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Comments: And we're not talking politics here? OK, I surrender. It's pretty obvious to me that most, if not all of my conservative friends have abandoned this forum already, so maybe I'll join them. But first a parting word. Over 50% of the tax burden of this country is carried by what you folks refer to as the wealthy. And yet, the other folks, those who pay nothing, want them to pay even more. But you scream for a "fair share". Remember the old saying, "You can rob Peter to pay Paul, until Peter runs out of money." There are so many ways that what is happening in this country is wrong. The president stated four years ago that he would fundamentally change America, and he is well on his way. Just a few more industries and the government will have it all under control. Then we will all dream of the America that used to be, before the fundamental change. Bye!
Comments: Quote: "I have never understood why it is "greed" to want to the money you've earned, but not greed to want to take somebody else's money -Thomas Sowell.
Comments: Ginger, finally someone has spoken out on the unfairness of how the wealthy aren't paying their share of taxes. It seems that too many people seem to think it is ok that the wealthy are not paying their fair share. I am disturbed by this situation.
Comments: Making a statement that the wealthy don't pay taxes is about the same as saying poor folks are all on food stamps. It's a big, broad brush! How about some wealthy don't pay taxes, and some poor folks are on food stamps?
Comments: It is wrong. It is always wrong when they don't pay enough taxes.. It's called Greed. The tax structure is long overdue being 'overhauled', we know that,but what has happened to our country is a 'mockery' to all the 'Free World'... (No Names called, no political parties nixed. The problems we have, have been a long time coming.., but at least we've got the conversation going, in this country.) Don't stop the conversation.. Lynell, your description of how you handled that $1000., is like a Math Word Problem.. I tutored for 2 yrs and I had to solve those things...once again, but they're NO FUN...! I admire you for taking on the task..
Comments: Bill, I used to work for the IRS and i know for a fact that wealthy folks don't pay taxes. Unlike the rest of us, they have all kinds of loopholes and attorneys who make sure they don't pay. Some of them take years along with their attorneys protesting their income taxes. A lot of them hide their incomes in Swiss banks or the Cayman Islands. Trust me they know all the tricks to avoiding taxes.
Comments: Not a trick question at all. But when folks think it's wrong that some wealthy folks don't pay as much in taxes it's just not true. In hard dollars they pay considerably more than you and I even if the percentage is less. Many of them get lower rates because they get investment income which is taxed at a lower rate. But most times those investments are in companies producing goods and providing jobs. And sometimes those investments don't pay off, as Lynell showed in her example. In that case that investor may lose everything he put into it.
Comments: Bill, I agree with Lynell. I hope this isn't a question like the little kid who takes the nickel over the dime because the nickel is bigger in size.
Comments: Bill, I'm going for the 15%, if I were the gov't. Not a math major, so let me know if I made the right choice. 
Comments: Kathleen, I paid income tax on the $1,000 (plus SS and the other taxes) and capital gains tax on profit, if any.
Comments: A tax on purchases would do away with skimmers. One amusing thing about depositions was meeting people who were paid in cash. Most felt sorry for themselves, so they justified cheating. They'd sue some insurance company for a zillion dollars and claim they made half a zillion every year. No tax record, of course. It was interesting to see their reactions when asked to produce tax records. My personal belief is that one day we'll get to 'splain any failure to render unto Caesar to a Higher Being.
Comments: If someone is giving you (let's say the gov't ) money (let's say taxes), would you rather get 15% of $10 million or 25% of $150,000. One of the things I learned as a buyer for Tom Thumb was that you can deposit $10 in the bank, but you can't deposit 25%. Business sense tells you that if you lower your price just a bit and take a smaller % of profit you will sell more goods and put more money in the bank.
Comments: Wow Lynell, did you pay 35% in taxes and then a capital gains tax on your $200 profit or did you pay it on the whole $1200? Did you pay in $350 plus your capital gains tax on your $1200? I think it is amazing that Warren Buffet's (the second richest man in the U.S.) secretary pays in more taxes than he does. Buffet was amazed when he discovered that she paid more. No, Bill I didn't mean for this to be political, especially since we all do pay taxes. My point is I think we should pay fairly according to our income. I have thought for a long time that small businesses and the self-employed also pay more taxes.
Comments: Let's say that during the years I slaved away as a self-employed court reporter I invested $1,000 of my hard-earned money for my old age because I understood that funding my retirement was up to me. In order for me to have $1,000 I had to earn a whole lot more than that and pay taxes on it at a rate of twenty-something percent. (I also had to pay 15% into Social Security because I worked for myself.) Someone smarter than I will have to do the math on this, but let's say that after I make my $1,000 free and clear after I pay income tax, SS, Medicare, FICA and everything else, I invested my $1000 in Acme Mfg Co., made famous in Roadrunner cartoons. Acme stock could have gone up or down, but let's say it went up, and I sell the stock and make a profit. Assume that profit is $200. I will get back $1200 and pay capital gains tax on that $200. Capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than income. Remember, I already paid taxes on the $1000. But my $1,000 could have dwindled to $500, and I would have lost money. Someone smarter than I about financial stuff probably could explain it more clearly. And no, I am not rich, except in kittycats.
