|
Taxing Youth
"There are a lot better ways I could spend my money than having some
government person use it."
Listen
to this Commentary!
By Dedra Holloway
I am a fast-food employee at the mall and deserve every penny I earn. At first glance my paycheck says I make $187 a week for working 31 hours. But in reality, the take-home pay is just $146.50. Gross pay and net pay are the unfortunate words written on my paycheck stub every week. Who are FICA, Georgia state income tax, federal tax and Medicare? Who in the world are these people and why did they take $40.50 out of my pay check? For the money they take out of my check I could buy a weekly bus transit card for $13, which I need to get back and forth to work and even afford more of my of my own meals.
There are a lot better ways I could spend my money than having some government person use it. I wish they didn't show me how much money they are taking away from me. It's kind of cruel. Since I am a teenager, I really doubt if any of the social security money will be there for me - so they are just stealing from me now. Kids shouldn't have to pay any taxes. We don't get to decide how it gets spent, so let's just keep it for ourselves. I know I could spend my $40.50 better than anyone else can.
-Dedra Holloway is a reporter at VOX Newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia
|
|
