Who do you support for U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2010?

[ME II]

Bill in Dville wrote:

<quoted text>
"When I worked for a big company, I, as an individual worker, didn't have many ways to claim tax deductions."
That's because a business can deduct legitimate operating expenses, individuals cannot. Driving to and from work is not a deduction. Lunch at work is not a deduction. Both are considered personal expenses.
If you're intimating that individuals should be able to deduct personal expenses, well that's a whole different can of worms.

You just hit the nail on the head and you don't even know it. How is that a business has "legitimate operating expenses" yet an individual doesn't? A business can deduct for a vehicle, for example, but a private individual can not. Yet without a vehicle, a private individual can not get to his job.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not really saying that individuals SHOULD be able to deduct such things. But from an individual's point of view, a business has much more leeway in reducing what they are taxed upon.

[ME II]

Synergy wrote:

<quoted text>
Then why are you taking them? Because YOU CAN. Same goes for all businesses. All of those who DON'T own their own business complain about it, but if they become a business OWNER, then all bets are off. So, it can be deduced that those who can't, complain. Those who can, do. It's all about choices. People complain that it's not fair; perhaps not. But the truth of the matter is.....it's not FAIR to complain simply because you AREN'T a business owner. Start a business or don't. Choice.

Sure it's fair to complain if someone isn't a business owner. That's what freedom of speech is all about.

[Synergy]

jeb stuart wrote:

<quoted text>good point,syn.some of these posts seem to me to suggest that no one is breaking the law unless they get caught doing so.

Just human nature when it comes to taxes. That is ONE of the reasons why I won't use the H & R Block types when it comes to filing income taxes. Of course they'll represent you if you get audited. They won't ride it "close to the line", so they aren't worrying about you being audited. Actually, they might miss money/deductions that you are due because they are so busy playing it safe. I don't expect nor want my CPA to break the law, but I DO expect him to give me every single break he can find and justify.

[Synergy]

martini olive wrote:

Well then, you're just as low as imprisoned inmates filing millions in false tax returns. And you boast about it? How disgusting?

Not so. The deductions are legal. What the inmates are doing is ILLegal. Major difference. If you don't understand the difference, you need someone other than yourself to do your taxes. Just sayin.

[Synergy]

ME II wrote:

<quoted text>
Sure it's fair to complain if someone isn't a business owner. That's what freedom of speech is all about.

*smiling* Yeah, but it doesn't change anything for the one doing the complaining except bore everyone else to death. If one doesn't like ones lot in life, do something about it or tolerate it. We all have to do it.

[jeb stuart]

Synergy wrote:

<quoted text>
Just human nature when it comes to taxes. That is ONE of the reasons why I won't use the H & R Block types when it comes to filing income taxes. Of course they'll represent you if you get audited. They won't ride it "close to the line", so they aren't worrying about you being audited. Actually, they might miss money/deductions that you are due because they are so busy playing it safe. I don't expect nor want my CPA to break the law, but I DO expect him to give me every single break he can find and justify.

no one can blame you or anyone for that.

[YEs]

To the best

[jeb stuart]

Synergy wrote:

<quoted text>
Then why are you taking them? Because YOU CAN. Same goes for all businesses. All of those who DON'T own their own business complain about it, but if they become a business OWNER, then all bets are off. So, it can be deduced that those who can't, complain. Those who can, do. It's all about choices. People complain that it's not fair; perhaps not. But the truth of the matter is.....it's not FAIR to complain simply because you AREN'T a business owner. Start a business or don't. Choice.

not sure i follow you here.are you saying that anyone who chooses a profession other than a business owner(i.e.,nurse,teacher,etc.) deserves to be at a tax disadvantage?

[Synergy]

jeb stuart wrote:

<quoted text>not sure i follow you here.are you saying that anyone who chooses a profession other than a business owner(i.e.,nurse,teacher,etc.) deserves to be at a tax disadvantage?

I am saying that if you aren't happy, change it. If you wait on the government to make you happy, you'll be waiting forever.

[Oh really]

Synergy wrote:

<quoted text>
So! Are you taking those deductions?

What a silly question. We all do. Romney didn't one year, so he could get his payment UP to 13%, but he is the exception and by this time I'm sure he's gone back and amended the return.

The richer you are, the bigger and better the deductions and tax breaks but for the really rich, that is still peanuts. They need off-setting losses where they don't actually lose any money. Several industries and hundreds of projects are designed to give them exactly that. One is professional sports (Limited Partnerships). One that's local and on a very small scale: the mostly empty townhouses there on the lake.

It's all perfectly legal.

[Oh really]

Synergy wrote:

<quoted text>
I am saying that if you aren't happy, change it. If you wait on the government to make you happy, you'll be waiting forever.

Big business and the super-wealthy won't allow you to change it. They own the Congress-person, who represents them, not you, me or anyone who works for wages! To think otherwise is to live in fantasy-land.

[Frank]

Thomas County Blogger wrote:

Repubs have had their chance, especially the Georgia Repubs. They got the country into the economic mess we're in and it will take Democrats to get us out.

explain how you get get out of a mess spending money you dont have.Explain how putting everybody on food stamps is getting people out of an economical mess.

[Interview]

Frank wrote:

<quoted text>
explain how you get get out of a mess spending money you dont have.Explain how putting everybody on food stamps is getting people out of an economical mess.

Congress has a "plan" to get people off food stamps - discontinue the program. Their theory is that if the poor die they won't need help and the country will be better off.

Actually they are planning to cut back on the program by twenty percent in FY13-14 so there may be some truth in that.

[Informed Opinion]

jeb stuart wrote:

<quoted text>not sure i follow you here.are you saying that anyone who chooses a profession other than a business owner(i.e.,nurse,teacher,etc.) deserves to be at a tax disadvantage?

