Fiscal Cliff Deal Reached

[quote]Dr.Matt581 wrote:
but I was not naive enough to think that any plan to reduce the deficit, regardless of who proposed it and was in power, was not going to involve people paying more in taxes. As long as there are some pretty substantial spending cuts, including defense and entitlement reform in the near future I will consider the extra taxes I have to pay worth it. If there aren’t I am going to be extremely pissed[/quote]

This.

Every single rational person thinks this way.

It is like if you subscribe to any conservation idea, ever, you have to clarify the obvious constantly, or your priorities are “way fucked up” because you want to keep what you earn and earn more next year.

I mean, I guess having more money to give to charity, to help out family, to leave to my kids when I pass means my priorities are “way fucked up”…

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]MaximusB wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]MaximusB wrote:

Don’t worry, he will still make fun of you, as you pay his salary. [/quote]

Do you think he was worrying that I wouldn’t?[/quote]

Perhaps, you are like mold, you have a tendency to grow on people. [/quote]

Why, do you use, so many commas, inappropriately,[/quote]

Because, nitpicking on my grammar while English not being my first language is a typical deflect.

Now, since I pay your salary, go make me yourself useful and make me a sandwich.

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Here’s what baffles me: I’m middle class. Maybe upper-middle on a good day. Certainly not wealthy, though. I don’t resent taxes and feel incredibly fortunate to live what I consider an almost privileged life in an amazing country. My needs are met. And most of my wants.

So I’m always curious when the upper crust is so bitter about taxes and social programs. It can’t possibly be that their standard of living is affected in any meaningful way. So is it just greed? Any person making $450,000+ a year can’t possibly be lacking anything unless their priorities are just way fucked up.[/quote]

I understand what you are saying…but look at it this way, our family business employs 17 people…with the added taxes it will lower salaries and limit our ability to make new hires and expand.

You have to look at it from the perspective of those trying to grow.

[quote]UtahLama wrote:

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Here’s what baffles me: I’m middle class. Maybe upper-middle on a good day. Certainly not wealthy, though. I don’t resent taxes and feel incredibly fortunate to live what I consider an almost privileged life in an amazing country. My needs are met. And most of my wants.

So I’m always curious when the upper crust is so bitter about taxes and social programs. It can’t possibly be that their standard of living is affected in any meaningful way. So is it just greed? Any person making $450,000+ a year can’t possibly be lacking anything unless their priorities are just way fucked up.[/quote]

I understand what you are saying…but look at it this way, our family business employs 17 people…with the added taxes it will lower salaries and limit our ability to make new hires and expand.

You have to look at it from the perspective of those trying to grow.

[/quote]

No no silly, the money made by those that make 400k (lets ignore the other obama tax increases for now) that is taken by the government doesn’t affect anyone but that tax payer. Not their employees, the charities they give to, the people that bring them meals for tips, the few less car washes, the remodel they might scope down, the person they won’t hire. Nope, affects no one else but the “rich” person.

"Here’s what baffles me: I’m middle class. Maybe upper-middle on a good day. Certainly not wealthy, though. I don’t resent taxes and feel incredibly fortunate to live what I consider an almost privileged life in an amazing country. My needs are met. And most of my wants.

So I’m always curious when the upper crust is so bitter about taxes and social programs. It can’t possibly be that their standard of living is affected in any meaningful way. So is it just greed? Any person making $450,000+ a year can’t possibly be lacking anything unless their priorities are just way fucked up."-kpsnap(BTW, I’m sure this is not just in response to kpsnap…but this post just happened to motivate me to post)

Good point. I am always curious why people are upset about their property being stolen when I take a larceny or burglary call. I don’t think I’ve encountered anyone who can’t afford another lawnmower, chainsaw, computer, etc. I also can’t remember a call involving solely stolen essentials(food, water, shelter, etc.). It seems the “victims” of these crimes should realize that their needs are met, along with most of their wants. The loss of these items can’t possibly significantly affect their standards of living. Why can’t they just be thankful that the “offenders” left them with more than they took? Also, they ARE still alive, aren’t they? Why are people so spoiled? Do people really expect to be allowed to continue living AND keep ALL their property?

Maybe the “upper crust” is bitter about taxes, etc. because they don’t feel like they are their brother’s keeper. Maybe they don’t feel they should exist for others. Maybe because they think that $450,000+ is THEIRS.

If a large number of people making less is capable of doing what people making $450,000+ can do, why don’t they do it? If that group of people making $450,000+ suddenly stopped doing anything, what would happen to that group of people making less than $450,000?

