What in hell is Obama doing??

Asking for 850 billion (oh hell, why not call it a trillion and get it over with) and TAX CUTS? Who is he kidding???
(washington definition of 'tax cut': taxes are going up, just not as much as we originally were asking for).

two cents ¢¢

CERTIFIED HOSEHEAD!!!

people (especially women) do not give ONE DAMN about what they inflict on children and I defy anyone to prove me wrong

Dysfunctional relationships almost always have a child. The more dysfunctional, the more children.

The selfish wants of adults outweigh the needs of the child.

Some mistakes cannot be fixed, but some mistakes can be 'fixed'.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. Leo J. Burke

Adoption agencies have strict criteria (usually). Breeders, whose combined IQ's would barely hit triple digits, have none.

welcome to the world of spend now, pay.... never

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I just post the stories, for interest.. for everyone

Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii

Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

H.L.Mencken wrote:"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein

This whole thing scares the shit out of me.

I didn't vote for him, he wanted this Presidency so he had better dance and show the people he's not just all lip service.

I also worry about this next administration. Where is all this money going to come from? Here is an e-mail my husband sent me from his work:



Who ever this boss is he has it nailed down perfectly........read his entire message and the last 3 paragraphs will make total sense to you....and if you are a left a leaning socialistic democrat this type of thinking just may get you to re-evaluate your sense of direction for this country. Cuba is a prime example of where we could be if we keep heading towards thinking that the government can provide for our every need.........but first get clear in your head "WHAT AND WHO IS THE GOVERNMENT'....just what does the government produce, plant and harvest, and sell to earn the money that they so freely give to those that could, but do not produce and contribute to the productivity of this country.Once everyone is in the wagon there will be no one left to pull it.


A letter from the Boss:

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY :

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, someday, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bailout all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you and your coworkers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed, THE BOSS

"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher

I hope this letter does not offend anyone. I am tired of those who contribute nothing being rewarded in this country. The single mother with all of those kids and no husband in the picture will get stimulus pay while those who work hard get nothing.

Doesn't offend me at all. I would wanna check it out at snopes, but it does hit sentiments. This is why welfare breederism and illegal breeders are being encouraged: the 'normal' population is angry as hell about the idiot politicians, but can't do anything about it. Once the stupids and illegals outnumber the rest of the nation, it will be history. It may be a republic, but majority does seem to rule. And do you think illegals and welfare ho's are going to vote themselves out of an entitlement check??

two cents ¢¢

CERTIFIED HOSEHEAD!!!

people (especially women) do not give ONE DAMN about what they inflict on children and I defy anyone to prove me wrong

Dysfunctional relationships almost always have a child. The more dysfunctional, the more children.

The selfish wants of adults outweigh the needs of the child.

Some mistakes cannot be fixed, but some mistakes can be 'fixed'.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. Leo J. Burke

Adoption agencies have strict criteria (usually). Breeders, whose combined IQ's would barely hit triple digits, have none.

:hs Your not the only one worried. I didn't not vote for him, either. I'm nervous. Some of the money is going to come from taxpayers paychecks and such.

---

lab mom

I am extremely worried as well. I hate to say it but I think this country is done for, gone is "America the Great", we're becoming "America the Mediocre" (if we're lucky). I really hope I'm wrong.

Kaye

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Muslimah
I hope this letter does not offend anyone.

I think that letter rocks. :inw

Thank you for posting that letter. My DH says the exact same things to me every day. He's a doctor and he lived like a refugee for twenty years to put himself through college and medical school and get where he is today...he works his ass off for his patients every day...and they tax him to death, his malpractice insurance, license fees, recertification exam fees, etc. go up by thousands of dollars each year, he must always worry about being sued, and he must listen to constant complaints from patients about why medical costs keep rising and they beg him to fill out reams of paperwork (for free) so that they can get Hoverounds (for free). And jealous assholes across the country want to tax him further and pay him less because he makes 'so much more' than most people, as if he didn't EARN every bit of what he has. It's complete and utter bullshit and it will be the death of this country.

There's nothing at all fair about taking more than half of what industrious, hard-working, motivated people make while the majority of people pay minimal taxes or even NO taxes at all (that very same group being the ones who uses the vast majority of services paid for by taxes).

but what about those with lots and lots of money, who put the money in off shore account, hide it from the taxman, i think they should be got.

the uk over £10 billion a year is lost because these rich people screw the system.

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I just post the stories, for interest.. for everyone

Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii

Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

H.L.Mencken wrote:"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein

Well, of course people shouldn't be allowed to cheat on their taxes. But that's a very different issue from whether the rate of taxation is fair. Most people aren't able to hide money in offshore accounts.

