Why the Need for an Apology?

[madgator]

Can someone please explain this one to me. Am I missing something?


http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8868333/phil-mickelson-says-regrets-airing-opinion-taxes

[MichiGator2002]

He is relenting to the insidious trend toward disagreeing with ideologically homogeneous leftist statism being treated as bad behavior.

[secgator]

Simply put...class and wealth envy. That is ALL this boils down to.

If you need further clarification, we have several leftie members in here who are experts in the subject of class envy, and are much better suited to answer any questions one may have regarding the nuances and aspects of what causes a person to have that despicable affliction. They exhibit it on a daily basis in here and are world class experts in the field.

[gatorman_07732]

Wow, is it politically incorrect to speak out against hight taxes now?

[wygator]

Wow, is it politically incorrect to speak out against hight taxes now?

Phil is obviously a racist.

[g8trjax]

Golf channel was ripping him a new one yesterday. How dare he speak in those terms, he still brings home millions. Very insidious world we live in.

[gatorman_07732]

Phil is obviously a racist.

And a homophobe

[CalSFGator]

He obviously doesn't "need" to apologize to anyone, but we live in a society where it is generally considered bad taste to complain about money when you have that much. Party foul and nothing more.

You guys can wax on and on and on about class envy, but it doesn't ring true when you bitch and moan about every annoying starlet or lefty actor talking politics, or rich guys that complain about too low taxes.

[MichiGator2002]

Cal is making my point. The very idea that having money means you waive your right to being offended by it being grabbed at is the product of this slow, insidious push to make it impermissible to accept non-statism, non-leftism in polite society.

[wgbgator]

Well, at least his PR people understand that his earnings and ability to make a living are primarily driven by people who don't have his tax issues and enjoy watching him play golf or buy the products he endorses.

[wgbgator]

Some snark from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2013/01/21/golfer-phil-mickelson-may-call-it-quits-due-to-climbing-tax-rates/

For starters, courtesy of President Obama’s re-election and the subsequent fiscal cliff negotiations, Mickelson will experience an increase in his top tax rate on ordinary income from 35% to 39.6%, and an increase in his top rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends from 15% to 20%. Clearly, when faced with tax hikes of that magnitude, it stops making economic sense for Mickelson to continue to swing a metal stick up to 70 times a day in exchange for the $48 million he earns on an annual basis.

But it gets worse. Thanks to the expiration of the temporary 2% reduction in the payroll tax rate on the first $113,700 of self-employment income, Mickelson will have to fork over an extra $2,274 in tax during 2013, an additional burden that makes it hard to justify briskly walking as many as five miles per day, four days a week. In long pants, nonetheless.

And then there’s the impact of Obamacare. When you consider that from now on, Mickelson will be liable for an additional 0.9% tax on his self-employment income and 3.8% tax on his net investment income after each exceeds $250,000, what’s left over from the multi-million dollar endorsement deal requiring him to sport a Rolex watch while playing private courses in exotic locales hardly seems worth it.

[CalSFGator]

Cal is making my point. The very idea that having money means you waive your right to being offended by it being grabbed at is the product of this slow, insidious push to make it impermissible to accept non-statism, non-leftism in polite society.

Who is doing this part? I see a lot more threads about lefty famous people talking freely than vice versa. Statist, rightist PC behavior.

[madgator]

Cal is making my point. The very idea that having money means you waive your right to being offended by it being grabbed at is the product of this slow, insidious push to make it impermissible to accept non-statism, non-leftism in polite society.

exactly

now I don't care who you are or how much you make.....any and all of us would be ticked if we were losing 60% of our income to taxes.


and if anyone doesn't think that is excessive is seriously deluding themselves or proving the above point to be true

[ArtVandelay]

Some snark from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2013/01/21/golfer-phil-mickelson-may-call-it-quits-due-to-climbing-tax-rates/

For starters, courtesy of President Obama’s re-election and the subsequent fiscal cliff negotiations, Mickelson will experience an increase in his top tax rate on ordinary income from 35% to 39.6%, and an increase in his top rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends from 15% to 20%. Clearly, when faced with tax hikes of that magnitude, it stops making economic sense for Mickelson to continue to swing a metal stick up to 70 times a day in exchange for the $48 million he earns on an annual basis.
But it gets worse. Thanks to the expiration of the temporary 2% reduction in the payroll tax rate on the first $113,700 of self-employment income, Mickelson will have to fork over an extra $2,274 in tax during 2013, an additional burden that makes it hard to justify briskly walking as many as five miles per day, four days a week. In long pants, nonetheless.

