Then Who is?

Originally posted by duecer
I believe the alternative minimum tax is for income of $75k single, $150k married, and $112k head of houshold. An interesting note on this tax; In 1970 when it was enacted it only affected about 1900 people. The adjutments have not kept up with inflation, and now a few million are paying a tax that was meant for the top.5%. After a certain threshold of income ...[text shortened]... p tier pays yet another tax, but the deductions kick back in. We definetly need tax code reform.

What i'm trying to say is that the gov't and politicians are a bunch of lying sacks of crap. They try to make you think that the only wealthy people "not paying their fair share" are the rich business tycoons, but ,in fact, they are talking about YOU. When they talk about raising taxes on the Rich, they're talking about YOU. There is no big middle class anymore, we're either considered rich or poor. Sounds like a con game to me.

F. GRANNY.

Originally posted by duecer
A lot of arguing was done here recently, over the topic of taxes, and wealth. When wealthy people don't consider themselves rich, then who is?

What does it matter if someone is rich? That still shouldn't give someone the right to try and tax the person to death to get his money. Damn, this country has gotten to the point of punishing someone who worked hard for what he has to give it to some lazy assed individuals who had the same opportunities to succeed as the next person but chose to lay around on their behinds with their hands out for a check.

Originally posted by slimjim
What does it matter if someone is rich? That still shouldn't give someone the right to try and tax the person to death to get his money. Damn, this country has gotten to the point of punishing someone who worked hard for what he has to give it to some lazy assed individuals who had the same opportunities to succeed as the next person but chose to lay around on their behinds with their hands out for a check.

You must oppose the idea of inheritence, right? Wealth should be earned, not just handed to people, right?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
You must oppose the idea of inheritence, right? Wealth should be earned, not just handed to people, right?

If I earned it and I want to give it to my children or wipe my behind with it should be up to me and not some Government hack to decide.

Originally posted by slimjim
If I earned it and I want to give it to my children or wipe my behind with it should be up to me and not some Government hack to decide.

Do these lazy assed individuals have the same opportunities as the rest or not? Should they? You think everyone has the same opportunities as Paris Hilton? Come on.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Do these lazy assed individuals have the same opportunities as the rest or not? Should they? You think everyone has the same opportunities as Paris Hilton? Come on.

I grew up poor. I have a high school education that I got by the skin of my teeth. I also have a good work ethic that has helped me through life. You can make it if you work at it instead of whining and bitching about people like Paris Hilton. To hell with her. The bottom line is no one should be able to tell you what to do with your money or who you want to give it to.

Originally posted by slimjim
I grew up poor. I have a high school education that I got by the skin of my teeth. I also have a good work ethic that has helped me through life. You can make it if you work at it instead of whining and bitching about people like Paris Hilton. To hell with her. The bottom line is no one should be able to tell you what to do with your money or who you want to give it to.

Well, for the most part I agree with you, and I'm working full time at a job I dislike in order to maintain my self respect. But inheritance is where the idea of merit based success breaks down.

Originally posted by slimjim
I grew up poor. I have a high school education that I got by the skin of my teeth. I also have a good work ethic that has helped me through life. You can make it if you work at it instead of whining and bitching about people like Paris Hilton. To hell with her. The bottom line is no one should be able to tell you what to do with your money or who you want to give it to.

Working hard is no guarantee someone will 'make it'.

Your success notwithstanding, I'm sure there are countless people who work just as hard (if not harder) and never really improve their lot in life.

Originally posted by PinkFloyd
Over 50K/year=wealthy

I agree. If you make 49K/year you are poverty stricken. However, if you make 50K/year and above you are stinking rich and should be flogged or something.

Originally posted by no1marauder
SMS: The top 6% of income earners in this country are paying 90% of the taxes


I don't know where you got this figure from, but it's in error. According to the Feds, the top 5% of income earners pay 54.36% of Fed income taxes. http://www.house.gov/jec/publications/109/Research%20Report_109-20.pdf

Of course, other taxes are far less progressive (many state and local taxes are regressive).

If this is true then why are the Democrats whining about the rich not paying their fair share? Are they all a bunch of lying hypocrites or something? Na, that could'nt be it. Never mind. Nothing to see here!!

Originally posted by treetalk
Working hard is no guarantee someone will 'make it'.

Your success notwithstanding, I'm sure there are countless people who work just as hard (if not harder) and never really improve their lot in life.

That still doesn't justify the damn Government taxing you to death just because you made it.

Originally posted by duecer
Name one person on the Repub ticket that isn't wealthy. I'm not trying to argue, but discuss this phenomina, where the rich refuse to accept that they are rich, and the middleclass don't realize they are not.

I don't doubt what you're saying, however, it's the Democrats who think getting elected to public office grants them a license to steal. If you have a problem with this statement, just look at the net worth of the Clintons. How did they get so wealthy when they've spent a lifetime in public service? At least the Republicans all earned their money before entering office. For someone as self-righteous as you seem to be, you sure come across like a rube sometimes.

Originally posted by duecer
...The truth is, that most rich people inherit their money (contrary to your belief)...

What you're saying is patently false. Any observance of the Forbes' list of 500 richest Americans shows that the majority of people got there through starting a new business or service, not through inheritance:

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=13742

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=10463

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=4436

Why do you have such a mad on against people who are productive?

Originally posted by slimjim
That still doesn't justify the damn Government taxing you to death just because you made it.

You will have to excuse me for cut and pasting a response I made in another thread, I didn't feel like typin it all again:


Money in the hands of the government, in many instances, can do more than in the hands of the individual. Would you be able to build a bridge over a river so you can get back and forth to work? Could you pave 10 miles of road for the same reason? Could most Americans give their children the quality education they need to compete in the market today? How about national security? Do you personally own a tank? Any anti-aircraft guns in your back yard? If someone puts out a new wonder drug, how will you know its safe? Your nieghbor decides to build a hog skin tannery in his back yard, think the zoning commission can help with that? Your house catches fire, have a couple thousand gallon water tank with a high pressure pump and hose handy.


You sir, live in a dream world. You want to live in this great country, and recieve the benefit of public education, civili engineering, public safety etc.. and you are not willing to pay for it. You are as un American as they come. I am ashamed of you.




And to head off the invariable "welfare queen" comment, entitlements make up about 1% of the federal budget, whereas total military spending is 51% of the budget.

Originally posted by duecer



Money in the hands of the government, in many instances, can do more than in the hands of the individual. Would you be able to build a bridge over a river so you can get back and forth to work? Could you pave 10 miles of road for the same reason? Could most Americans give their children the quality education they need to compete in the market today? How ...[text shortened]... make up about 1% of the federal budget, whereas total military spending is 51% of the budget.

The scatter gun approach, many topics could justify their own thread.

Bridges: Check out the Milau viaduct, built by a private company.

The testing regime of the FDA is such that more lives are lost than saved.

Voluntary covenants for zoning. (I know, I know, you hate to see the word voluntary.)