[SK in CV]

“Sasquatch might as well have traipsed across the White House lawn Friday with a lost Warren Commission file on his way to the studio where NASA staged the moon landing.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/happy-hour-roundup/2012/10/05/1f6e9564-0f2b-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_blog.html

[SK in CV]

[quote=SD Realtor]I honestly think it will have no effect at all on the housing market.[/quote]

Agree entirely. Some people will be subject to the tax. I suspect that for those selling their principle residence that number will be very close to zero. Actually, that’s something I’d like some feedback on. How many current home sales of principle residences would result in a gain of more than $250K for single and $500K for married homeowners? I’d be shocked if that number is very high.

It will apply to investors. Or at least some investors. Successful flippers. But I’d be surprised if it will adversely affect values.

[SK in CV]

[quote=zk]I think a consortium is highly unlikely to actually have the kind of influence that Blogstar thinks not unlikely. I think that some other, unspecified system besides capitalism is slightly more likely. But I think more likely than that is sort of chaos lite. Continual shifting of wealth between different groups (be they countries, companies, people, hemispheres, participants in certain economic systems, or whatever), chaos in certain parts of the world and stability in others. This could last for hundreds of years or longer. There might be periods of relative stability and periods of relative chaos. Scattered wars and revolts. Really not too unlike we have now, but with a weakening of the most powerful economies and a slight strengthening of weaker ones.

I see capitalism as always being a major factor. Perhaps I’m shortsighted or naive. I am very curious what kinds of other systems other posters see in the future.[/quote]

Wait until all the power goes out. Everywhere. Capitalism replaced by anarchy. I saw the documentary. Hot rebel chicks. Sweet.

[SK in CV]

Yes. Lots of profit in the mix. If you don’t want it, don’t get it. They make a lot less money than you might imagine, particularly if you have insurance. So they offer add-ons. If what they offer doesn’t interest you, just say no. They won’t hate you for it.

[SK in CV]

[quote=Brutus]

We need to start being judgmental about “lifestyle choices,” such as gangsta life, out-of-wedlock babies, dropping out of high school, obesity, casual drug use, etc.
It’s NOT okay to dress and act like a thug. It’s not okay to have kids when you’re 17 and unmarried. It’s not okay to be fatter than hell. Tattoos usually aren’t cool if you want to get a good job.
When I see someone with a lot of tattoos or piercings, I immediately assume they are either 1. A rock star 2. An MMA fighter. 3. A loser.

Be judgmental. Be more open about it. It’s not “all good.”

And teaching “environmental awareness” to people who can barely read, write, or do basic math, is a waste of time. Teach the basics, first. Then the rest.[/quote]

Seems like you’ve got that judging thing down pretty good. Ready to sentence all those kids to prison? Think that will help?

[SK in CV]

[quote=livinincali]The problem with tax policy is it’s used heavily to create social engineering. Capital Gains tax was designed to encourage productive investments which would be good for the economy unfortunately it encourages short term speculation just as much as productive investment. We encourage people to buy houses, to have children, to hand money to wall street 401K money managers, ant the real question is want to do we really get out of that. Does it even work to produce the expected result?

[/quote]

The evidence says no, it does not work to produce the expected results, particularly with regards to lower income tax on some kinds of investment income. Despite the fact that it has almost become dogma within some cirlces, that capital gains preferences is a good thing, there is no significant correlations with greater investment, savings, productivity, or income growth. Much like the argument that lower tax rates lead to higher tax revenue. There is simply no evidence it works.

[SK in CV]

[quote=ocrenter][quote=Brutus]ALL of the Governments “resources” come from the taxpayers. The government has no money of its own. He WAS talking about redistribution of wealth, he WAS exactly talking about redistribution of wealth, and he was ONLY talking about redistribution of wealth.
Spin it any way you want, he is a socialist, and that means he wants to redistribute wealth. AND, ACCORDING TO YOUR QUOTED ARTICLE, HE ADMITS IT.

“Pooling resources” = taxing those that have.
“Government systems” = the IRS
“Facilitate SOME redistribution” = redistribution according to socialist dogma.

“Foster innovation” = something that will NEVER happen. A socialist wet dream.[/quote]

by that very definition, anyone that espouses the idea of having a government that collects taxes IS a socialist.[/quote]

Very true. Any taxation other than a flat tax…and by that I mean $X per person…is a redistribution of wealth. Income tax at 10% of income is a redistribution of wealth. Property taxes, computed any way other than based on square footage of land is a redistribution of wealth.