I’m also sick of the rich being justified based on the fact that they employee others, put money back into the economy, etc. That is a slippery slope that I hope nobody wants to go down. If contribution to society is the only justification for having more property than others, then how can we justify allowing the old and sick to live? Their contributing days are behind them and they are consuming lots of resources.

Let’s accept that everybody is different. Some have more money, some less. Some are healthy, some are not. I have no right to take anything from you, the guy next to you has no right to take anything from me.

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Here’s what baffles me: I’m middle class. Maybe upper-middle on a good day. Certainly not wealthy, though. I don’t resent taxes and feel incredibly fortunate to live what I consider an almost privileged life in an amazing country. My needs are met. And most of my wants.

So I’m always curious when the upper crust is so bitter about taxes and social programs. It can’t possibly be that their standard of living is affected in any meaningful way. So is it just greed? Any person making $450,000+ a year can’t possibly be lacking anything unless their priorities are just way fucked up.[/quote]

What about the fact that the bill wasn’t even read before being voted on? What about all the pork in the bill? What about 41:1 ratio of tax increases to spending cuts in the bill?

[quote]Zeppelin795 wrote:

[quote]Xav wrote:

[quote]Zeppelin795 wrote:

No big business monopolies is the disease and both parties are owned by them and that is the disease.
[/quote]

There are laws that prevent businesses from becoming monopolies. That’s the point of businesses: competition to have a high productivity and a good quality / price ratio. Maybe a business monopoly might exist, but it’s the exception…

The vast majority, if not all, of the monopolies that exist in the world are government-run leading to inefficiency due to the lack of competition. Competing with the government is impossible.

EDIT: I forgot to add that I really do not understand how you can speak of “corporate media”. The vast majority of the media has a huge left wing bias…
[/quote]

Try the finance sector, big pharma just to name a few. Well entrenched monopolies. They exist and have an unfair advantage over everyone else and do a net harm to the population of the U.S.

The corporate media exists. I think there are only 6 major companies that own over 80% of the news outlets. They are there to further their own agenda which is often at odds with the public. They continually tell you things they want you to hear. The news is filtered to represent a narrow point of view for the elites. The NY Times is often referred to as liberal. But they led the drumbeat for the immoral Iraqi war. When you know that GE is a major defense contractor who makes billions off war and that they own the NY Times is it any wonder? So no the corporate media is not liberal it is biased to those who own it. And who are they?
[/quote]

Incorrect. There are multiple “big pharma” companies that compete, hence it’s not a monopoly. If a corporate monopoly exists it’s usually due to government subsidies.
What do you mean by “unfair advantage”? Financially speaking?
Are you seriously saying that the companies that produce medicine to help people heal do net harm to a population? I find this an extremely bizarre opinion, do you mind explaining this?

Corporate media. Once again, 6 outlets is no monopoly. I wholeheartedly agree with you that the media has an agenda and a narrow point of view and is biased to those who own it, but this bias is usually left wing. Most of the media isn’t objective at all. However, claiming they say what the elite (I suppose this means right wing rich people) wants to hear is weird. The vast majority of the media is quite left wing, during the U.S. elections I have not heard a single criticism of Obama, while Romney was portrayed as the reincarnation of the devil himself. In the end, I don’t mind about this, it’s freedom of speech after all. It just saddens me we have no strong right wing media outlets. I find it interesting though that since the NY times have 1 point of view that doesn’t stroke with your liberal views they must be part of the big bad corporate monopoly. What happened to reading other views and opinions to challenge your own views? Your last paragraph is a beautiful illustration of how the left wing believes its opinions are the only correct ones and do not accept any criticism / challenging and honest discussion of different views.

VTBalla said: On a side note, you have no idea how happy it makes me that your higher taxes go to my salary…LOLOLO so awesome.

Spoken like a true socialist. Entitlement to other people’s money while being way less productive than the people you insult.
By the way since you seem to think Maximus’ spelling and use of coma’s is relevant to this discussion, I’ll return the favor. What does LOLOLO mean? Laughing out loud out loud out? English isn’t my mother tongue tongue, but that sentence doesn’t seem to make any sense.

[quote]Xav wrote:
VTBalla said: On a side note, you have no idea how happy it makes me that your higher taxes go to my salary…LOLOLO so awesome.

Spoken like a true socialist. Entitlement to other people’s money while being way less productive than the people you insult.
By the way since you seem to think Maximus’ spelling and use of coma’s is relevant to this discussion, I’ll return the favor. What does LOLOLO mean? Laughing out loud out loud out? English isn’t my mother tongue tongue, but that sentence doesn’t seem to make any sense.[/quote]

Feel better now that you’ve gotten that off your chest lil’ Xav? Did you sleep easier now that you put me in my place?

