They just took control house/senate and look .....

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

I'll give this one last shot. What you seem to be saying is Republicans are now blaming Democrats for things Republicans were claiming they themselves do. If that is your point I'm left with only one word..........What?

Hard up?


I do not believe you only have one word. My idea was that the Dems just got some measure of control....just..... and the finger pointing is growing before they can even make an attempt to turn things around which will take some time. One has an idea or special project and its all them dems want this or that..... special interests are not all encompassing no matter their outward appearing politics.

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

You`re welcome and I`ll see you in court

Many words do not a point make said someone.

I was just kidding Mike. I read all those long posts then hit yours and kinda laughed. All in good fun!

[Skitterpop]

Me to my S-B friend

The best of holidays for you and yours

[spence]

Originally Posted by Bronko

If I answered from my personal observations the answer is yes.

I think that's the rub, obviously with more service members coming from the south and west...you will have communities that are impacted more and more. But even in RI every so often there's bad news...

But this isn't just a military demographic question. Given the desire to keep the consumer driven economy pumping does the average person really think about Americans overseas while they clammer through a Wal-Mart parking lot at 5am to score some Black Friday goods?

According to experts this war will cost well north of a trillion dollars over this decade while the income gap widens nationally and the National Debt mounts. We all know who can better afford to pay taxes without impacting quality of life.

So it would seem that the military is leaning on poorer communities for recruitment while the Federal Government is leaning on the middle class taxpayer to foot the bill.

Again, this is about the ability to shoulder the "burden" for their policy.

Agree or not 100% I do think Rangel is bringing up a very thoughtful point.

-spence

[slapshot]

The top 10% of wage earners pay 90% of the taxes. So the government would be leaning on the upper-upper class to foot this bill.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by slapshot

The top 10% of wage earners pay 90% of the taxes.

Where did you get that stat? Gotta see that one for myself.

[spence]

Originally Posted by slapshot

The top 10% of wage earners pay 90% of the taxes. So the government would be leaning on the upper-upper class to foot this bill.

Well, first off that's not true. The top 10% pay more like 65% of the taxes and the current trend is shifting the burden to the lower tax brackets.

But that's not even the real issue, it's our progressive tax system that has allowed the middle class to exist for so long fueling the American dream. Wealth redistrubtion is as American as baseball and apple pie.

More and more fiscal conservatives are looking at taxes in relation to the entire Federal budget, and what this means for the future of our Country...

I'll let Ben Stein explain:

Put simply, the rich pay a lot of taxes as a total percentage of taxes collected, but they don’t pay a lot of taxes as a percentage of what they can afford to pay, or as a percentage of what the government needs to close the deficit gap.

SOURCE: NY Times

It's a good short piece, I'd read the entire thing.

-spence

[slapshot]

Lets say your 10% and 65% numbers are correct. How then can you cay that the middle class is taking the brunt of the cost of the war? The wealthiest are taking the biggest hit. Care to discuss how much the lower third pay in taxes?

That NYT quote is unnerving. "what they can afford to pay".

[Bronko]

That NYT quote is unnerving. "what they can afford to pay".[/QUOTE]

You are so right.

[RIJIMMY]

I agree slapshot, we should not be taxed on what we can afford to pay.
The "upper" class of today is not old money, but people that work 80+ hours a week.
How many vacation days do you think Bill Gates takes? I'd bet none, I am certain that he spends 12+ hours a day on Msoft business.

[spence]

Originally Posted by slapshot

Lets say your 10% and 65% numbers are correct. How then can you cay that the middle class is taking the brunt of the cost of the war? The wealthiest are taking the biggest hit. Care to discuss how much the lower third pay in taxes?

Because the rich can better afford it...it's that simple...Read the article. Remember, this isn't about being "fair" rather it's about fiscal balance and that any time anyone brings the subject up they are accused of "class warfare".

That NYT quote is unnerving. "what they can afford to pay".

Actually the article is quoting Ben Stein and Warren E. Buffett! Not exactly two liberal thinkers.

-spence

[slapshot]

The line "what they can afford to pay" is the author's "creative writing" and not a quote from Stein or Mr. Berkshire Hathaway.

[spence]

Originally Posted by slapshot

The line "what they can afford to pay" is the author's "creative writing" and not a quote from Stein or Mr. Berkshire Hathaway.

ATTENTION - ATTENTION - ATTENTION

"Ben Stein" is the author writing about Warren Buffett!

-spence

[slapshot]

You caught me, I wasn't paying attention to a NYT article. Not sure I'd wipe my rear with that rag anyway.

More to the point, I find it hard to believe that Buffet would be willing to pay "what he can afford".

[spence]

Originally Posted by slapshot

More to the point, I find it hard to believe that Buffet would be willing to pay "what he can afford".

So he's just telling a lie so Stein can write a nice story?

It turned out that Mr. Buffett, with immense income from dividends and capital gains, paid far, far less as a fraction of his income than the secretaries or the clerks or anyone else in his office. Further, in conversation it came up that Mr. Buffett doesn’t use any tax planning at all. He just pays as the Internal Revenue Code requires. “How can this be fair?” he asked of how little he pays relative to his employees. “How can this be right?”

-spence

[Swimmer]

Warren Buffet spends a tremendous amount of money. In fact he just donated most of his personel worth to Bill and Melinda Gate's foundation. That was a sizeable amount of change. So Buffet certainly isn't cheap and is willing to spend his dough. By the way, Stein and Buffet, as individuals, doesn't that combination strike anyone as odd?

[spence]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

By the way, Stein and Buffet, as individuals, doesn't that combination strike anyone as odd?

No, please explain?

-spence

[Swimmer]

Spence it difficult to overcome Steins comedic travails and switch to his financial astuteness (sic). I am sure he is wealthy but I have trouble listening to what he says when the only thing I relate to while listening to or reading him is the show, "Take Ben Stein's Money". He certainly isn't in BUFFET'S category. Berkshire Hathaway is probably the most successful investment companies in the world. Besides what I have allready said I doubt many people other than Mrs. Stein pay much attention to Ben Steins advice.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Beuller, Beuller.......Beuller

(OK You knew Somebody was going to do that)

[spence]

He seems to have enough street cred to keep people's attention. Given that his comedic persona is pretty annoying, I don't think he'd get far if there wasn't something to offer.

-spence

[RIJIMMY]

Win Ben Stein's Money was a hilarious show, it had Jimmy Kimmel.
I miss it.

[Swimmer]

I think I am going to look into his educational background and see where his financial prowess comes from.

[Swimmer]

Grad. Columbia 1966 BA economics
Yale Law School 1970
A trial lawyer in the trade regulations and worked as a poverty lawyer, which I sure if Richard Nixon knew that never would have hired him as a speech writer.

His bio goes on and on..........

[spence]

Columbia, Yale Law?

He was probably only there on a lacrosse scholarship

-spence

[Swimmer]

More like Bagmitton!