(05-12-2016 03:00 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  But isn't just your family. For example you say you pay your bills but you likely wouldnt be able to do that unless you knew how to do math which was likely taught to you by a teacher whose salary was paid for by taxpayers.

I guess HS flunkies have no excuse for ******* up then.

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

High state and federal taxes keeping me from funding additional personal investments.

Federal regulations like the Affordable Care Act making it harder for my company to expand, which is impacting our sales.

Hundreds of millions of state dollars to the new Vikings Stadium instead of infrastructure repairs, costing me time and money sitting traffic.

As just some examples...........

(05-12-2016 03:49 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

High state and federal taxes keeping me from funding additional personal investments.

Federal regulations like the Affordable Care Act making it harder companies to expand, which is impacting our sales.

Hundreds of millions of state dollars to the new Vikings Stadium instead of infrastructure repairs, costing people time and money in traffic.

As just some examples...........

Leaving the much debated ACA "tax" out if this, haven't your taxes actually gone down?

And what does "our sales" mean?

And don't bring state taxes into this. It's quite clear that this was not the intent or current direction of this thread.

(05-12-2016 03:49 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

High state and federal taxes keeping me from funding additional personal investments.

Federal regulations like the Affordable Care Act making it harder for my company to expand, which is impacting our sales.

Hundreds of millions of state dollars to the new Vikings Stadium instead of infrastructure repairs, costing me time and money sitting traffic.

As just some examples...........

You consistently say your taxes are too high. I'd be interested in what you consider to be fair taxes.
What percentage of your income do you think you should have to give up to help fund government and help make your country a better place?

What's too high?

Ballpark guess for me... No more than 10% of my paycheck should go towards Federal Taxes. There are a ton of things that should be completely eliminated from the US gov't scope of work.

Yeah my taxes have gone up too...

(05-12-2016 03:53 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Leaving the much debated ACA "tax" out if this, haven't your taxes actually gone down?

And what does "our sales" mean?

And don't bring state taxes into this. It's quite clear that this was not the intent or current direction of this thread.

No, they haven't. I've paid the highest amount of taxes this year outside of a year where I took a large payment out of an investment and didn't properly take taxes out of the payment. (Lesson.......... learned.)

The company I work for is currently budgeting for higher health insurance premiums brought on by the extra costs associated with the ACA. That is money we are not able to invest in our sales process, which means we have fewer opportunities to bring in more revenue which could lead to growth.

How on earth can you dis-entangle State government from the Federal government? It's impossible!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  You consistently say your taxes are too high. I'd be interested in what you consider to be fair taxes.

Fair taxes are taxes that are used responsibly. Not funding stadiums, redundant bureaucracies, incompetent transportation security services, a SWAT team for every law enforcement program, and/or any number of wasteful services, agencies, and other government projects.

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What percentage of your income do you think you should have to give up to help fund government and help make your country a better place?

I would be happy paying almost the same level of taxes, if my taxes were invested responsibly.

(05-12-2016 12:39 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Of course I am better off than I was seven years ago.

I pay my bills on time
I have not been to jail
I am married
My kids are good in school
I have received three promotions
I don't overindulge in drink
I don't do drugs
I volunteer

Almost seems like there are things people can do to be better off than they where seven years ago, regardless of liberals.

No offense LS..but..other than getting promotions?...those are things you are supposed to do and were probably doing before.

(05-12-2016 04:15 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  No offense LS..but..other than getting promotions?...those are things you are supposed to do and were probably doing before.

Yes, the point being that I didn't need liebrals or the government to help me make smart decisions to stay out of trouble.

(05-12-2016 02:57 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  I'm reading that many of you are saying that your income has stayed the same. So none of you have gotten raises in the last seven years? Or are you saying that your raises aren't keeping up with inflation?

Or did you switch jobs, careers, spouse lost job, etc.

Expound please.

Thanks.

