Did Lefty Need to Apologize for Tax Comments?
By Melancton Smith • Wednesday January 23, 2013 5:13 AM PDT • 19 Comments
Phil Mickelson is being targeted for his comments on California’s and the Feds’ tax hikes. The offending statements, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, are as follows:
“Well, it’s been an interesting offseason, and I’m going to have to make some drastic changes,” Mickelson told reporters Sunday after tying for 37th place at 17 under at the Humana Challenge in his first tournament of the season.
“I’m not going to jump the gun and do it right away, but I will be making some drastic changes. I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and it doesn’t work for me right now.”
It is estimated that California and the Feds take between 50 and 60 percent of his earning. Shocked that someone would want to keep their earnings, a Daily Kos blogger has opined:
I once thought he was a cool guy; now I see he’s just another over compensated [Expletive Deleted], who thinks it’s all about ME!
Phil, why don’t you and Lance get together and whine about how tough life has been lately.....???
Charming. This sort of reaction has caused Lefty to issue an apology. He lives in the biggest tax and spend state in the US (California), yet apparently has no right to opine on tax policy because he earned a approximately $61 million last year.
In a sane world, no apology would be needed. Mickelson was not crying poverty or claiming he could not feed his family on $30 million a year. He simply said folks in his tax bracket are being targeted and implied that he would like to keep more of the money he earns from playing on PGA tour and endorsing products. But our world is not sane. It is infested with class warfare like the garbage posted at the Daily Kos.
Tags: Budget and Tax Policy, California, Civil Liberties, Envy, FBI, Liberalism, Nanny State, Personal Liberty, Taxation, Welfare 
What is amazing is the use of guilt, by the Left, as a weapon to control the scenario of Tax extortion. It’s always the same. People should feel guilty if they are economically successful. Nobody ever questions the fact of whose money is it anyway? Despite the fact that every cent that you keep away from the taxing authority of the state will be reinvested in creating jobs and real wealth not squandered on waste, wars and welfare. The question comes down to property rights. Who owns the fruits of your labor? You or the State. Its a sad state of affairs that a country that created one of the highest standards of living for more people in the long history of the world should be brought down to the level where a bunch of politicians, who have created no wealth, can decide how much of the fruits of your labor that you are allowed to keep.
libertarian jerry | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
I agree Jerry. Thank u for that post, it was right on.
robert | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
Phil – no need to apologize for an out-of-control government/tax system! I just listened to the fact that out of all the people that live in our largest state in America only 34 of them pay 25% of the tax in the state!!! You’re not selfish; you are in a profession the will only allow you to play when you are healthy and through a certain number of years!
Move now and don’t look back. California created this situation by spending more than they take in – cut welfare and get a JOB pay taxes like the rest of us! Seems like our government has the same problem keep printing the money we don’t have, but don’t cut any spending in the budget that we haven’t had for over 2 1/2 years!
Armed mama | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
Sure would be nice to see those “Lefty” California politicians Phil’s tax contributions support show Phil some love and wear Phil Mickelson logos on their shirts.
Walt Goshert | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
The cry from the Left is: “The 1% needs to foot their fair share of the government’s bills!” Wait a minute — isn’t the 1% doing that already? I am earning an annual salary that places me solidly in the lowest tax bracket, so it’s hard for me to imagine what it would be like to fork out one dollar out of every two dollars I earned to state and federal governments. Isn’t that “fair share” enough?
Dan J. | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
“We the People” fought a revolution for taxation without reputation from England. Now we have over taxation and no representation for the hard workers of the U.S..
With this taxation you might as well quit working and make the 40% off the government handouts, than keep giving the other 60% they waste to push for nanny states. But you have to give up your FREEDOM let the government say what you can have and do.
It’s remind me of the pre-WWII Germany, watch the old footage to see how they stated the takeover.
Mark Texan | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
No need for Phil or anyone else, for that matter, to apologize. He earned every cent with a skill that the majority don’t have and don’t have the stamina and will power to achieve.
