um our insurance costs are going up

There is some damn good thoughts on this thread, And nobody got pissed at each other talking about it. Glad to be a member on this site. This is one of the only places I have seen that didnt turn a discussion in to a fight

Maybe cuz we're just so glad Al is okay. ;)

:thumbsup:

Yes
Yes
and Yes!

:lateral: :cheers:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Yes, this site has great people on it.

I hope to meet some of you at an event someday...:lateral: :cheers:

I am WITH YOU!!! 100% why do we allow (IN CANADA, cuz i have no opinon on the US) people to just sit on their asses and collect EI or Welfare? there are highways to clean, so many things that these people could be doing, for their Checks, i am also 100% for mandatory drug testing to receive your benifets.
there should be no free lunches, you get up with the rest of us and put in a good days work and guess what then you get a check.
that's all

I agree with you, Todd and Greg. 1000%!:thumbsup:

I agree with you guys... Drug Tests, and Work for your Checks...

I always thought after a persons incarceration, his bill should be handed to him upon release. Please write check out to the state of ................

It would be the tax table that Warren Buffet's secretary uses.
The tax rate going down for higher income is no different than the tax rate going up for lower income.
Example: If Warren decreases his income, he pays more (percentage) tax.

Not true. Warren Buffet's secretary pays a higher tax rate because her income is earned, Buffet's income is derived from investments and is taxed at the current Capital Gains rate.

We all pay the same federal income tax rates. There are some small caveats-like deployed military personel in war for example, but for most everyone else the rates are the same.

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/warre...tory-is-bogus/

Mr. Buffett pays 35% on his income. His “effective average tax rate” is way lower because most of his income comes from capital gains that had already been taxed, (you can't double tax income) or from income that is not taxed or has reduced taxes because the government wants people to invest their money in those areas and uses lower tax rates on those things as an incentive.

His secretary pays 15% on her income of the reported 60,000 per year salary.

When stuff like that seems unreasonable - it usually is...

Jim

I'll chime in here with real life taxes


I pay 15% income tax on my dividends (qualified dividends)

I pay ZERO on my tax free muni bonds

Without saying what I earn --- it is SUBSTANTIAL.... but my actual tax rate is quite low in percentage terms == especially when you figure some at zero. MY total tax bill will be far higher than most of you in dollar terms. I still only get one vote and drive on the same roads.

Now ---- I have that income because the MONEY that makes that money was already taxed at ordinary income taxes -- so the money that's left is ALL MINE.... now I just pay taxes on what it earns. Same as that simpleton Warren Buffet (I hate people that want to speak for me -- but are far richer -- and that old fart ought to just shut the hell up and write a big fat check to the IRS if he wants to pay more).:D


BTW --- I'd LOVE to see a flat tax -- corporate and personal --- ZERO deductions for ANYONE for ANYTHING. Just gross as much as you can and pay your percentage and be done with it. They could index the rates -- less for low earners -- more for the next bracket and hammer the top guys - but make it simple and easy. You gross X - you pay X. You want a big azz car and house - that's your problem not mine. :D

OH YEAH?!?! YOU GOTTA PROBLEM WITH THAT?!?! LOL!:lol:

And Greg, spot on man!!

Drug testing Welfare recipients doesn't work:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us...ests.html?_r=0

That's from the NY times baby! Not some internet only rag!

Darren

AH...... but here's the part you missed. And to most Americans it's probably the underlying sentiment. Sentiment IS IMPORTANT.


But supporters of the law said four months of numbers did little to discredit an effort they said was based on common sense. Drug users, no matter their numbers, should not be allowed to use taxpayer money, they said.

“We had to stop allowing tax dollars for anybody to buy drugs with,” said State Representative Jimmie T. Smith, a Republican who sponsored the bill last year. Taxpayer savings also come in deterring those drug users who would otherwise apply for cash assistance but now think twice because of the law, some argued.

Apparently having money and doing whatever you please now days is frowned upon.