Comments: Not quite, Bill. We all are affected by taxes.. However, probably Lynell can't answer the question..!  (or maybe she can..?)
Comments: Are we talking politics again?
Comments: I would like to know why people who fall into the highest income levels don't pay the same amount of income tax as the rest of us. I am not talking about the 47% who don't pay income tax because some of them have paid into social security and other retirement type funds when they were able to work. So, in essence, they are just getting back their own money. According to the constitution aren't we all equal? I don't like sales tax because they are unfair to the poor, who have less money to spend then the rest of us. Maybe, we should do like we do in the church and tithe with 10% of our income. It might be better than the system we have now.
Comments: Dan, lots of us are on Facebook. I'm Lynell Garrett Smith. There's also a SOC group, a Lisbon group and an Oak Cliff Boomers (huge) group. Please friend me! Sounds like the Fish Fry is close to Toyota of Paris. The city has grown a lot since I bought my '85 Supra!
Comments: Lynell,The Fish Fry Is located on the NE corner of Loop 286. So good!!!
Comments: Dan, where is the Fish Fry? I'll check it out next time I'm in Paree.
Comments: I'm sure we're having a 50th, but Peaches has so much on her plate that we haven't had time to discuss it. My former husband and I lived in Paris from 1973 - 79 and he taught English and Journalism at the Junior College. It really was a nice place. I drove through it about 20 years ago and couldn't believe how much it had grown. We used to fish Pat Mayse most weekends. Is the Campbell Soup plant still there?
Comments: Well, Kathleen filled me in...Dan. She said she saw you at one of the reunions.. I would have to see an annual to remember you from way back 'when'... Kathleen said you have a ranch...somewhere out there.. Kathleen's still working on this 'kidney transplant' problem..I found out 16 yrs ago, that they wouldn't use my kidneys for transplants because I'm Diabetic. Mine are already at risk from the Diabetes... I hope Kathleen's health improves... Ginger Hearn 
Comments: Paris is a nice town. Not much in entertainment. Got to go to the metroplex for museums,musicals and such. We do have the best catfish resturant in Texas "The Fish Fry" . Everyone who comes up has to go there. There is a casino about 15 miles north of here in Oklahoma. They have a good buffet. I'm in the country and loving it. I haven't heard of any planning for the 50th. Are we still on??
Comments: Dan, sounds like you have a nice place near Paris. My husband and I have bought several cars from Toyota of Paris over the years. I was up there kicking tires just a few weeks ago, then I got back into my '97 4Runner and drove home. The Baucums are nice people -- just couldn't make up my feeble mind. 
Comments: Sorry Ginger about the sec em coment to Charlotte. I was just admiring the spunkiness in her postings. She still sounds so young at heart. I live in on a 305 acre ranch in Paris ,Texas. I have another home in Rockwall. I did fly out to South Carolina to purchase my Boykin Spaniel on 1/1/2011. She is a beautiful dog who loves her balls and the water, If your interested in coming up for a visit my number is 903-7829889.any time. If it wasn't so far for everyone I would host a luncheon up here and have it catered .I have a big barn that we use for Thanksgiving every year.
Comments: Hi, Kathleen! I met Roe at a Red Cross presentation in De Kalb. He is delightful. I am visiting the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour, and they are currently in New England. Last night, the B-17 bomber had skydivers jump out. It was so much fun. They had on their modern, colorful parachutes. If they had worn the old-style white ones, that would have been eerie. It's nice and cool and the leaves are starting to turn. Hope that you are feeling better. Take care. Dan, I enjoyed reading about your life and hobbies. Sounds fun.
Comments: Hi Dan...thank you for your comments and welcome back to thuh 63 GB. We are just blithering about stuff and welcome your comments....the "what me worry?" is not my opinion here...but what do I know? NADA!!!!! I am Lisbon, Clara Oliver, Boude Story, SOC too. Not Florida though....where are you now?
Comments: Ok, I looked up the Boykin Spaniel. It is a hunting dog first bred in South Carolina to be the perfect hunting dog.
Comments: Dan, Where do you want us to come for a visit? What is a Boykin Spaniel? It must be a rare breed. I think I may have talked to you at a SOC Reunion several years ago. Blessings to you!
Comments: Ginger, Schooling-Lisbon,Clara Oliver,Boude Storey,Florida,South Oak Cliff (62- 63),Arlington State College (63- 67) Cub Scouts,Boy Scouts,Explorers,"Marine Corps"! Sears(611 W Jefferson) Laurel land,Mobil Oil Corp,United Parcel Service(27 Years), Rancher ,Deer breeder. Hobbies,Photography,Oil Painting,Canoeing,Sailing,Fishing,Scuba Diving, traveling,cruising,snow sking. Pets-Boykin Spaniel,2 cats ,and 2 very large buffalo I'm a christian, fun loving guy,still healthy ,active,a middle of the roader who has been unhappy with our government for 20 years.2 lovely granddaughters. Wishing all of you health and happiness. Come up for a tour.Dan S |
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