He has every right to “complain” about a bunch of politicians who make decisions regarding his money. And the Daily KOS blogger needs to get off his behind and find a real job. If he was making a few more dollars he might be a little more understanding of how put upon Phil is feeling.
Mike | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
If you’re poor, like me, it’s easy to understand why class warfare has taken root, especially with the fiscal mess we’re in.
However, the original foundation, now highly modified, set no limits on the rewards for achievement which was the basis and incentive for striving to be the best you can be. Putting dampers and limits on earnings simply stifles excellence.
What is rarely reported is how we all share these rewards with all the side effects, i.e. related commerce like events, products, charities, entertainment et al.
So, before all you folks who think we should force sharing of “Lefty’s” wealth, or any other of the rare achievers’ rewards, you might ought to consider life without the best of the best.
It will not only be dull and humdrum, but a whole lot of those who benefit from the superstars’ coat tails won’t exist either.
I, for one, applaud Phil for speaking out.
Ron Cadby | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
If you have a problem with how an athlete is compensated, stop watching his or her sports organizations programs, buying its merchandise, and in some cases voting for people who subsidize it. How hard would that be, no one makes you watch golf. Its a given than people can say what they want, but that goes for this guy too, and I just cant understand why people think that a person affected by a policy should all of a sudden not be allowed to talk about it.
Will Leach | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
Disappointed that Phil caved to the jerk at the Tribune. Sooner or later the right is going to have to get over these liberal goons and stand up for what they believe.
Mitch Sutton | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
How many of those who are critizing Phil Mickelson pay 50% – 60% of THEIR earnings in taxes????
Peggy Finch | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
Apologize for what the truth? High taxes suck the life out of everything.
Barry Davis | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
I don’t blame anyone for speaking out. If we keep taking from the successful, they will move or quit working...then where will people looking for handouts get them?? All our successful business’s will fold or move. We have had enough business’s leave this country. Obama never really had a job that he worked at and now he wants to take hard working people’s money.
Bev Meier | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
I agree...If you work for it....earn it....you should be allowed to keep it. I do not understand how so many people get paid or receive benefits without earning it! Just nuts! NO other country does this...why do we?
L | Jan 23, 2013 | Reply
Let’s try something simple that people will understand. You just won 600 million on Powerball. All of your dreams and money woes for you and your family are finally over, but wait. If you take the cash option, you only get to keep 60% of it, now you have 360 million, but here comes the government for their share. They will be taking 180 million for taxes, leaving you with 180 million of the original 600 million. Now don’t forget they will be collecting taxes on your new found wealth next year, to the tune of around 40% or so. There goes another 50 million. Now you have 130 million left. I didn’t figure out how much the state will be taking, so you actually only have about 100 million left. No worries, the feds will be back next year for more. Get it yet? Leave Phil alone, you are infringing on his First Amendment rights. Pretty soon we won’t have guns from the Second Amendment to protect our freedom of speech of the First Amendment. Then you will only post how much you love our benevolent leaders. Sheesh, people that are pissed because someone makes a lot of money are not seeing the big picture. How many jobs and how much revenue is made from golf tournaments, football games, etc.? Where would this country be if it wasn’t for Microsoft and Apple? Look at all the jobs that are created.
Stasia | Jan 24, 2013 | Reply
Move to Florida, no state income taxes. Based on $61 million in earnings the savings in state taxes would buy a very nice home in the Keys.
Doug | Jan 24, 2013 | Reply
I do wonder about the mentality of those complaining. Michelson is simply making a value judgment: Do the advantages of California outweigh the costs of California? The way he is being attacked leads one to believe the answer is “no” and the attackers hope to distract him.
Rick Caird | Jan 25, 2013 | Reply
The original statement & the counterattack is Current Affairs 101 – Class Warfare. What’s really creepy is Mickelson’s cave.
George | Jan 26, 2013 | Reply
This country was built on hard working people, now its a country of entitlements and complacents. WTF OVER? If you want to get somewhere in life and succeed or make lots of money, you have to WORK YOUR DAMN ARSE OFF! Is this what America’s really about? Lazy and stupid? What a shame...
Chan | Jan 26, 2013 | Reply