I think this is amazing truth. I grew up upper middle class and my best friend grew up SUPER wealthy. I was so driven after spending all of my middle-high school days being able to be apart of that family. I went to school and studied finance (like my friends father!) The point being is I wanted to be successful. I admired him and his accomplishments. These days, being successful almost seems like a stigma. My daily driver is 09 VW passat wagon! I sold the Porsche after taking heaps of **** from people in parking lots who didn't know me. My wife drives a Suburban, dumping the Benz after taking heat from people she didn't know. I don't live in a 90K foot house, nor do I live in a "ritzy" neighborhood. I choose to live out on some land and spend money on toys at home. The amount of 'kidding' I get for being successful at school functions, sporting events is unreal.

Darren

Okay, I'll also chime in last year my wife and I paid 36% of our salary to taxes. Plus we paid taxes on our bussiness earnings. It's brutal !!

But here is what most people forget we all pay Sales Tax & Property Tax.

I agree 4 years ago when Mr Obama got elected it history in the making. Prior to the election he made all kinds of promises. Then during is inaguration speech he said I may not be able to do everything in 4 years but if you elect me for a 2nd term I am certain I can get it done.

I laughed when he said it he was already setting himself up for failure. He might be a good person but them man has no experience getting people to work together and the last 4 years has proved it and I am certain the next four years will be just as bad.

I have countless customers that all have lowered there forecast and are letting people go prior to the first of the year. Some are just taking the easy road and telling people they can keep there jobs but now they will only have 28 scheduled hours.

It's simple Business owners are in business to make money. If the government takes money out of there gross profits. Where the hell do think the owners are going to take it. They are going to take it from there employee's. Some people will get let go to offset cost and if your one of the lucky one's that keeps your job I am sure you take on extra work without any additonal pay.

Darren....


I'm not saying right or wrong with your decision to dump the Porsche for a VW etc.

But it's the "dumbing down" of America that you're giving in to.

I drive a bunch of top end cars -- nobody gives me any grief about it. If they did - I'd look at them like they were zombies and I'd just consider "the source".

Personally -- I'm more than happy to be "wealthy". I pay plenty of taxes - I'm glad I have to... that means I'm doing okay. I don't live in a fancy house - I live in the house I love... with my shop right out the back door... in a quiet neighborhood. I've had 3 neighbors come over to ask about the new Freightliner in the driveway. They get excited when I say -- if you think that's big - wait 'til the new trailer gets here! They think it's great.

By the way --- me BUYING those things --- creates jobs --- I'm paying 9.9% state sales tax on them.... That tax alone is more than many people EARN. I'm okay with that. It's the price you pay for living in AMERICA.

Well said Greg

Now finish the bubble top at Iron Werks so I can buy it for 1/4 of what you put into.

Pretty Please !!! :hail:

I've watched the "underground system" first hand for years around my workplace with local police using our business like a fish bowl so to speak.......adjancent properties house a convenience store/ gas station, methadone/mental health clinic, new 20 million dollar multi-story subsidized low-income housing, a non-profit food bank soup kitchen, and liquor store.

Approximately 80% of the convenience stores over-the counter sales are on Oregon's SNAP card (supplemental nutritional assistance program or food stamps) There is nothing nutritional about this stores inventory....not even a loaf of white bread. Though people buy Starbucks Frappuccinos on the card. I've seen people at the counter with five cards asking the clerk to check the balances. Basically they are bartering cards. Local hostiles teach travelers how to obtain cards which I believe have a minimum value of $200 per month.

Clients loitering outside the clinic are frequently observed selling their prescription medication for cash which typically goes to the convenience store for malt or hard liquor or used to buy weed and other drugs from the local street vendors.

The soup kitchen draws the most extreme meth addicts I've ever seen into the area and serves a high percentage of the local incurable drunks. Though they constantly publicize they do not serve visually intoxicated individuals. Watching parents with young children truly in need having to subject their children to that environment is nausiating as is the manager lying through her teeth when interviewed by local media then driving off in her BMW X5.

SNAP card holders also go to the local Safeway and hang out in the meat department soliciting customers to buy their meat for them at 50 cents on the dollar.

I've reported numerous vendor fraud violations to local state office that "monitors" the program only to get "vendor fraud is a federal issue that we are not responsible for" deflective answer.