Taxes should be fair. I do not know if this makes sense but something like 10% of what someone earns should be taxed. I do not think any group should get special benefits for having kids or for buying homes. If there is a fair tax, maybe some of the problems would be alleviated. Those making more money claiming they have to pay more than a modestly-paid worker is the same as complaining about paying higher sales taxes for buying a more expensive item or purchasing a home in a better neighbourhood. If I buy a large-ticketed item, I am going to pay more sales tax at the register than for a cheaper thing. I do not think the wealthy should be penalized for hard work but I also do not believe it is only the "working class" who should pay into the tax system.

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anneonimiss
There's nothing at all fair about taking more than half of what industrious, hard-working, motivated people make while the majority of people pay minimal taxes or even NO taxes at all (that very same group being the ones who uses the vast majority of services paid for by taxes).

50% is horrible for taxation! When I worked a job that did not pay much, I still got taxed to death when I worked a lot of overtime so I could not be living hand-to-mouth. Many times, my boss understood why some workers did not want to work extra hours and be tired just so the extra they earned got a chunk taken out with the withholding.

"The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. "

For a lot of recently unemployed people out there, the economy did pose a threat.

There are arguments on both sides. But my strongest reaction is that I don't have a lot of respect for the boss-as-martyr. If he honestly believed he could have a better life some other way, he'd do that.

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[quote=anneonimiss
There's nothing at all fair about taking more than half of what industrious, hard-working, motivated people make while the majority of people pay minimal taxes or even NO taxes at all (that very same group being the ones who uses the vast majority of services paid for by taxes).

By the way, plenty of motivated people don't make a lot of money. Please don't make this a class issue.[/quote]

And I never said that people who make less than a certain amount should 'bear the brunt' of taxation. Nor did I say that those who make less are unmotivated. And I certainly didn't say anything about class.

I object to the fact that 40% of the people in this country pay no taxes at all. And it isn't right that people who make more have to pay a significantly higher percentage than others when they use the same (or fewer government services). That's a complete crock. With a flat tax, those who make more will still pay more (10% of 100,000 is helluva lot more than 10% of 10,000) they just won't be paying exorbitant amounts of what they make to fund programs for those who pay nothing. The only truly fair thing is a flat tax, but even a more equitable sliding scale tax - i.e. 5% at the bottom of the scale up to 15-20% for those at the top - would be far preferable to what exists now, where some pay more than 50% of their incomes (and being toward the top of the scale, generate huge amounts of revenue for the government to use to essentially purchase the votes of those at the bottom by giving them free money) and others pay nothing (because they are in the majority, so if they aren't kept happy, the politicians don't get their votes and because taxing them isn't nearly as lucrative as taxing the 'rich').

I recall back in the mid-1990s when the Flat Tax concept became discussed a lot in the 1996 Republican presidential primary by Steve Forbes and some others. I also saw a great TV discussion about the Flat Tax adn taxes in general on William Buckley's "Firing Line" show. On that show, some of the panelists said that the presene of a progressive income tax is needed to offset the regressive taxes such as the property tax and payroll taxes. Without the progressive income tax (i.e. one where higher income folks pay income taxes at higher rates as their income riases), the overall tax system would be regressive.

As a "numbers guy," I decided to try this out for myself and created a spreadsheet which included my income and various easily determined taxes, mainly income and property taxes. Sales taxes are somewhat regressive but I'd have to keep every purchase receipt and I did not do that LOL! Anyway, I found that the panelist who said that was basically correct. Whether my income was fairly low when I began working or higher as I got raises and bonuses, and included more non-wage income (i.e. dividends and capital gains), my "overall tax" rate was rather consistent from year to year. My average federal income tax rate rose but my average property tax rate (as a percent of my income) dropped in equal magnitude.

When I went from renting an apartment to owning one, my overall average tax rate remained nearly the same. When my income doubled from 1993 to 2000, my overall average tax rate was nearly unchanged from each year to the next one. In this decade, my income dropped in 2001 a lot as I began working part-time instead of full-time. The 2001 Bush tax cuts also lowered my federal income tax burden but after that initial "two-edged shock" to the system that year, my overall tax rate has stabilized again.

One thing which affected my overall average tax rate was refinancing my mortgage back in 1992. That greatly lowered my deductible home mortgage interest so my income taxes rose a bit. I did not mind that, of course, because I'd rather lose the deduction while have more $$ in my pocket instead.

Keep the progressive income tax as long as we keep the regressive taxes, too. This keeps the overall tax system flat. I would rather see the property tax reduced even if it means the income tax is raised to offset the revenue loss. Flattening the income tax by itself is a bad idea because it makes the overall tax system regressive.