Is America Taxed too Much?

[DeeZire]

Here I was thinking you had something intelligent to say and than you go back to blaming President Bush. President Obama is making a mess of things, ...

Wrong. Obama is cleaning up the mess Bush left him, or are you claiming that the financial crisis that began before Obama was even sworn in was Obama's fault?

 

[Darkniciad]

No matter which side you take, it goes back way farther than Bush or Obama. It's either the repeal of portions of Glass–Steagall or the Community Reinvestment Act gone blind to reality. The seeds of the collapse were sown long ago.

 

[DeeZire]

No matter which side you take, it goes back way farther than Bush or Obama. It's either the repeal of portions of Glass–Steagall or the Community Reinvestment Act gone blind to reality. The seeds of the collapse were sown long ago.

Two points:

1. Deregulation has always been a Conservative principal. In the case of the Glass Steagall Act, enough Dems went along with the program to achieve bipartisan support.

The bill that ultimately repealed the Glass Steagall Act was introduced in the Senate by Phil Gramm (Republican of Texas) and in the House of Representatives by Jim Leach (R-Iowa) in 1999. The bills were passed by a Republican majority, basically following party lines by a 54–44 vote in the Senate[12] and by a bi-partisan 343–86 vote in the House of Representatives.

2. We've already established that the CRA had very little to do with the financial collapse - unless one prefers to cling to the Fox News version of events that attempts to deflect attention away from the failures of the Bush regime to enforce existing regulations that would have prevented the collapse.

 

[Dragonlipz]

The only thing that's overtaxed in this country is Zeb's brain......give it a rest, my man......

 

[Dragonlipz]

Here I was thinking you had something intelligent to say and than you go back to blaming President Bush. President Obama is making a mess of things, but I'm already looking beyond him and how we can fix this country. The government needs to be scaled down on all levels, and the entrenched civil servants have to be held accountable.

Another Libertarian Genius! Quit throwing snowballs and start building structure.....Tell us your grand plan for 'fixing this country'.....we're all ears.....

 

[sr71plt]

While this (and other) yammering was going on, out in the real world--where they actually do something other than bitch impotently about politics on a porn writing board--an American Idol telephon tonight raised $15 million for various relief efforts worldwide.

Ain't real life great?

 

[Dragonlipz]

While this (and other) yammering was going on, out in the real world--where they actually do something other than bitch impotently about politics on a porn writing board--an American Idol telephon tonight raised $15 million for various relief efforts worldwide.

Ain't real life great?

"Real Life" is wonderful.......but I'm having too much fun bustin' these knuckleheads chops....!!!!

 

[sr71plt]

"Real Life" is wonderful.......but I'm having too much fun bustin' these knuckleheads chops....!!!!

Oh, I'm enjoying your postings too. I was addressing the AH chapter members of the Tim McVeigh Poor Losers Club.

 

[DeeZire]

While this (and other) yammering was going on, out in the real world--where they actually do something other than bitch impotently about politics on a porn writing board--an American Idol telephon tonight raised $15 million for various relief efforts worldwide.

Ain't real life great?

You call American Idol real life? I call it trash TV for the lowest common denominator - which means those viewers probably think they're over-taxed too.

 

[sr71plt]

You call American Idol real life? I call it trash TV for the lowest common denominator - which means those viewers probably think they're over-taxed too.

Sneeze at $15 million raised in two and a half hours for relief charities, if you like . . .

Which was the thrust of the posting. It wasn't about the TV show itself (duh).

Perhaps the question is what did you do for anyone but yourself in those two and a half hours?

 

[DeeZire]

Sneeze at $15 million raised in two and a half hours for relief charities, if you like . . .

Which was the thrust of the posting. It wasn't about the TV show itself (duh).

Perhaps the question is what did you do for anyone but yourself in those two and a half hours?

I spent that time finishing a project for a school teacher friend of mine who did a series on American roots music in her 4th grade class. She recorded her kids singing ten songs and brought the files to me to add the final instrumentation and do the mixing and mastering for a CD release. I'm donating a portion of my time, since she's working with no budget. It's a public school in a bad part of town, and this is probably the first time any of these kids has been on a music CD. At first I was going to turn down the project, since I knew I'd be giving my time away, but my altruistic nature got the best of me. Plus, I'm not that busy right now (right now meaning ever since the Bush Crash.)

 

[sr71plt]

I spent that time finishing a project for a school teacher friend of mine who did a series on American roots music in her 4th grade class. She recorded her kids singing ten songs and brought the files to me to add the final instrumentation and do the mixing and mastering for a CD release. I'm donating a portion of my time, since she's working with no budget. It's a public school in a bad part of town, and this is probably the first time any of these kids has been on a music CD. At first I was going to turn down the project, since I knew I'd be giving my time away, but my altruistic nature got the best of me. Plus, I'm not that busy right now (right now meaning ever since the Bush Crash.)