The level of fraud within these programs accross the country has to be staggering and being managed by pro entitlement buraucracies compounds. Then there's the directors of non-profit living high on the hog while they deliver the absolute bare minimums to maximize their share of the grant money.

:willy:

I wouldn't say that the only reason I sold the Porsche was for the heat, but it was interesting none the less. My friends/family think it is great what I have done. I love the house we live in as well. I have a huge shop, my boy has a motocross track and I have all the toys to keep it in shape! My wife did get rid of her car because of the heat at work. I bought her a 07 e55 AMG. God I loved that car! She is a VP at a company and does extremely well. She plays "the game" in this company and it was more a political move, but the crap generated from a car was amazing!


Greg, you sound like my accountant! Be glad you can afford to pay taxes!

I'm with you guys here. If the Buffet deal was incorrect, so be it. Just for the record, I think it should all be equal. If currently, the wealthy are paying higher taxes than the poor, that's just as wrong as the other way around IMO. FLAT TAX would fix it all.

You should have painted it in a flat mundane color, added a few distressed areas for camoflauge, and put a couple Hybrid badges on it. :unibrow:

This year. :D

THIS is the style of DEMOCRACY that I like.... NOT the Governments version.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50007300.../#.ULeFraWhwwE

I saw this this morning and I forwarded to my 12 year old daughter. Her response was "I can't believe people would just walk by him. I am happy that he stopped to help him. That was really nice."

If he was a politician he would've taken the boots from someone else to give to the homeless dude! LOL!:yes:

That's awesome and its even better that someone captured it with all the bad press that comes out of NYC police department. :cheers:

If it was Mr O he would have taken one of my shoe's to make it fair for both of us.

You got it man.
That's what the bolshevik in the White House would do.

I completely disagree!


If it was a DEMOCRATIC congress -- with White House backing.... They'd have taxed you to buy a pair of shoes...They'd issue a government contract to pay $200 for the $100 pair of shoes they could have bought from a local retailer... they'd then rent a warehouse to store them in... and hire 10 people to run "the program"... then they'd tell the guy in the street that needs them -- that he doesn't qualify for a pair of shoes because he doesn't have an address and he didn't fill out the form correctly. Albeit NOBODY working for the "program" would be able to help him fill out the form correctly. Nor would they have the brains to look at the man - say - this is a man that needs a pair of shoes - walk into the warehouse and get him a pair.


THIS is what drives the average AMERICAN nuts!!!

BTW -- They (our government) would have first needed to STUDY the issues for several years -- and spend 100's of millions of dollars designing a special pair of shoes that would meet the persons requirements (according to the 200 million dollar "study").

BTW (2) -- The people running the said "shoes for the homeless program" -- which you'd need an address in order to receive a pair.... Nobody working there can actually equate the NAME of the program to the NEED....


Is run by someone that has spent 20 years in the "service" -- retired at 38 -- then spent another 20 years working at the Postal "service".... and then doesn't want the program to end by giving away the warehouse full of shoes -- because if they can get 5 more years of "government work" -- they'll retire with a pension that pays them 2 1/2 times per month what they're highest salary was - plus benefits - for life.

You're on a roll Greg!! LOL!!:willy:

The only thing I see you've forgot Greg, is then you have to spend tax payers money advertising on TV and radio to give the shoes away.

Love it here in Maryland, they have a media blitz for the food stamps program. Spending my money advertising, to give my money away. Heard a local congressman saying we are trying to make it so there is no shame in receiving food stamps, here in lies the problem. There needs to be a stigma in it, so you want to get off of it.

LOL
Too true Greg. Maybe when the next "stimulus" package comes out, they will donate about 100 million to that study. The government is good at wasting and taking our money.
Call it a "conspiracy theory", but I think it done on purpose to, 1) empty the pockets of those that pay taxes and "level the playing field" to those that are in the lower/poverty class and 2) to destroy the American dollar. Just my opinion. I'm too cynical.:D

So, my question to all posters is this: are you continuing to light a fire under your representatives?

I just sent mine yesterday. Would it be too much to ask you to do the same?

:cheers:

Got a canned response. They don't give a flip!!:(

OMG! Don't ya just love that! It's like making prisoners "comfortable"... Why would we want them to be comfortable, so they'll come back?