(07-17-2012, 02:47 PM)Jimbone Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 02:20 PM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: A couple of more interesting stats from the article:
The top 1 percent of earners in a given year receives just under a fifth of the country’s pretax income, about double their share 30 years ago. They pay just over a fourth of all federal taxes, according to the Tax Policy Center. In 2007, they accounted for about 30 percent of philanthropic giving, according to Federal Reserve data. They received 22 percent of their income from capital gains, compared with 2 percent for everybody else.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/busine...wanted=all

I love how "just over a fourth of all federal taxes" is actually 36.7% according to the IRS. Clever way of using words by the liberally biased Tax Policy Center... which is run and underwritten by the Brookings and Urban Institutes, two well known liberal think tanks.

I have to admit, I couldn't read the rest of the article after coming across such a blatant stretch of the truth.

Yeah, you always have to look at the way the numbers are cited and by whom. I thought the article was interesting, in part, because it goes over (top level) who makes up that 1% that sometimes get villainized in the press and by politicians. It's more diverse than some may think.

Here's where I stand, simple really.

I don't advocate for a system that penalizes the successful or the hardest working.

I like the idea of a flat tax. I'd gladly pay 10% of $100,000,000 if that was my annual income. I'd gladly pay 10% of $20,000 if that was my income.

I understand how the proportions and percentages work. Under our current system, it's not equitable, imo. Under a flat tax system if everyone worked and everyone paid the same percentage of their income, it would be imo. Even without full employment and some people contributing nothing, flat tax would still be proportional to the whole because the unemployed make up $0 of the whole and pay $0.

No matter what system of taxation, those who don't work benefit from all of us that do. I understand that some people very legitimately can't work and others may be out of work temporarily through no fault of their own. I don't mind contributing taxes to provide support in those cases.

For those that make it a lifestyle choice not to work (or don't do everything in their power to work) and milk the system, the rest of us pay and it's damn depressing.

Anyway, I'm getting a little down here - because I agree with most of the points put forth this morning. And, I've got to get to work.

(07-17-2012, 02:49 PM)Jimbone Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 02:38 PM)Cracker Wrote: I guess I am one of the few old school people left in this country. Earn what you have, don't ask for stuff you don't earn yourself, take care of your own, expect the same of everybody else. If you need help, consider it a loan and pay it back.

I don't even want to know the real percentage of the population that produces vs. consumes. It would just disgust me more.

I'm with you Cracker. Self responsibility used to be something taught and to be proud of.

Now it is more about wanting what someone else has, and not wanting to lift a Lee Press-on fingernail to get it.

Can I have your cool shit?

(07-17-2012, 03:00 PM)username Wrote: We (as a country) might actually be able to get something done if we completely reformed campaign financing.

Politicians pander to the special interests/lobbyists/money. THAT makes me sick.

Better yet, let's eliminate politics as a career choice.

Let's return to citizen legislatures who work exceedingly part time.

(07-17-2012, 03:18 PM)Jimbone Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 03:00 PM)username Wrote: We (as a country) might actually be able to get something done if we completely reformed campaign financing.

Politicians pander to the special interests/lobbyists/money. THAT makes me sick.

Better yet, let's eliminate politics as a career choice.

Let's return to citizen legislatures who work exceedingly part time.

I'm cool with that.

It sucks that I can't see anything changing short of some major revolt. I feel hostage to the 2 parties. The parties with the most money/media coverage win!!

Maybe I should just throw my vote at some independent.

(07-17-2012, 02:20 PM)Cracker Wrote: Most of the population is a Shade of Clang.

(07-17-2012, 03:33 PM)username Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 03:18 PM)Jimbone Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 03:00 PM)username Wrote: We (as a country) might actually be able to get something done if we completely reformed campaign financing.

Politicians pander to the special interests/lobbyists/money. THAT makes me sick.

Better yet, let's eliminate politics as a career choice.

Let's return to citizen legislatures who work exceedingly part time.

I'm cool with that.

It sucks that I can't see anything changing short of some major revolt. I feel hostage to the 2 parties. The parties with the most money/media coverage win!!

Maybe I should just throw my vote at some independent.

Your vote will have precisely the same impact no matter which way you throw it.

(07-17-2012, 03:40 PM)Clang McFly Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 02:20 PM)Cracker Wrote: Most of the population is a Shade of Clang.

Big shocker that you would laugh at the fact that hard working, tax-paying citizens people think you're a waste of space and air.

I'm sitting in the parking lot of a remote skatepark while my son and 3 of his buddies skate. It's boring as hell.

(07-18-2012, 06:31 PM)username Wrote: I'm sitting in the parking lot of a remote skatepark while my son and 3 of his buddies skate. It's boring as hell.

Been there, done that. You should have brought some wine .

(07-18-2012, 07:13 PM)sally Wrote:

(07-18-2012, 06:31 PM)username Wrote: I'm sitting in the parking lot of a remote skatepark while my son and 3 of his buddies skate. It's boring as hell.

Been there, done that. You should have brought some wine

I wanted to but the idea of a fatal DUI accident on the way home sort of took the appeal away.


Definitely cracking open a bottle when I get home!

Still it's nice you'd sit there bored so they could skate.

(07-18-2012, 07:27 PM)Ma Huang Sor Wrote: Still it's nice you'd sit there bored so they could skate.

Thank you. I think we're finally leaving!!

10 more minutes, 10 more minutes! Gah!!!

(07-17-2012, 04:51 PM)FAHQTOO Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 03:40 PM)Clang McFly Wrote:

(07-17-2012, 02:20 PM)Cracker Wrote: Most of the population is a Shade of Clang.

Big shocker that you would laugh at the fact that hard working, tax-paying citizens people think you're a waste of space and air.

What's that? I can't hear you over the fiddling and the crackling of the fire while Rome burns. Pass the popcorn, Nero.

(07-18-2012, 07:51 PM)username Wrote: 10 more minutes, 10 more minutes! Gah!!!

They'll be hungry. Where you going to stop?

(07-18-2012, 09:03 PM)Ma Huang Sor Wrote:

(07-18-2012, 07:51 PM)username Wrote: 10 more minutes, 10 more minutes! Gah!!!

They'll be hungry. Where you going to stop?

Fuck that. I brought Gatorade and chips. They spent the night at my house last night too. I'm getting a little tired of feeding all of them.

Home...cracking open the wine!

What kind?

(07-18-2012, 09:18 PM)Jimbone Wrote: What kind?

Cupcake Chardonnay. I think I'm the last person who still likes chardonnay, but I do. Sauvignon Blanc too. Red with a steak.

There are plenty of people who still like it... for white I'll drink a Riesling. Love it in the summer.

(07-18-2012, 09:22 PM)username Wrote:

(07-18-2012, 09:18 PM)Jimbone Wrote: What kind?

Cupcake Chardonnay. I think I'm the last person who still likes chardonnay, but I do. Sauvignon Blanc too. Red with a steak.

We had the Red Velvet tonight. I love that brand.