In the great war between North America and Europe, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. So all you stinking middle-grounders can toddle off to the Atlantic! ;)Ummmm . . . . I'm not so good at swimming and such. Do we *have* an alternate middle ground?? Or should i just tunnel to Australia?
The Bermudas, the Azores ... middle ground's got some awesome terrain there. *packs up to move asap*
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45% is federal + Social Security + Medicaid + State + County after deductions as a self-employed small business owner. I do live in an expensive area, which results in the bracket unless I have a very bad year. Tack on sales taxes, property taxes, the gaggle of taxes buried in the utility bills, it adds up fast.
Ok, and are republicans talking about lowering any of THOSE taxes, or when they say "lower taxes" do they mean the income tax and capital gains taxes?
When they lower the income taxes and capital gains taxes, they give less money to the states, and then the states have to raise your list even higher to make up for the shortfall.
You don't have a party to vote for for lowering taxes on actual people.
If that stuff's still tickling, you can use it to etch cool stuff in your Zippo lighter!*enjoys the acid pie for the fact it came with humor*
Some times we all need a pie in the face.
Even the acid beetle ones.
I'd prefer to stay away from fire on my face, thanks Turin.
45% is federal + Social Security + Medicaid + State + County after deductions as a self-employed small business owner. I do live in an expensive area, which results in the bracket unless I have a very bad year. Tack on sales taxes, property taxes, the gaggle of taxes buried in the utility bills, it adds up fast.
Ok, and are republicans talking about lowering any of THOSE taxes, or when they say "lower taxes" do they mean the income tax and capital gains taxes?
When they lower the income taxes and capital gains taxes, they give less money to the states, and then the states have to raise your list even higher to make up for the shortfall.
You don't have a party to vote for for lowering taxes on actual people.
The other question to ask is what are those taxes getting you? After all taxes should be seen as an investment in the society you are in. If it is providing for societal needs and what have you it can end up paying very well.
Not that this always the case of course.
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For crying out loud, you're still posting on the thread; It's not the end of the world just because the majority of the posters disagree with you.Don't lie to yourself, you didn't tolerate both.I don't care for Janet Jackson eitherIt doesn't, never liked the idea of the thread to begin with.Is it the thread or my music choices for you?Okay, we'll tolerate trump supporters but :)
It's good to hear from all sides of the equation, especially those one doesn't agree with. If one cannot hear criticism of their politics, perhaps they hold too narrow a view and are too unsure of their politics to begin with.
We haven't actually heard much at all from Nenkota...
still...
it's better to hear more voices than fewer, IMO at least.
So now this thread is anti-fire too!?
Only because I don't have fire immunity or resistance, Knighty.
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Everybody gets immunity to fire...eventually.So now this thread is anti-fire too!?Only because I don't have fire immunity or resistance, Knighty.
A solid, Pratchett-worthy snark. +1.
Not sure I do but thanks Knight.
Also Syrus is right, Terry Pratchett would be proud.
45% is federal + Social Security + Medicaid + State + County after deductions as a self-employed small business owner. I do live in an expensive area, which results in the bracket unless I have a very bad year. Tack on sales taxes, property taxes, the gaggle of taxes buried in the utility bills, it adds up fast.
Ok, and are republicans talking about lowering any of THOSE taxes, or when they say "lower taxes" do they mean the income tax and capital gains taxes?
When they lower the income taxes and capital gains taxes, they give less money to the states, and then the states have to raise your list even higher to make up for the shortfall.
You don't have a party to vote for for lowering taxes on actual people.
Income taxes affect everyone. So you're right, we don't have a party to vote for lowering taxes on actual people.
I'm not sure what either major party platform has clearly proposed beyond generalities regarding the reduction of taxes for the bulk of the citizenry. Capital gains taxes for Janejoebobbiesue Average is only a remote concern when you make a huge gain selling a home.
For small businesses, what kills you is the 'doubling' of income tax withholding amounts across the board. Employees pay half, employers pay the other half. Self-employed citizens pay all of it, greatly contributing to the 45% figure I pay, nearly half of it unless I miss my estimates.
Some agencies are redundant across county/state/federal lines. HUD is a prime example of such triple-redundancy. Pick one, scrap the other two, save at least a little money and work at least a little more efficiently.
Income taxes could be lowered if they closed off all the loopholes and evened the paying field. Warren Buffet famously criticized this very issue recently, observing that because of the current tax system he paid less tax than his assistant. Both parties have written the current tax system into place since 1913. It will take both parties to fix it anytime soon.