The only pay increase I have received was the amount that the company paid on my insurance when the ACA caused us to lose our old policy that was not ACA approved. In other words...No increase. We are a small company that is still in recovery from the housing debacle. There is no money for pay increases at this time. We are treading water trying to survive.

No. We make less in real terms.

(05-12-2016 04:19 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 04:15 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  No offense LS..but..other than getting promotions?...those are things you are supposed to do and were probably doing before.

Yes, the point being that I didn't need liebrals or the government to help me make smart decisions to stay out of trouble.

No, because you probably had parents to help you figure that out.

I make more. But I was right out of high school when Obama was elected. My father makes about 25,000 less than he used to. The alternative was termination.

(05-12-2016 04:13 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  You consistently say your taxes are too high. I'd be interested in what you consider to be fair taxes.

Fair taxes are taxes that are used responsibly. Not funding stadiums, redundant bureaucracies, incompetent transportation security services, a SWAT team for every law enforcement program, and/or any number of wasteful services, agencies, and other government projects.

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What percentage of your income do you think you should have to give up to help fund government and help make your country a better place?

I would be happy paying almost the same level of taxes, if my taxes were invested responsibly.

What amount? What do you consider 'responsible' use of tax dollars? What's wasteful? What should government do, and what should it not?

It's easy to speak in generalities, but let's get specific. What should go? What should stay?

I agree on stadiums and SWAT teams.

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

(05-12-2016 04:06 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:53 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Leaving the much debated ACA "tax" out if this, haven't your taxes actually gone down?

And what does "our sales" mean?

And don't bring state taxes into this. It's quite clear that this was not the intent or current direction of this thread.

No, they haven't. I've paid the highest amount of taxes this year outside of a year where I took a large payment out of an investment and didn't properly take taxes out of the payment. (Lesson.......... learned.)

The company I work for is currently budgeting for higher health insurance premiums brought on by the extra costs associated with the ACA. That is money we are not able to invest in our sales process, which means we have fewer opportunities to bring in more revenue which could lead to growth.

How on earth can you dis-entangle State government from the Federal government? It's impossible!

Paying more taxes doesn't mean your taxes went up...as in rates. If you're simply paying more in taxes, you're likely making more money. Unless you're in the top bracket, your taxes have likely gone down as a percentage of your income.

And curious how you know what the company you work for is doing in relation to costs and budgets, etc. Most employers don't normally share that type of thing with the rank in file. Apologies if you're actually an executive in it. And that reason you're giving doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If you can grow your company with increases in the sales processes, you're likely going to find the money to make that happen. Especially with the price of debt being go cheap right now. But of course you'd know better than me!

w/o question....it was seven years ago I told corp 'murica and the gubberment to fk off and started my own business....

obummer policies have been veddy good for me.....just keep on fillin' those section 8s , and I'm one happy guy....

I'm still voting Trump no matter what....I seriously doubt my income sources dry up regardless who is elected....

(05-12-2016 04:24 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(05-12-2016 03:01 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  so shouldn't you actually credit the government then, for NOT making things worse enough that you had to say you weren't better off???

Or, how much better off we would all be if the government stopped intervening?

(I'm a half empty type of guy along these lines.)

Sure...but has the government really intervened much in your life these past few years?

Hell yes. It made me buy a product I don't want or need and raised my taxes by almost 6000 dollars per year. After all...The ACA is a tax. The SCOTUS said so.

Didn't they just rule that the fine if you didn't enroll was a tax and not the whole ACA?

(05-12-2016 04:21 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  No, because you probably had parents to help you figure that out.

I already said that in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What percentage of your income do you think you should have to give up to help fund government and help make your country a better place?

I already said that in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What amount?

The amount I already said in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What do you consider 'responsible' use of tax dollars?

The things I already said in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What's wasteful?

The things I already said in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  What should government do, and what should it not?

The things I already said in this thread. Pay attention!

(05-12-2016 03:57 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  It's easy to speak in generalities, but let's get specific. What should go? What should stay?

Sigh.