And then there’s the impact of Obamacare. When you consider that from now on, Mickelson will be liable for an additional 0.9% tax on his self-employment income and 3.8% tax on his net investment income after each exceeds $250,000, what’s left over from the multi-million dollar endorsement deal requiring him to sport a Rolex watch while playing private courses in exotic locales hardly seems worth it.



:laugh:

[CalSFGator]

exactly

now I don't care who you are or how much you make.....any and all of us would be ticked if we were losing 60% of our income to taxes.


and if anyone doesn't think that is excessive is seriously deluding themselves or proving the above point to be true

he isn't paying 60%, and lots of people aren't ticked about it, actually. He doesn't make money in a vacuum, he makes it with tax rates in mind. I suspect he will demand a little more from his endorsements next year to make up for it.

[Dreamliner]

The reporter is repugnant. I'm technically near the poverty line and yet couldn't bring myself to look at him or listen to him for more than the few seconds it took me to click off the video.

[madgator]

he isn't paying 60%, and lots of people aren't ticked about it, actually. He doesn't make money in a vacuum, he makes it with tax rates in mind. I suspect he will demand a little more from his endorsements next year to make up for it.



sorry you're right. it's more like 62-63%


and I know.....he didn't build that

[wygator]

Golf channel was ripping him a new one yesterday. How dare he speak in those terms, he still brings home millions. Very insidious world we live in.

Is that the same golf channel whose primary sponsors are companies like Rolex, Mercedes and every brokerage firm?

[gatorman_07732]

We are getting to a very sad time in this country with the sports media getting just as bad as the MSM.

Thou shalt not speak out against tax collector

[Lawdog88]

The reporter is repugnant. I'm technically near the poverty line and yet couldn't bring myself to look at him or listen to him for more than the few seconds it took me to click off the video.


In synch wid dat. Dude was way too engrossed in stand-up comedy schtick.

[ArtVandelay]

exactly

now I don't care who you are or how much you make.....any and all of us would be ticked if we were losing 60% of our income to taxes.


and if anyone doesn't think that is excessive is seriously deluding themselves or proving the above point to be true

probably true, but then I would think how lucky I was to be making the kind of money that I am and probably wouldn't complain publicly about it where so many people are struggling to find their next meal and would love to have that problem.

he just looks like a douche for it...

[CalSFGator]

sorry you're right. it's more like 62-63%


and I know.....he didn't build that

I seriously doubt it, though he must be killing his accountants referral business with his haphazard claims.

What is the build that comment? About the roads thing from an Obama speech? You hang your entire economic philosophy on an intentional rightwing misquote? Sad.

[FearNoSpear]

How dare he comment on his own money. Only the envious are allowed to comment on such things!

[ArtVandelay]

How dare he comment on his own money. Only the envious are allowed to comment on such things!

No one said he shouldn't comment on it. Most people aren't going to feel badly for him considering how much money he makes.

[OaktownGator]

No way he should have apologized.

But I can definitely see saying he'll keep his opinions to himself if the media can't act like adults. That sounds like the right approach to me.

[LittleBlueLW]

He should have made clear that his comments were intended for his peers, not you lowly peasants that salivate at the thought of having what he does.

[secgator]

He has earned it....good for him. He wants to keep it...double damn good for him. He doesn't like that Obama and all the other Dem bastards want to take more of HIS money away from him...to hell with THEM.

Go Phil go. Pay no attention to all the envious and jealous little pantywads who bitch about YOU wanting to keep YOUR money.

Dems, lefties, bitchers and whiners about the rich---they are all wannabes who can't stand it that they can't succeed while others can.

[CalSFGator]

He has earned it....good for him. He wants to keep it...double damn good for him. He doesn't like that Obama and all the other Dem bastards want to take more of HIS money away from him...to hell with THEM.

Go Phil go. Pay no attention to all the envious and jealous little pantywads who bitch about YOU wanting to keep YOUR money.

Dems, lefties, bitchers and whiners about the rich---they are all wannabes who can't stand it that they can't succeed while others can.

Yes, to hell with them, and all those republicans that took more, like that commie Reagan.

So you think there are no rich lefties, or are you just spouting some thoughtless nonsense?