Question is, what would motivate them to do so?
The other question to ask is what are those taxes getting you?
It's not really a useful question because you can't opt out of taxes.
It's not really a useful question because you can't opt out of taxes.
The other question to ask is what are those taxes getting you?
It's still a useful question because you can lobby for where taxes are spent.
I mean yeah you generally have to pay (at least at our level in the society pool) but that doesn't mean you can't push for better efficiency, or for different priorities. I would point out that's exactly what republicans are doing when they frame issues as "not having enough to pay all these entitlements!" and whatnot.
Democrats do it back by pointing out efficiencies and how small such programs are as a percentage of the total budget or how social security is self paying and we should stop borrowing from it.
and so on and so forth.
Of course before you should do any of that you have to know what the taxes are going to and how it's developing.
For example businesses profit enormously from the transportation department and typically under contribute to the funds that provide for the infrastructure they are so heavily reliant on.
On the other hand there are other areas they represent more of the contributions than they perhaps should be.
In the great war between North America and Europe, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. So all you stinking middle-grounders can toddle off to the Atlantic! ;)Ummmm . . . . I'm not so good at swimming and such. Do we *have* an alternate middle ground?? Or should i just tunnel to Australia?
No, this is what I have decided your position is. Now get in that straw boat! I'm sure it will hold!
45% is federal + Social Security + Medicaid + State + County after deductions as a self-employed small business owner. I do live in an expensive area, which results in the bracket unless I have a very bad year. Tack on sales taxes, property taxes, the gaggle of taxes buried in the utility bills, it adds up fast.
Ok, and are republicans talking about lowering any of THOSE taxes, or when they say "lower taxes" do they mean the income tax and capital gains taxes?
When they lower the income taxes and capital gains taxes, they give less money to the states, and then the states have to raise your list even higher to make up for the shortfall.
You don't have a party to vote for for lowering taxes on actual people.
The other question to ask is what are those taxes getting you? After all taxes should be seen as an investment in the society you are in. If it is providing for societal needs and what have you it can end up paying very well.
Not that this always the case of course.
They get me the same stuff that it gets the minimum wage workers at the retail stores, which is the same stuff that it gets the multi-millionaires living along the Potomac. :)
Whether or not my paying a higher proportion than either extreme is fair is another matter. ;)
For crying out loud, you're still posting on the thread; It's not the end of the world just because the majority of the posters disagree with you.Don't lie to yourself, you didn't tolerate both.I don't care for Janet Jackson eitherIt doesn't, never liked the idea of the thread to begin with.Is it the thread or my music choices for you?Okay, we'll tolerate trump supporters but :)
It's good to hear from all sides of the equation, especially those one doesn't agree with. If one cannot hear criticism of their politics, perhaps they hold too narrow a view and are too unsure of their politics to begin with.
We haven't actually heard much at all from Nenkota...
still...
it's better to hear more voices than fewer, IMO at least.
Just to be clear, you're voicing agreement with us, now, right? I'd be happy to hear Nenkota's politics, if they do want to discuss them. If they don't, that's cool. Nobody's pushing them in or out.
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No, this is what I have decided your position is. Now get in that straw boat! I'm sure it will hold!In the great war between North America and Europe, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. So all you stinking middle-grounders can toddle off to the Atlantic! ;)Ummmm . . . . I'm not so good at swimming and such. Do we *have* an alternate middle ground?? Or should i just tunnel to Australia?
*slathers Quik-Dry Insta-Tar all over the straw boat*
No drownings for YOU!! ;)
No, thanks. It's the shovel for me, you raging politicos.
No, Turin, it won't work without the boat feather tokens.
I'll just...liberally apply them here...Why don't you get in, Syrus?...
Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
No, thanks. It's the shovel for me, you raging politicos.
Shovel? Is there a feather token for that?
...
Ya know, I've always wondered if there is a use for a shovel of grave digging feather token ... hrmmm ....
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Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
I'd say you've been keeping it light. Sometimes people just need to take a chill pill. :)
No, Turin, it won't work without the boat feather tokens.
I'll just...liberally apply them here...Why don't you get in, Syrus?...
I knew I failed that Knowledge (arcana) check ...
Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
Definitely keeping it light. Meringue levels of airy.
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Definitely keeping it light. Meringue levels of airy.Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
Ew!! I hate Meringue! Why not just whipped cream?
Wow! Wish I could keep up. Crazy posting.
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Ew!! I hate Meringue! Why not just whipped cream?Definitely keeping it light. Meringue levels of airy.Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
A family friend has long referred to meringue as "calf spit". I concur with that assessment.
