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Messages - GamingWeasel

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31
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: October 20, 2011, 02:02:09 PM »
Thanks MKR, that is good to clarify.  It is an additional 9% on top of the purchase prices which the plan supposes will fall, but independent analysis suggests that prices would not go down under the plan.  It looks like this could be wishful thinking of the Cain people who came up with these ideas.  I'd be interested to see more examination of this from other reputable organizations.

Here is one non-partisan organization's (Tax Policy Center) analysis of how people would fare overall under such a plan:



Take a look especially at how the least fortunate among our fellow citizens would do...ouch!  Even by overall measure, taxes go up by 1.2% when you include the losers (poor) and the winners (rich).

Personally, I would be paying almost $4500 more in taxes than under the current system.  In real-life terms that would mean we wouldnt have been able to do a lot of the home improvement that we did the past year, including significant weatherization to reduce our heating costs.  Consequently, we'd be spending more on heating oil, putting more pollution into the air, and sending that money overseas to foreign oil producers in lands where many people hate America, rather than hiring a local contractor and putting money in his pocket.  We wouldnt be starving, but sure wouldnt be happy about it.  Our 250 yr-old house needs fixing up. ;)  That's also $4500 less going back into the economy, and therefore $4500 less for someone else to earn when I would have bought goods or services.  Less money flowing into the economy means economic slow-down, and consequent loss of jobs.  More people on the edge of financial ruin would be pushed over that cliff.  It's a lose, lose, lose, lose, lose prospect.

32
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: October 20, 2011, 12:23:47 PM »
So it is fair in your eyes to stick the entire tax burden on the rich people who make a lot of money? I agree there needs to be a cut off for low income families but if make 40,000 a year or more I really don't think 9% is that much.  It is what 3600 bucks a year?  mind you that is based off gross income and is without any tax deductions either.  I pay more then that now!! So I guess I don't see where you all are coming from.

Nobody said anything about putting the "entire tax burden on the rich people".  You totally imagined that on your own.  The 999 plan proposes to remove loopholes and deductions, hence the "simplicity" of it, and one reason why most everyone would end up paying more.  The other reason being another 9% tax on purchases of almost everything.  These are an additional burden on the everyday tax-paying citizens.  The tax/economy problem is a large complicated issue, and we live in a large complex country.  To believe that a small simple solution will fix it is illogical, and pretty improbable.

How to fix it then?  Hell if know, but it is clear that this plan of Cain's is clearly a worse system for almost everyone than we already have, simple as it might be.  Simple is good, but if it doesnt work, that's irrelevant.

We need better ideas.  Ones that will actually work in the real world.

33
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: October 20, 2011, 09:13:09 AM »
For example, for virtually everyone posting on this forum, their tax burden would go up (I doubt there are any millionaires and billionaires in Fairfax).  Clearly, calling that "fair" is total nonsense, especially as it hits the poorest the hardest.  This would send the economy back into recession, and cause another housing market crash as mortgage defaults and foreclosures soared again.

I suppose people who would support this plan could always volunteer to pay higher taxes, if it sounds so awesome…all in the interest of “fairness” of course.

Though as the conservative-elites (those who control the money and power) who rule the GOP seem to have started to line up behind Romney, the chance of anyone else winning the Republican nomination begins to fade.  The GOP establishment tends to go for the guy who is supposedly “next in line”, and this election seems to be shaping up no differently.  I think Cain will begin to fade soon, just as Trump, Bachmann and Perry did after their respective rises.  It seems increasingly certain it will be Romney vs Obama in 2012.

34
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: October 19, 2011, 02:35:48 PM »
Bush pushed his policy of the "Ownership Society" (remember that?), which along with other factors, encouraged financial institutions to make bad mortages to people who really couldnt pay them.  He certainly deserves some of the blame for this particular disaster.  The largest amount of blame of course goes to the mortgage companies themselves, who got way too greedy.

The non-partisan Tax Policy Center released an analysis on Cain's 999 plan.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/index.cfm

If they are correct, this would be a very bad thing for poor and working-class people, whose taxes would go up very significantly.  The wealthy and ultra-rich would reap the benefits from it.  If the lower income levels have less money to spend, due to higher taxes, then the economy crashes again. 

I hadnt had a strong opinion until now about this plan, but this analysis and others has made up my mind.  Seems like a very bad deal for America.

Mirjo, I have also been appalled by the same apparent lack of compassion that you spoke about. 

As for capitalism, socialism, and whatever-other-isms, I say forget all that bull****.  Go with what actually works, and forget the stupid labels of ideologies.  Take the good elements of each one to make the best society possible, for the largest number of people.

35
Very sorry to hear about your daughter.  May she recover well and swiftly.

36
Current News & Events / Re: Free Press Article
« on: October 05, 2011, 11:51:10 AM »
Yikes.  Sounds like he might have been getting ready for a rampage.

About the photo, is that what someone's eyes look like after being pepper-sprayed?

37
General Discussion / Re: contractor?
« on: October 02, 2011, 10:44:17 AM »
Just joking. :)  I have only a little experience with contractors, and none of it bad so far.  I make sure to tell them I'm poor before they quote me a price. ;)

38
Rod you clearly have nothing constructive to add.

FletcherGram, you are certainly more tolerant of foolishness than me.  Your good humor sets a better example. :)

39
Rod, if you're going to start calling people names like a child, I suggest you get out of the discussion.

40
General Discussion / Re: contractor?
« on: September 30, 2011, 02:07:54 PM »
If the shoe fits... ;)

41
General Discussion / Re: contractor?
« on: September 29, 2011, 07:55:27 AM »
Thanks everyone. :)

42
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: September 28, 2011, 03:41:13 PM »
You're welcome.   I agree....best to have the raving loon escorted out so the speaker, and sane audience members, can speak.

43
General Discussion / contractor?
« on: September 28, 2011, 08:03:29 AM »
We are looking for a contractor to put some siding on one section of our house.  This is a smaller job, with about 170 square feet of coverage to be done.  Does anybody have any recommendations?

44
Political Issues/Comments / Re: Cain
« on: September 28, 2011, 07:58:12 AM »
There is a story on Cain and his tax plan on VPR today.  I didnt get to hear the actual story though, just that it was coming up later.

I wont pretend to know enough about economics to have an opinion if the plan is a good idea or not.

45
Current News & Events / Re: trust fund babies get their way again
« on: September 22, 2011, 03:39:25 PM »
For the first and probably the last time, (and regardless of the complete silliness of fear of "trust fund babies" wtf?),  I am actually agreeing with Special Ed that the Australian ballot should have been adopted.  It allows for greater particpation of voters, especially those of us who work some distance away from where we live and cant make it to meetings in our home town.

Living in Fairfax though, my opinion on the matter in Fletcher is of less consequence.

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