It's obvious you're not all that busy. You have time to chomp on Zeb and ami and box, etc., more or less uselessly since they obviously all have concrete between their ears.

 

[DeeZire]

It's obvious you're not all that busy. You have time to chomp on Zeb and ami and box, etc., more or less uselessly since they obviously all have concrete between their ears.

It's my escape from the drudgery of trying to make out-of-tune singers sound good.

 

[sr71plt]

It's my escape from the drudgery of trying to make out-of-tune singers sound good.

I resemble that remark. (Just finished practicing for a performance of Mozart's Requiem Friday evening.)

 

[Dragonlipz]

Oh, I'm enjoying your postings too. I was addressing the AH chapter members of the Tim McVeigh Poor Losers Club.

Tim McVeigh is the poster child of the Sore Losers: Zeb, TE, AmiCoot, JimBooteeJohnson, Boxhead911, and the rest of the teabaggin', racist, inbred, uneducated, underinformed, intellectually-challenged (did I leave anything out?) gangstas......
I really enjoy the Ouija board mental gymnastics they employ to defend their bankrupt, impotent, inconsistent philosophy.....but I digress.......

 

[DeeZire]

To answer Zeb's question: Is America taxed too much? I'd like to suggest that, here in Arizona, we're taxed too little. Thanks to cuts in the City of Tucson's budget, they're saying they don't have the resources to prosecute a dangerous driver who killed two people by running a red light. I hope Zeb's happy.

http://azstarnet.com/article_49582ad9-5398-50e7-b226-1ae9d1db4484.html

A man authorities say is responsible for the death of two people - including a 4-year-old girl - in a crash Tuesday morning is not likely to face criminal charges related to the deaths.

The incident didn't meet proper criteria for a felony charge and the city prosecutor's office has instructed police to only issue civil citations for such incidents because of budget cuts, a Tucson Police Department spokesman said.

Richard Kinner, 29, was cited for failure to stop for a red light, failure to wear a seat belt and driving with a suspended license in connection with a crash that killed Lorrie Schlecht, 55, and her granddaughter Caia Roden, 4, said TPD spokesman Officer Charles Rydzak.

Kinner could have been cited for the misdemeanor charge of causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation, but a letter sent Jan. 14 to police by city prosecutor Laura Brynwood said those charges would no longer be prosecuted because of a lack of resources.

"We ask that TPD only issue citations for the underlying civil traffic offenses in these cases," the letter said.

Online court records show Kinner has been cited numerous times for traffic violations, including racing, speeding, speeding in a school zone, repeated violations for not having a valid driver's license and no insurance.

He's also faced several criminal charges in Pima County including possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct and weapons misconduct.

Schlecht's family was upset that Kinner would not face criminal charges.

"Where's justice?" said Gail Schlecht Rudolph, Schlecht's sister-in-law. "This man should be taken off the streets, seeing he's been driving on a suspended license."

 

[Dragonlipz]

To answer Zeb's question: Is America taxed too much? I'd like to suggest that, here in Arizona, we're taxed too little. Thanks to cuts in the City of Tucson's budget, they're saying they don't have the resources to prosecute a dangerous driver who killed two people by running a red light. I hope Zeb's happy.

http://azstarnet.com/article_49582ad9-5398-50e7-b226-1ae9d1db4484.html

As long as he (the driver who ran the red light) was armed - exersizing his second amendment rights, it was ok by Zeb and AmiCoot....it's all about less guvmint and mo' ammo.......

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Four Million Americans To Pay ObamaCare Fine In 2016
By David Hogberg
Thu., April 22, 2010 3:07 PM ET

AP reports that “4 million Americans — the vast majority of them middle class — will have to pay the new penalty for not getting health insurance when President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law kicks in, according to congressional estimates released Thursday. The penalties will average a little more than $1,000 apiece in 2016, the Congressional Budget Office said in a report.”

Penalties will be phased in from 2014. By 2016, the fine will be $695 or 2.5% of household income, whichever is greater. More than a dozen states are challenging the individual mandate in federal court as unconstitutional.
If only candidate Obama could explain to President Obama why mandates aren’t such a good idea:

Back in 2008, he ripped Hillary Clinton for supporting a mandate, claiming that was a “genuine difference” between them.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Millions face tax increases under Dems budget plan
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer – Wed Apr 21, 7:06 pm ET

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the Senate promise to cut the deficit by almost two-thirds over the next five years, but their budget plan could threaten about 30 million people with tax increases averaging $3,700 in 2012 and after because of the alternative minimum tax.

The alternative is tax increases elsewhere in the revenue code averaging up to $100 billion a year after 2011 to continue alternative minimum tax relief and also curb taxes on people inheriting large estates.