It’s obvious that English isn’t your mother tongue tongue. I don’t know where your mother’s tongue tongue has been, and I don’t want to really, but LOLOLO obviously means: Laughing Out Loud and Ovulating Losers Officiate. I predicted the future, you see.

I knew that in the midst of myself having a good chuckle (LOL’ing if you will) that some whinebox chode with whom I had never had any prior interactions on this site Enter Xav stage right would want to jump in to a converation between two other men and play sheriff. You deserve an Emmy for your performance. Bravo.

[quote]
Xav wrote:

comma’s[/quote]

What do they own?

[quote]
English isn’t my mother [u]tongue tongue[/u], but that sentence doesn’t seem to make any sense[/quote]

For the lulz.

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?[/quote]

Oh come on DD! The comma bit was just my way of having a little light-hearted fun with my old pal Maximus. If you guys are taking it that seriously, over all the other shit I’ve mentioned in this thread, then you have issues.

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?[/quote]

Oh come on DD! The comma bit was just my way of having a little light-hearted fun with my old pal Maximus. If you guys are taking it that seriously, over all the other shit I’ve mentioned in this thread, then you have issues. [/quote]

hah, yeah, I’m the one taking it seriously…

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?[/quote]

Oh come on DD! The comma bit was just my way of having a little light-hearted fun with my old pal Maximus. If you guys are taking it that seriously, over all the other shit I’ve mentioned in this thread, then you have issues. [/quote]

hah, yeah, I’m the one taking it seriously…[/quote]

You have responded twice now to a post that did not even involve you. Gonna go for 3?

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?[/quote]

Oh come on DD! The comma bit was just my way of having a little light-hearted fun with my old pal Maximus. If you guys are taking it that seriously, over all the other shit I’ve mentioned in this thread, then you have issues. [/quote]

hah, yeah, I’m the one taking it seriously…[/quote]

You have responded twice now to a post that did not even involve you. Gonna go for 3?[/quote]

Sure.

I’m not sure you are familiar with how a public forum works.

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
play sheriff. [/quote]

That anything like the grammar police?[/quote]

Oh come on DD! The comma bit was just my way of having a little light-hearted fun with my old pal Maximus. If you guys are taking it that seriously, over all the other shit I’ve mentioned in this thread, then you have issues. [/quote]

hah, yeah, I’m the one taking it seriously…[/quote]

You have responded twice now to a post that did not even involve you. Gonna go for 3?[/quote]

Sure.

I’m not sure you are familiar with how a public forum works. [/quote]

From what I’ve gathered, it’s a place for like minded tools to follow their buddies to the bathroom to hold their cocks while they take a leak, lest they can’t hold it on their own. Sound about right?

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

From what I’ve gathered, it’s a place for like minded tools to follow their buddies to the bathroom to hold their cocks while they take a leak, lest they can’t hold it on their own. Sound about right?[/quote]

Now you just sound jealous. Tell me, are you jealous of the cock grabbing or just that others have them?

[quote]Zeppelin795 wrote:

In terms of types of financial wealth, the top one percent of households have 35% of all privately held stock, 64.4% of financial securities, and 62.4% of business equity. The top ten percent have 81% to 94% of stocks, bonds, trust funds, and business equity, and almost 80% of non-home real estate. [/quote]

Do you have a source for these figures?

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

From what I’ve gathered, it’s a place for like minded tools to follow their buddies to the bathroom to hold their cocks while they take a leak, lest they can’t hold it on their own. Sound about right?[/quote]

Now you just sound jealous. Tell me, are you jealous of the cock grabbing or just that others have them?[/quote]

I’m not sure I can feel too insulted with this coming from a guy currently arguing in another thread that 2+2 might equal 11.

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:

From what I’ve gathered, it’s a place for like minded tools to follow their buddies to the bathroom to hold their cocks while they take a leak, lest they can’t hold it on their own. Sound about right?[/quote]

Now you just sound jealous. Tell me, are you jealous of the cock grabbing or just that others have them?[/quote]

I’m not sure I can feel too insulted with this coming from a guy currently arguing in another thread that 2+2 might equal 11. [/quote]

then it’s over your head. Don’t feel too bad, you are probably close enough for government work.

VT Baller,

I see why you work for the government, you need to be in an environment where you can royally screw up while never getting fired, exhibit one of the lowest levels of productivity while showing no sign of promise or talent.

I have found most government workers to be some of them most useless forms of life, never able to hack in the private sector, while clocking a fat pension on the dime of real people who make the world go round.

Your welcome.

I just saw a statistic which said that 77% of Americans will have their taxes go up from the fiscal deal made, did I read that right ? Didn’t Owe-bama say that those making $250k or less per year would not see their taxes go up one penny ?