'd do the same thing, especially the way that CA spends/wastes its tax revenue.

[JustRalph]

When was it ever tried?

Great question! Great post!

Btw, I start threads with sarcastic posts sometimes just to mock or point out something. Most get it. But this might be a new record considering 90% of the discussion is a little askew based on my intended point.

It's probably just me and my skewed reality.

Dave called it right off the bat.