[viningsgator]

Probably had a few conversations with the PGA and his sponsors. Class warfare is raging at the moment and none of them want the people holding the pitchforks at their courses.

[ncgatr1]

Boy the left really hates it when the rich sticks it to them. Once he moves out of Cali., they are going to go ape sh&$. Not like these people follow golf anyways, I bet Phil could give a rat's arse.

[CalSFGator]

Boy the left really hates it when the rich sticks it to them. Once he moves out of Cali., they are going to go ape sh&$. Not like these people follow golf anyways, I bet Phil could give a rat's arse.

God help you people that just keep saying it over and over again. The "rich" and the "left" are not mutually exclusive, they overlap quite a bit, as so many of you amnesiacs point out any time a rich lefty says anything public.

I doubt Mickelson apologized because he was sorry or even PC reasons, he is probably just doing it because he realizes that now articles about his "real" tax rate will be written (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100398096 ) and make him look like either a fool or a liar, so he hoped to quash this quickly I suspect.

[QGator2414]

Another athlete for the envy haters...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YIQGWY0woy0

[wargunfan]

God help you people that just keep saying it over and over again. The "rich" and the "left" are not mutually exclusive, they overlap quite a bit, as so many of you amnesiacs point out any time a rich lefty says anything public.

I doubt Mickelson apologized because he was sorry or even PC reasons, he is probably just doing it because he realizes that now articles about his "real" tax rate will be written (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100398096 ) and make him look like either a fool or a liar, so he hoped to quash this quickly I suspect.

Better watch out there Cal. Your slip is showing.

[CalSFGator]

Better watch out there Cal. Your slip is showing.

oh no, I am a believer!

[wargunfan]

oh no, I am a believer!

Perhaps just a reflex from your former faith? Hard to root all that completely out.

[CalSFGator]

Perhaps just a reflex from your former faith? Hard to root all that completely out.

Could be, though I quote God all the time. And Pete (whom I use to question the actions of others that might impact my imaginary Steve), and I don't even know a Pete.

[madgator]

I seriously doubt it, though he must be killing his accountants referral business with his haphazard claims.

What is the build that comment? About the roads thing from an Obama speech? You hang your entire economic philosophy on an intentional rightwing misquote? Sad.


actually, no. you cannot say that I am taking an "intentionally rightwing misquote."

let me quote none other than........you

he isn't paying 60%, and lots of people aren't ticked about it, actually. He doesn't make money in a vacuum, he makes it with tax rates in mind. I suspect he will demand a little more from his endorsements next year to make up for it.


so the reference may be words from Obama, however the sentiment is held in a much more pervasive worldview.

I hope you guys are right.....cause you're winning.

[CalSFGator]

actually, no. you cannot say that I am taking an "intentionally rightwing misquote."

let me quote none other than........you

he isn't paying 60%, and lots of people aren't ticked about it, actually. He doesn't make money in a vacuum, he makes it with tax rates in mind. I suspect he will demand a little more from his endorsements next year to make up for it.


so the reference may be words from Obama, however the sentiment is held in a much more pervasive worldview.

I hope you guys are right.....cause you're winning.

Well, you clearly don't understand whatever it is you yourself are trying to say. You completely misunderstood my quote, which has nothing to do with wealth being built off of infrastructure taken for granted (Obama's point), but rather the bargaining power of the highly paid. I for example can make an employer pay me more in a high tax area, because the world is global and employees/employers savvy. Many people obtain gross-ups, cost of living adjustments, etc. - so my point, as Phil and his agent will no doubt understand but you struggle mightily with, is that he can recoup some of these "losses" by demanding more of his services. If income taxes went down to 5%, all the Grover Norquisty creepy conservatives could circle jerk to their own irrelevance completely unaware that their compensation was being cut by the market aware of the windfall.

Sadly, and ironically, Phil's little temper tantrum bitchfest probably cost him more than the state of California ever could have.

[GatorAvatar]

Phil, like Mitt Romney, knows the tricks to reduce his tax burden.

[QGator2414]

Phil, like Mitt Romney, knows the tricks to reduce his tax burden.

He can't reduce them like Mitt...

I did a little research and as I expected most golfers are incorporated. But I cannot conceive of how Phil is able to use the carried interest or ISO loopholes...

