What would you do for the privilege of being American ?

[Anonymous]

Still don’t have an answer to a very relevant question:

50% of people, or 50% of households?

Veritas didn’t answer. He sent me a PM with some profanity and then ran off whimpering (I see him hiding behind Rush Limbaugh though – you’d think someone could easily hide behind an object that big…)

So can we get some genuine ‘truth’ ?

50% of people, or 50% of households?

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=pri_dk]Still don’t have an answer to a very relevant question:

50% of people, or 50% of households?

Veritas didn’t answer. He sent me a PM with some profanity and then ran off whimpering (I see him hiding behind Rush Limbaugh though – you’d think someone could easily hide behind an object that big…)

So can we get some genuine ‘truth’ ?

50% of people, or 50% of households?[/quote]
The new one I’m seeing seems to go by people, ie 151.7 million american citizens paid no federal income taxes. Of course, this lumps in children, the disabled, and the elderly. It was also above 40% during the GW Bush years, partially due to lowering everyone’s tax rates. The study I’m seeing online that seems to be bouncing around the conservative blogosphere also is looking at 2009, when the recession was at its worst.

It’s a pretty meaningless number taken by itself. It’s also not a great talking point for those who favor lower taxes and smaller government overall. In fact, if you really want smaller government, that percentage ought to be *higher*.

[Veritas]

That was my answer prick: go Φ Ü Ċ Ķ yourself.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Veritas]That was my answer prick: go Φ Ü Ċ Ķ yourself.[/quote]

Yup, that’s what your PM said, without the fancy letters.

Got no actual answer? Of course it means you LOSE.

No surprise – the kid who runs off the field crying and calling the other team names always does lose.

[Zeitgeist]

pri,

You sound like you have a lot of experience crying and you started the name calling. You just can’t handle the truth. That’s why you want the government to rescue you. You do not have the ability to make it on your own. Weaklings like you need the government to take care of them.

[temeculaguy]

If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’m sure I’d have to pay more, both in dollars and in percentage. I’m cool with that. I’m in that 53%, I’m also in that 20% that has to pay their kids entire college tab (which is why I’m up late, I was required to fill out the financial aid forms even though mine won’t be getting any). But I don’t care. I know some people who are poor and some who could be considered working poor. People who worry about making the rent, each and every month, sometimes they don’t make it. I pay a lot, but I never worry about not eating or having a roof over my head I’m no better than the guy who is making minimum wage and scraping by, so what if I pay his share too, at the end of the day, my life is better than his. Don’t tell me it’s hard work either, even my work is easier and more fun than the woman who cleans my office and I earn in an hour what she earns in a day. This life will end way to soon for all of us, this is one game nobody wins, so stop worrying about your fair share or what someone else has and thank your lucky stars that there’s always a bottle of cabernet on the table and a basketball game on tv. Pay your taxes and enjoy the rest.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Zeitgeist]pri,

You sound like you have a lot of experience crying and you started the name calling. You just can’t handle the truth. That’s why you want the government to rescue you. You do not have the ability to make it on your own. Weaklings like you need the government to take care of them.[/quote]

Try reading again. I started by naming the facts that are stated clearly in the Constitution.

“Can’t handle the truth?” – a line from a movie? How lame is that?!?

Here’s some truth: The only time I’ve ever seen a government paycheck when I as in the US Army (let’s hear about your service.) Today I pay more taxes than 90% of US the population and am proud to do so. (No I’m not going to voluntarily pay more, don’t try that pathetic cop out.)

So let’s hear some of your truth. Answer the relevant questions. How hard could it be?

Veritas ran away like a sissy. Couldn’t handle one question. Can you? Here goes:

Which 50% is it?

[scaredyclassic]

Cambodias looking pretty good. Developping a lot of tourism. Beach house rentals for 400 a mo. You could probably live there for your car payment here.

Still being American abroad is different issue than just being American.

[Zeitgeist]

[quote=pri_dk][quote=Zeitgeist]pri,

You sound like you have a lot of experience crying and you started the name calling. You just can’t handle the truth. That’s why you want the government to rescue you. You do not have the ability to make it on your own. Weaklings like you need the government to take care of them.[/quote]

Try reading again. I started by naming the facts that are stated clearly in the Constitution.

“Can’t handle the truth?” – a line from a movie? How lame is that?!?

Here’s some truth: The only time I’ve ever seen a government paycheck when I as in the US Army (let’s hear about your service.) Today I pay more taxes than 90% of US the population and am proud to do so. (No I’m not going to voluntarily pay more, don’t try that pathetic cop out.)

So let’s hear some of your truth. Answer the relevant questions. How hard could it be?

Veritas ran away like a sissy. Couldn’t handle one question. Can you? Here goes:

Which 50% is it?[/quote]

Pri-

Thank you for your service and for being brave enough to talk about it. I was not in the military. I was in law enforcement, a different kind of adventure and yes, I have a decent income. That being said, I am against our current tax system full of loop holes and exemptions. I would prefer a flat tax, lower corporate taxes to encourage manufacturing and hiring in this country and a I do not like the death tax or the rate on cap. gains. They were already paid once. I am not some kind of big capitalist, just a retired worker on a decent, but fixed income who is tired of hearing what is fair. What is not fair is SDG&E gouging all of us or out of control water rates. I will not even talk about the price of gas. That is what is really hurting the poor in America.

Once again thank you for your service and I am sorry you do not like lines from movies. Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.

One more thing, it was another poster that was name calling, not you. I apologize for saying you name called. You are very insulting however, but I am used to it. I must need to be abused or I would not visit so often here. Have a wonderful week end.

[briansd1]

[quote=Zeitgeist]
I was not in the military. I was in law enforcement, a different kind of adventure and yes, I have a decent income.
[/quote]

Reminds me of the two sheriffs in Arizona: Arpaio and Babeu.

[Zeitgeist]

Neither of them are retired, Brian, but thank you for the compliment. You have a good weekend, too.

[briansd1]

I’m glad you appreciate the compliment. Those guys are role examples for many folks indeed.

[ocrenter]

[quote=briansd1]I’m glad you appreciate the compliment. Those guys are role examples for many folks indeed.[/quote]

Only America’s toughest sheriff has the balls to question the authentisty of that Kenyan Commie Muslim’s forged birth certificate! He is a true American Hero!

[Anonymous]

[quote=Zeitgeist]One more thing, it was another poster that was name calling, not you. I apologize for saying you name called. You are very insulting however, but I am used to it. I must need to be abused or I would not visit so often here. Have a wonderful week end.[/quote]

Zeit, thanks for the words. I acknowledge that I am an asshole online, and I may have incorrectly attributed some positions to you that were not yours. Apologies if I was out of line.

My reasons for being harsh in this thread is that the entire premise of the original post is based on a lie. Not just a misunderstanding – anyone who put forth the effort of a few seconds of common sense thinking would realize the “50%” claim is not true.

Tax policy is a necessary subject of debate, and there will be different opinions and interpretation of data. But the “50% don’t pay taxes” meme is based solely on distortion. It’s bad enough that our political organizations engineer these lies, but it’s outright shameful that so many Americans repeat them with such zeal.

[Zeitgeist]

Pri,

You are welcome. I do appreciate the intelligent debate that is usually present on this forum. That is the beauty of this place and this country. Not that I would want to die, but for the privilege of being an American, that is what I would have to do, even if it means fighting government zombies. I hope that does not happen. I would like your opinion on the NDAA bill. The ACLU is pledged to fight it:
http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/ndaa
I think this is a topic both left and right should get behind.

[Author]

Posts