By Becky Noble. Media: Redstate
We all remember our first jobs. Those were the days! You were pretty sure you were going to be swimming in dough. My first attempt at “experiencing the joys of capitalism,” as my dad was fond of saying, was at a movie theatre in my junior year of high school. I think I must have seen “Porky’s” about 90 times. I can also remember seeing two different totals on that first paycheck, and my dad explaining to me what was meant by “net” and “gross.” A recent video on X of a high school girl getting her first lesson in taxation will bring back memories for all of us, and it is also the one thing that young people should be taught when they land that first job.
The video starts with a girl who we can assume is at least 16. She has her first paycheck spread out before her on a table. She begins to point at different parts of the pay stub, and begins to ask some very good questions — questions that, quite frankly, more Americans should be asking. Her mom can be heard in the background doing her best to answer her daughter’s questions. Her first question: “I don’t have Medicare. Why is Medicare taken out of my work hours?” Mom says pretty matter-of-factly, “It’s called taxes, Boo-Boo.” Our young employee says, “Yeah, I understand that, but I don’t have Medicare. You pay taxes for the things you buy. I buy cheese, I buy six dollars, plus sales tax. I don’t have Medicare. I shouldn’t have a tax on Medicare because I didn’t buy that.”
The discussion continues. Youngster says incredulously, “Seven dollars?! That’s more than a twelfth of my work…ness!” Mom can be heard giggling in the background. Surely her one thought is, “Welcome to real life, kiddo.” Her next question, “What is a Michigan income…why do you get to tax me for making money?” Trust me, kid, you are definitely not the first one to ask that question.
She says to Mom, while she is laughing, “You’re laughing, but I don’t understand.” Mom says, “That’s what a tax is.” She says, “That’s income tax, that’s income that’s coming to me.” Mom continues the lesson, “That means income that goes to you gets taxed.” Our young worker then asks, “So, what was the point of giving it to me if you’re just going to take it out?” Again, kid, you are the latest in a long line to ponder that one.
Mom is still laughing, but is doing her best. She says, “Because the government didn’t give it to you, the company gave it to you.” Youngster suddenly gets it and says, “And the government says, ‘This is mine,'” and makes a grabbing motion. Mom says, “Yes.” Youngster says, “But it’s not theirs.” Now you are catching on, kid. It’s at this point that she spots what is apparently the “money” box and says, “Fifteen dollars in taxes?! Fifteen dollars is a lot for a high schooler. Fifteen dollars was taken from me because…just because?” Yep, you got it, kiddo, just because.
Mom then goes on to explain the concept of Social Security. Our first-time worker, whose facial expressions throughout say it all, is not buying that scam. Mom then explains filing income taxes. Youngster keeps waiting for the part where she gets her money back. Good luck, kid, we are all waiting for that part. Mom lets her know that this will happen every time she gets paid, and when she files income taxes, there Uncle Sam will be, waiting for his cut. The look on her face is the look we all have.
Good for mom, who explains to her daughter just what happens when you start earning a paycheck. It is a lesson that more parents should teach their kids when they enter the workforce. If they did, more people might connect the dots, that the government’s money is really their money, and they take it without asking for it. And who knows, in this video, we may just see a budding young conservative.
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