[CHFG8R]

Some snark from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2013/01/21/golfer-phil-mickelson-may-call-it-quits-due-to-climbing-tax-rates/

I think Phil's biggest complaint was with new hikes in STATE (CA) taxes more than the Federal increases/Obamacare, etc. Whatever Dude, just move to Florida like the rest of them (though it would suck to have to leave San Diego).

[madgator]

Sadly, and ironically, Phil's little temper tantrum bitchfest probably cost him more than the state of California ever could have.


so as clearly illustrated above. having an issue with the excessive tax rates in this country is now under the umbrella of political correctness.


just shut your mouth and pay cause you didn't earn it in a vacuum

[Minister_of_Information]

probably true, but then I would think how lucky I was to be making the kind of money that I am and probably wouldn't complain publicly about it where so many people are struggling to find their next meal and would love to have that problem.

he just looks like a douche for it...

Luck has got nothing to do with it. He isn't part of an hereditary caste of professional golfers. He's someone who has worked to develop his talent and has earned his place in the sport. Many people with his advantages and more coming out of the gates don't ever amount to shit.

[ncgatr1]

Phil did not throw a tantrum he was making a factual statement. Now if he were from the left, he would have dropped to the ground kicking a screaming because someone took away his pacifier. Oh wait, the left are crying because he is threatening to leave all the mooching babies in Cali.

[MichiGator2002]

Luck has got nothing to do with it. He isn't part of an hereditary caste of professional golfers. He's someone who has worked to develop his talent and has earned his place in the sport. Many people with his advantages and more out if the gates don't ever amount to shit.

"Luck" and "fortune" -- two benign concepts that have been utterly warped into the demagoguery of class envy. The ant did not get well-supplied for winter by luck.

[CalSFGator]

so as clearly illustrated above. having an issue with the excessive tax rates in this country is now under the umbrella of political correctness.

just shut your mouth and pay cause you didn't earn it in a vacuum

I wouldn't call it political correctness necessarily. Every major celebrity that earns money from endorsements is subject to hurting his own earning potential by seeming douchey. He could say he didn't like fat girls, or dance awkwardly in public, or cheat all over the place on his wife - and turn people off, and consequently lose marketability. You can call that political correctness if you just want to be indignant, but that is always the way it has been. Being super rich and whining about taxes will turn some folks off. Then again, it will give chubbies to a bunch of conservatives that one day hope they will be rich - so there you go. Maybe he can recoup any losses by traveling with Toby Keith and being a big righty martyr. Fine by me.

[MichiGator2002]

I wouldn't call it political correctness necessarily. Every major celebrity that earns money from endorsements is subject to hurting his own earning potential by seeming douchey. He could say he didn't like fat girls, or dance awkwardly in public, or cheat all over the place on his wife - and turn people off, and consequently lose marketability. You can call that political correctness if you just want to be indignant, but that is always the way it has been. Being super rich and whining about taxes will turn some folks off. Then again, it will give chubbies to a bunch of conservatives that one day hope they will be rich - so there you go. Maybe he can recoup any losses by traveling with Toby Keith and being a big righty martyr. Fine by me.

There is something wrong with adultery, and embarrassing/unseemly about ostentatious crappy dancing or dissing overweight people. Feeling soaked by a tax system and having ample objective basis (i.e. I don't care who you are or what you make, once the government's aggregate share is bigger than your own... there are pimps that treat hos better) isn't wrong, embarrassing or unseemly.

[GatorFanCF]

ESPN's reporter was confused because he thought Mickleson was a "Lefty" and couldn't understand his aversion to taxes.

[madgator]

There is something wrong with adultery, and embarrassing/unseemly about ostentatious crappy dancing or dissing overweight people. Feeling soaked by a tax system and having ample objective basis (i.e. I don't care who you are or what you make, once the government's aggregate share is bigger than your own... there are pimps that treat hos better) isn't wrong, embarrassing or unseemly.

like he said earlier.....stop being indignant on the subject


just enjoy your right wing ideologically enduced "chubbie"


Michelson voiced his opinion which the current popular trend feels is not only wrong but "douchey." So not only should he pay his taxes without a word, he should be penalized financially by the market for saying what he said.

but remember, if you want to consider this a form of politically correct censorship, again you are being indignant.

as our fellow poster said; Michelson has been "douchey" and he has been a "liar." For simply saying that 1. he backed out of a purchase (San Diego Padres) because of tax implications. Despite Warren Buffetts claims to the contrary about tax implications on investments. 2. That he is considering moving out of the state of CA because of taxes.

How dare he!