Yeah I prefer something else if we're doing 'light like' food stuffs.
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Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
I think you were trying to keep it light, but you need more Cthulhu.
I think you were trying to keep it light, but you need more Cthulhu.Question:
Am I thread crapping or just keeping it light? I only ask for your perspectives, not necessarily the ones I have.
Cthulhu is like cowbell. These things always need more Cthulhu. *wiggles tentacles suggestively*
Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
Might be a bit much. Although come November 9th ... ;)
Now, Hastur/Nyarlathotep '16 ... that's a TICKET!!
Wow! Wish I could keep up. Crazy posting.
I know I miss half a day and then see I missed some 30 posts... I limit myself to about 5 posts a day in here just so I don't get too tied up in it.
*has a question* Your last name is Terrigan, are you in anyway related to an Inhuman?
You're thinking of Terrigen. :)
Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
I'm pretty sure that the Vice President has to at least FIT inside the White House, or at least not be larger than the planet.
Wow! Wish I could keep up. Crazy posting.I know I miss half a day and then see I missed some 30 posts... I limit myself to about 5 posts a day in here just so I don't get too tied up in it.
Only reason I've been so prolific these past few hours was that it was this, or laundry. *And* it seemed we had gotten to a point where less venomous discourse was possible. Which is a fine, fine opportunity. Let's continue to make the most of it.
I'm pretty sure that the Vice President has to at least FIT inside the White House, or at least not be larger than the planet.Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
Let's not commit any acts of size discrimination!! So he's big!! No problem.
EDIT: Makes it easier for us to have a rapid-response diplomatic presence of the highest order, too, if they get the votes.
I'm pretty sure that the Vice President has to at least FIT inside the White House, or at least not be larger than the planet.Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
Let's not commit any acts of size discrimination!! So he's big!! No problem.
EDIT: Makes it easier for us to have a rapid-response diplomatic presence of the highest order, too, if they get the votes.
Azathoth comes with its own diplomatic corps. I'd say make it Secretary of State. Granted, the lot of them are going to be in orbit, but hey, infinite free solar power! SOLVE THE ENERGY CRISIS!!
Cthulhu has Star Spawn for security and has just about the safest Presidential retreat on the planet. Plus the whole loyal ickthyoid servitor race thing with their own demigods in leadership positions takes care of the "hostile actors beneath the waves" department.
Foreign policy's taken care of. Now, just to get Great Cthulhu on board with not driving everyone stark raving mad on Inauguration Day ...
*has a question* Your last name is Terrigan, are you in anyway related to an Inhuman?You're thinking of Terrigen. :)
Eh. Almost the same thing.
Also love the whole Azazoth is coming to town vibe I'm getting. :)
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I like the way this is going. o wo/ Keep at it, mortals!
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
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I'm pretty sure that the Vice President has to at least FIT inside the White House, or at least not be larger than the planet.Azathoth is the cosmic nuclear explosion, right?
Cthulhu/Azathoth '16!
EDIT: Would that be enough Cthulhu?
Show me where it says that in the constitution!
*has a question* Your last name is Terrigan, are you in anyway related to an Inhuman?You're thinking of Terrigen. :)Eh. Almost the same thing.
Also love the whole Azazoth is coming to town vibe I'm getting. :)
Yeah, the Terrigen Mists bit was what i thought BNW was doing with my name a while back after you hinted at it.
For the record, i may have some strongly anarchist tendencies but i ultimately won't be voting for Cthulhu or any of his associates. :)
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Oh ... you started it Seitz ...
You better vote now, you better not die,
You better get out, I'm telling you why
Azathoth is comin' to town, gibberin' all 'round
...
;)
While i am certainly liking the lightheartedness of the last while, maybe we should return to some more . . . *realistic* content?
Though i certainly don't want to break the cease-fire . . . .
While i am certainly liking the lightheartedness of the last while, maybe we should return to some more . . . *realistic* content?
Though i certainly don't want to break the cease-fire . . . .
Well, thus the fifth party ticket of Hastur/Nyarlathotep being proposed. The fourth party of Cthulhu/Azathoth is too much to handle. These two fine gentlethings are far more polished. They handle people with aplomb. They're certainly equal opportunity politicians... ;)
While i am certainly liking the lightheartedness of the last while, maybe we should return to some more . . . *realistic* content?
Though i certainly don't want to break the cease-fire . . . .
More on topic, a Yahoo! article written by the AFP discussing California Democrat gun owners and a referendum on gun control in that state on the 8th November ballot.
Thoughts?