I find it hilarious that some have seized recommendations of some higher tax rates as a sudden redistribution of wealth. In the US, taxation has ALWAYS been a redistribution of wealth. Does that mean we have always had a socialist economic system? I don’t think so.

[SK in CV]

[quote=ucodegen]Don’t forget the aspect of AMT that kicks in if you have a lot of long term capital gains. There is a minimum % that checked under AMT.

[/quote]

No, it doesn’t.

[SK in CV]

Little people don’t need $500K of annual capital gains benefits. They don’t have any assets to get into the game. I’d suggest that if preferential tax treatment is an incentive, then 10% of that number would be sufficient.

Why do you think class warfare is bs?

[SK in CV]

[quote=moneymaker]The appointment is made. Jesus will be performing it, if you can’t trust Jesus then who can you trust. Hopefully he will be able to rise again.[/quote]

Good decision. Millions of dogs are put down every year because they don’t have homes. There is no shortage of dogs. He’ll be better behaved and healthier. And he won’t try to escape every time a dog in the neighborhood goes into heat. And he won’t knock up the neighborhood slut dog.

[SK in CV]

How old is he?

Teeth cleaning is always something to be considered when dogs go under for another procedure. But it’s rarely a necessity for younger dogs, and even for older dogs, it’s not always required. It’s a pretty standard upsell that vets do, and you shouldn’t feel obligated. You’re not dismissing your dogs needs if you skip it.

If your vet pushes it, make him/her show you why your dog needs it. Sometimes they really do.

[SK in CV]

[quote=zk]
[quote=Brutus]
Unless they can get their own reality show, eh, Snooki? Are you listening Octo-mom?[/quote]

I assume that this is an attempt at humor and not what you would propose they do about it.[/quote]

This is really what this election is all about. What to do about it. Irrespective of the false framing included in that 47% number, do we blame those that don’t pay taxes for all of our fiscal problems, and eliminate every program that provide aid to those people (including Social Security and Medicare) or do we provide solutions.

There was an incredibly insightful opinion column a couple days ago, written by Michal Gerson. Gerson is a neo-conservative and an evangelical. He was a speech writer and senior advisor to President Bush. If it had been written by a liberal, I think most ideological conservatives would dismiss it as just more liberal talking points. It shouldn’t be. His words are those from an insider conservative. He has spent most of the last 20 years as a creator of conservative policy. He wrote:

This crisis has a number of causes, including the collapse of working-class families, the flight of blue-collar jobs and the decay of working-class neighborhoods, which used to offer stronger networks of mentors outside the home. Perverse incentives in some government programs may have contributed to these changes, but this does not mean that shifting incentives can easily undo the damage. Removing a knife from a patient does not automatically return him to health. Whatever the economic and cultural causes, the current problem is dysfunctional institutions, which routinely betray children and young adults. Restoring a semblance of equal opportunity — promoting family commitment, educational attainment and economic advancement — will take tremendous effort and creative policy.

Yet a Republican ideology pitting the “makers” against the “takers” offers nothing. No sympathy for our fellow citizens. No insight into our social challenge. No hope of change. This approach involves a relentless reductionism. Human worth is reduced to economic production. Social problems are reduced to personal vices. Politics is reduced to class warfare on behalf of the upper class.

I think Gerson believes Romney’s problem in this election is a messaging problem rather than a policy problem. I’m not so sure. I think his messaging has been a crystal clear presentation of his proposed policies.

The entire column is worth a read.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michael-gerson-a-republican-mind-set-without-promise/2012/09/20/798901f8-0344-11e2-91e7-2962c74e7738_story.html

[SK in CV]

I just can’t tell you how proud this makes me of my former community. Some of the best schools and the most men AND women who are looking to get a little sompin sompin on the side. Another ranking to fight to stay at number 1.

[SK in CV]

[quote=Paul0373]Yeah, not into the whole wealth redistribution, collectivism thing.[/quote]

Is that happening more now than it has in the past? The red scare of the ’50’s were just a ploy to distract from the communist redistribution with those >90% top tax rates I guess.

[SK in CV]

[quote=Paul0373]Obama has had direct contact with and been influenced by more committed communists than anyone i’ve ever heard of.[/quote]

Touching communists is like cooties? Who knew?

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