I've got a question for the people on the WC because this has been intriguing me recently. With the recent tax cuts put in place by Trump, and the the removal of the extra tax on grad students based upon their worth, it seems like things are going well for the most part.
Long story short, I was in graduate school, looking to get a 6 figure job post college, and was on track for a good life. I got very sick, and now my earning potential has been dramatically altered due to it. Grew up in an affluent family where I didn't have to pay for my undergrad (IU), and chose to get a PhD where you receive stipends so that it is possible to focus on research (hence my fascination with the axing of the grad student-stipend tax). I didn't get a PhD, am currently living at home with my Dad because it is too expensive to live in San Diego based upon my current salary.
Do people really believe that giving about $1,000 back to someone in my position will dramatically help them? It's going to take major reform, and more than symbolic tax cut to fix the system. Wage increases have not kept up with inflation, and housing is more expensive than ever. If/when I get that $1,000, I'm not going to go spend it on something superfluous. I'm going to pocket it, so that if something urgent arises, it'll be there.
Long story short, I was in graduate school, looking to get a 6 figure job post college, and was on track for a good life. I got very sick, and now my earning potential has been dramatically altered due to it. Grew up in an affluent family where I didn't have to pay for my undergrad (IU), and chose to get a PhD where you receive stipends so that it is possible to focus on research (hence my fascination with the axing of the grad student-stipend tax). I didn't get a PhD, am currently living at home with my Dad because it is too expensive to live in San Diego based upon my current salary.
Do people really believe that giving about $1,000 back to someone in my position will dramatically help them? It's going to take major reform, and more than symbolic tax cut to fix the system. Wage increases have not kept up with inflation, and housing is more expensive than ever. If/when I get that $1,000, I'm not going to go spend it on something superfluous. I'm going to pocket it, so that if something urgent arises, it'll be there.