WH and the American people.

have the stomach for controversy.

But moving from one arbitrary number to another arbitrary number is a big deal to you, regardless of whether it closes the gap.

What matters is who wins a dick waving contest.

line. Anybody making 250,000 per year should be subject to higher taxes, no exceptions. We have let all of these rich, semi rich and mega rich escape for long enough. Toughen up Obama, or get out of the pool.

So it is "too high" for what, if you don't care what the rates are and what the bottom line impact is?

substantial income, and should be taxed at a higher rate than someone earning $100,000. I Have no idea where you were going with your BS, but that's my bottom line.

The cost of living where I live, yea $ 250k is a lot of money but on the costs, that is upper middle class...

400K is a lot of money (in annual income) to be sure (hell 250K is); It seems that the President could come at 400K with a higher rate than what he would have at 250K so it's revenue neutral... we get a deal, the middle class keeps the cuts and the truly rich start paying more. It seems fine to me, others not so much apparently.

From $800 billion to $1.6 trillion, so he would have a starting point to negotiate from. By definition, negotiating means you don't get everything you ask for.

I am not that upset about the $400,000...it's much better to compromise on that than moving the top rate down to 37% or eliminating the scheduled raise on capital gains taxes.

The chained CPI and the abandoning of the payroll tax cut are much more disturbing.

Either threshold. For example, couples pulling in $250,000 together might be just living a fairly middle class lifestyle, trying to save for their retirements, pay college tuition, etc, and they may each have been at that income level for only a couple of years.

I wonder how it affects revenue, though, and if it'll work at that level.

middle class at that rate though. My wife and I probably earned a 100,000 per year and thought that was ok.

With a few years at that level, and some of us have disabled kids we are trying to save for.

Sure, it would be a huge leap, a big help, but it isn't as if you can retire a few years after making that kind of income. I bet these people generally are working because they still have to, not because it's a status thing.