Underground Economy, Black Market, keeping us afloat

[AZRedhawk44]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100668336

Whether it's illegal alien labor, bar bands doing an under the table gig, cash paid for software consulting services, or full blown pirates selling alcoholic beverages without an ATF license to do so... people are working and getting paid and sustaining themselves.

$2 trillion a year.  8% of total GDP.  No Obamacare or SS.

Warms the cockles a bit, don't it?

[RoadKingLarry]

Economic terrorists.

[lee n. field]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100668336

Whether it's illegal alien labor, bar bands doing an under the table gig, cash paid for software consulting services, or full blown pirates selling alcoholic beverages without an ATF license to do so... people are working and getting paid and sustaining themselves.

$2 trillion a year.  8% of total GDP.  No Obamacare or SS.

Warms the cockles a bit, don't it?

How many years did this sort of activity keep the old Soviet Union fed and lumbering along?

[RevDisk]

I make more than $35k at my day job. So my side work has an effective tax rate of 44.37% this year.  Nearly half to the govt. No kids, not married, and my mortgage is reasonable because I put 30% down.

I am not amazed at the black market. I am amazed it's so small.

[Scout26]

I am not amazed at the black market. I am amazed it's so small.

It's got to be more than that, especially in high tax states like IL.  Any business that takes in cash (not checks or credit cards) under-reports.  They have to in order to survive.

And it's sad.  Those bustin' their humps to put food on the table and a roof over their families head are told "You need to pay your fair share, i.e. More."  Meanwhile others are scamming the system collecting Welfare, Section 8 Housing, WIC, Food Stamps/EBT, etc. while driving nice new car, with the latest iPhone with an all inclusive service package, while wearing the designer/latest clothes.   That's why this country is doomed.  The takers are outnumbering the makers.