We did not pay Federal income tax when we were too young, too old, or too poor. When we lost our job, our home, or got sick.
We aren't "freeloaders." We kept working. We just wanted a fair chance.
Some of us fought our way into the middle class. But we didn't do it alone.
The government gave us tax money for our kids, for our education, for our mortgages.
The government gave us veterans benefits for education, retirement, and lifetime healthcare.
NONE of us have always paid income tax.
But ALL of us have been helped by a society that keeps the rules fair and helps its citizens succeed.
We will not "suck it up."
We are not the 53%.
We are Americans.
Photo reblogged from We Are The 53% with 8 notes
The natural law at work was not “getting what you deserve.” It was statistics. You are lucky.
Most bankruptcies in America are due to medical expenses. People get hurt or sick and cannot dig themselves back out of debt.
While you were working as a janitor, what if you slipped and hurt your back? What if you were out of work for a month? What if you couldn’t do manual labor anymore?
While you were working at UPS, what if you were hit by a car? How much of your hospital stay would your insurance have covered? Did you have insurance?
While you were on food stamps, what if you got cancer? How would you have paid for treatment? How would you have paid your rent?
What if someone in your family got very sick while you were in school? Would have stopped working on your degree to care for them? How long would it have taken you to finish your degrees? How much debt would you be in now?
These things happen to people all the time. But not you. YOU WERE LUCKY.
It’s a simple mathematical fact that not everyone gets what they deserve. Sometimes, no matter how hard we work, we need help. And when you needed help, when you were hungry, when you were not paying Federal income tax, we helped you.
You have what you have because of your hard work, your dumb luck, and the help of your fellow taxpayers. You’re welcome.