The Democratic plan released Wednesday by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad of North Dakota relies on such boosts in revenues to carve the deficit from $1.4 trillion last year down to $545 billion by 2015.

 

[DeeZire]

Zeb, old buddy, explain to us how you plan to balance the budget without tax increases. What government services do you propose to cut? Keep in mind that proposing cuts is not the same as enacting cuts. What services will the American public be willing to sacrifice in lieu of paying higher taxes? Will they accept cuts in Medicare, Social Security, defense spending, veterans benefits? Be specific - and realistic.

Thanks.

 

[lisa123414]

The only thing i can add to this is that next year, well probably sooner, I will see a CPA. I was $5K short on paying tax this year although i did not change things from last year, about the same income and withholdings, WTF?

Edited to add, I used to prepare taxes for a living, and now i feel unqualified to do my own...something is wrong

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DEE ZIRE et al

The way it usually works is, WE TOSS YOUR ASS OUTTA OFFICE IF YOU CANT BALANCE THE BOOKS WITHOUT MORE TAXES. AND IF YO ASS IS ON THE STREET YO CANT ENRICH YO FRIENDS, WHICH TRANSLATES TO YO AINT GOT NO FRIENDS.

Granted, the guys & girlz in Washington are clever and devious, but American paychecks are a finite source of loot; when my pay is totally absorbed by taxes there aint no more trips to that well fo mo money. And I got fingers, too, to get some of it back.

 

[bwallard]

What do the taxes we pay provide in value? What would a society without a government be like?

Anarchy is not sustainable. Someone would take over and you wouldn't get to vote about it. You wouldn't even get to bitch.

You bitch about the government taxes, but what's a bank service charge but a tax? Oh but it's free enterprise, the Market (cue the lions dozing with lambs, and the violins) will take care of it.

Yeah right! How's that workin out for ya?

How's your communications tax? What are you paying for internet and television vs What are you paying to drive the highway?

You think if the schools were private, we'd have schools in the ghettos? How do you feel about living in a world where the underclass can't read a price tag or understand that he or she can't afford it?

And if you can't afford police? Or you don't pay the protection fee? You have to sit on your doorstep with a shotgun to keep the starving underclass at bay?

Get a grip, People. Put aside the knee-jerk anti-government programming you've been fed, from birth probably, and take a look at the world.

I get a lot for my taxes. It infuriates me that our government has been hijacked by private interest, and I find it pathetic that this programmed hatred of government has enabled that theft - big score for a curriculum that avoids the teaching of skills in meaningful social and political analysis - but dammit, we do have schools for every child and hospitals that will take in the wounded...

Ok - that was too dramatic, so I'll go now.

 

[amicus]

Bwallard: First off the United States came into being opposed to Kings, Popes and Tyrants who controlled every aspect of an individuals life. It was debated, decided and codified, that a 'limited government with limited power' was the best means of preserving human rights, liberties and property.

In the abstract, economic philosophy ranges from total control of all the property, where human rights do not exist, only Statist Rights, to the absence of government, which exists in theory only as it has never been practiced.

As you appear to ignore the history and fundamental premises of the United States, please offer your vision of the function of government.

It would be too much to ask to you to keep in consideration those unalienable rights that each individual possesses, but you might touch upon it in passing.

Amicus

 

[Dragonlipz]

What do the taxes we pay provide in value? What would a society without a government be like?

Anarchy is not sustainable. Someone would take over and you wouldn't get to vote about it. You wouldn't even get to bitch.

You bitch about the government taxes, but what's a bank service charge but a tax? Oh but it's free enterprise, the Market (cue the lions dozing with lambs, and the violins) will take care of it.

Yeah right! How's that workin out for ya?

How's your communications tax? What are you paying for internet and television vs What are you paying to drive the highway?

You think if the schools were private, we'd have schools in the ghettos? How do you feel about living in a world where the underclass can't read a price tag or understand that he or she can't afford it?

And if you can't afford police? Or you don't pay the protection fee? You have to sit on your doorstep with a shotgun to keep the starving underclass at bay?

Get a grip, People. Put aside the knee-jerk anti-government programming you've been fed, from birth probably, and take a look at the world.

I get a lot for my taxes. It infuriates me that our government has been hijacked by private interest, and I find it pathetic that this programmed hatred of government has enabled that theft - big score for a curriculum that avoids the teaching of skills in meaningful social and political analysis - but dammit, we do have schools for every child and hospitals that will take in the wounded...

Ok - that was too dramatic, so I'll go now.

Your passion is admirable but don't confuse Komrad Amikus with facts....he has no use for them as he cowers in his cellar loading his Glock.....Fear and Stupidity rule him as well as TE, ZEB, and JBJ.....no reason allowed in that clique.....just praise the Lord and pass the ammo.....