Recession coming

[Partial]

You need to worry about whether I and others like me quit working or not.

I'm just curious, what did you mean by this?

He means that the upper middle class are the people that fund this country's bloated government. Not rich enough to hide the money overseas, yet rich enough that you don't see half of what you earn.

[Partial]

The IRS is spending 42 million to alert every american that their rebate check will be coming to them. Why bother?

[Harlan Huckleby]

He means that the upper middle class are the people that fund this country's bloated government. Not rich enough to hide the money overseas, yet rich enough that you don't see half of what you earn.

Partial, if you are going to hold such strong opinions, you really ought to look into the facts. People in the upper middle class, as you so tenderly describe your people, have many tax advantages beyond hiding money in the Cayman Islands.

People who earn 20K ->80K are really, really getting fucked. Every dollar they earn gets clobbered by the Social Security tax. (I won't repeat why the SS collection/accounting is a massive tax offset benefiting wealthier person, I doubt you are listening anyway.) And just as importantly, people earning > 80K are taking far greater advantage of the Capital Gains dodge.

You & Scott have expressed the view that taxes should be similar to other expenses, more-or-less fixed costs, rather than a percentage of income. I get the rational for your argument. You have to accept that you are at odds with the vast majority of Americans who do not view this approach as fair. Your views are extremist right wing, which doesn't in itself make them wrong.

Your views reflect no sense of shared social responsibility. We passed that threshold about 200 years ago.

[Harlan Huckleby]

The IRS is spending 42 million to alert every american that their rebate check will be coming to them. Why bother?

That is like spending $42 to explain/promote a $160,000 program. That doesn't sound so unreasonable now, does it?

Actually, if the 42M is stupidly spent then it is wasted, of course. I don't know the justification, maybe you are right.

[Scott Campbell]

Your views reflect no sense of shared social responsibility.

What complete hogwash. I've never said that, nor do I advocate it. There are many avenues for shared social responsibility - not just the government. I don't believe in government mandated programs for handout junkies like you.

[Scott Campbell]

You need to worry about whether I and others like me quit working or not.

I'm just curious, what did you mean by this?

Everyone benefits from creating tax structures that encourage people to earn more. Penalize high earners with Harlan's hate tax, and you've just screwed everybody. These are the people in this country who can afford to not work, and ride out nutbags like Harlan. Or worse yet, they put their money into other countries economies. The way to get them to contribute more to the economy, create more jobs and pay more tax is not by raising rates - it's by lowering them.

[Scott Campbell]

Scott refers to the class of people who count.

And Harlan is the type of person who can't count, nor be counted upon.

[Joemailman]

The IRS is spending 42 million to alert every american that their rebate check will be coming to them. Why bother?

That is like spending $42 to explain/promote a $160,000 program. That doesn't sound so unreasonable now, does it?

Actually, if the 42M is stupidly spent then it is wasted, of course. I don't know the justification, maybe you are right.

I suspect it is to let people know to look for the check so they don't accidentally throw it away thinking it's more advertising. It comes out to about 31 cents per check.

[Scott Campbell]

Harlan is like the chess player that can only look one move ahead. Sure, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor sounds like a good deal on face value - if you're poor.

A rising economic tide will raise all ships - even Harlan's little dinghy.

[Scott Campbell]

Your views are extremist right wing, which doesn't in itself make them wrong.

More Harlan lies. I'm on the fence on abortion for starters. Extreme right wingers wouldn't even be seen with me.

[Scott Campbell]

That doesn't count--it's just not the same.

Maybe you're doing it wrong.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Your views reflect no sense of shared social responsibility.

What complete hogwash. I've never said that, nor do I advocate it. There are many avenues for shared social responsibility - not just the government. I don't believe in government mandated programs for handout junkies like you.

What handouts do you imagine that I benefit from, or wish to gain?
I don't mind you joking about me being a socialist, or a lazy boy looking for government handouts. And if you think either are these are true, guess that's ok too.

There is no substitute for government in achieving a stable society. Well, maybe private armies guarding feudal lords like in Dark Ages might protect you. Or maybe the rent-a-cops at gated communities can save you from the desperate masses.

Public education, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, these programs that you regular attack keep our country from unraveling.

Philanthropy ain't gonna cut it, jack. I urge you to check out the radio program I recommended, so much to learn, regardless of your ideology. It deals with the very wealth, people with money even more than you and my dad, but lots of relevent comments and callers. It turns out that the very wealthy donate only about 9% of their wealth to charity. Bill Gates and Warren Gates are highly unusual in donating much higher amounts.

http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/20...307_b_main.asp[/url]

[Harlan Huckleby]

Your views are extremist right wing, which doesn't in itself make them wrong.

More Harlan lies. I'm on the fence on abortion for starters. Extreme right wingers wouldn't even be seen with me.

I imagine you to be moderate on most issues. But your opinion on taxes are way out there.

(And not wanting to be seen with you is not particular to right wingers. )

[Harlan Huckleby]

Harlan is like the chess player that can only look one move ahead. Sure, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor sounds like a good deal on face value - if you're poor.

A rising economic tide will raise all ships - even Harlan's little dinghy.

I'm pro-business, very pragmatic, am very concious of growing the economy.

Hey, I don't want to steal from the rich. Just want them to pay a fair share of taxes. "Fair" being as how americans have generally agreed taxes should work, in prinicple. The rich are getting away with murder in the particulars of our tax system.

[Scott Campbell]

I won't repeat why the SS collection/accounting is a massive tax offset benefiting wealthier person.

Wealthy people don't need Social Security benefits, yet they are required by law to contribute a portion of their earned income to the program anyway. I'd argue that most people (outside of AARP members) in this country would be better off without Social Security. We've mortgaged the future of our younger generation in order to pay for the lack of planning of our older generations. That's what happens when you rely on the government to take care of you. But they, like Harlan, meant well.

Harlan's tax policies will penalize achievement, and subsidize mediocrity. And that is perfect if you're Chinese, Indian, or any of the other countries of the world hoping to compete with lazy Americans.