Unfortunately, that's true.

Businesses have lobbyists. People don't. Businesses people understand the tactic of decrying subsidies and tax breaks, all the while lobbying and paying off lawmakers to obtain subsidies and tax breaks for them.

The rules of the game determine who wins.

Whoever makes the rules ...wins.

Wall Street didn't pay politicians $200 Million in the 2012 election because they wanted "fairness", they paid because they want to pay even lower taxes than you and me.

Thanks to their lobbyists income I earn actually working are taxes at 2X the rate of the income I earn selling stock while having a bourbon with my neighbor the stock broker. Thanks.

Thanks to the Realtors' lobbyists'$26 Million in 2012, renters everywhere can subsidize my purchase of my new home by keeping my mortgage interest payments deductible. Oh, and also the interest payments on my Cabin.

Maybe if their taxes weren't higher, so mine can be lower, they could own a house, or even a cabin, too. Thanks.

Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, which paid politicians $100 Million in 2012, my trip to Orlando for a business conference this week, and of course the family's visit to Disney, is subsidized by all the folks who would like to visit Disney, but can't afford it.
Thanks.

Thanks to the American Christian Lobbyists Association the rest of your can pay higher taxes to keep my church from paying any taxes at all. Gotta love it when we are forced to contribute to religions and churches we don't believe in. Oh, you can also support my church for me by letting me deduct my voluntary donations from my income. Glad everyone is into Zen Buddhism and Liberal Protestantism. Thanks.

Sorry for tirade.

When Americans learn that the tax code exists to give politicians the ability to sell tax breaks, maybe something will change.

One tax rate - all income- all taxed the same- all the time - no deductions - ever.

[BS IS Called]

Informed Opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
Unfortunately, that's true.
Businesses have lobbyists. People don't. Businesses people understand the tactic of decrying subsidies and tax breaks, all the while lobbying and paying off lawmakers to obtain subsidies and tax breaks for them.
The rules of the game determine who wins.
Whoever makes the rules ...wins.
Wall Street didn't pay politicians $200 Million in the 2012 election because they wanted "fairness", they paid because they want to pay even lower taxes than you and me.
Thanks to their lobbyists income I earn actually working are taxes at 2X the rate of the income I earn selling stock while having a bourbon with my neighbor the stock broker. Thanks.
Thanks to the Realtors' lobbyists'$26 Million in 2012, renters everywhere can subsidize my purchase of my new home by keeping my mortgage interest payments deductible. Oh, and also the interest payments on my Cabin.
Maybe if their taxes weren't higher, so mine can be lower, they could own a house, or even a cabin, too. Thanks.
Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, which paid politicians $100 Million in 2012, my trip to Orlando for a business conference this week, and of course the family's visit to Disney, is subsidized by all the folks who would like to visit Disney, but can't afford it.
Thanks.
Thanks to the American Christian Lobbyists Association the rest of your can pay higher taxes to keep my church from paying any taxes at all. Gotta love it when we are forced to contribute to religions and churches we don't believe in. Oh, you can also support my church for me by letting me deduct my voluntary donations from my income. Glad everyone is into Zen Buddhism and Liberal Protestantism. Thanks.
Sorry for tirade.
When Americans learn that the tax code exists to give politicians the ability to sell tax breaks, maybe something will change.
One tax rate - all income- all taxed the same- all the time - no deductions - ever.

Bring on the Fair Tax.

[Synergy]

Oh really wrote:

<quoted text>
Big business and the super-wealthy won't allow you to change it. They own the Congress-person, who represents them, not you, me or anyone who works for wages! To think otherwise is to live in fantasy-land.

Change your PERSONAL situation. That's pretty much the only choice you have. You've just stated yourself that congress isn't going to do it.

I was watching Warren Buffet on the show Sunday Morning last Sunday. The Democrats used him often to talk about his support of the middle and poor classes. He's 82 and didn't have this revelation until the last few years. When the reporter asked him why he started investing so young his reply was: "All I knew is that I wanted to be rich". When asked why, his reply was: "So I could do and have whatever I wanted". NOW, when he has one foot in the grave, he has decided that the discrepancy between the rich and the not so rich is important. How noble. The point I am making is that everyone can get caught up in the loopholes, etc. when they are available. It's just human nature. Is it maddening? Yes. Would anyone turn down the chance to take advantage of those same opportunities? Most probably not. I don't blame the rich.
A couple of days ago I read this: " If someone wants something bad enough, they'll determine a way to achieve it. If not, they'll find an excuse for not doing it." Think about it. I know that I'm guilty of that.

[Bored]

Informed Opinion wrote:

<quoted text>
Unfortunately, that's true.
Businesses have lobbyists. People don't. Businesses people understand the tactic of decrying subsidies and tax breaks, all the while lobbying and paying off lawmakers to obtain subsidies and tax breaks for them.
The rules of the game determine who wins.
Whoever makes the rules ...wins.
Wall Street didn't pay politicians $200 Million in the 2012 election because they wanted "fairness", they paid because they want to pay even lower taxes than you and me.
Thanks to their lobbyists income I earn actually working are taxes at 2X the rate of the income I earn selling stock while having a bourbon with my neighbor the stock broker. Thanks.
Thanks to the Realtors' lobbyists'$26 Million in 2012, renters everywhere can subsidize my purchase of my new home by keeping my mortgage interest payments deductible. Oh, and also the interest payments on my Cabin.
Maybe if their taxes weren't higher, so mine can be lower, they could own a house, or even a cabin, too. Thanks.
Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, which paid politicians $100 Million in 2012, my trip to Orlando for a business conference this week, and of course the family's visit to Disney, is subsidized by all the folks who would like to visit Disney, but can't afford it.
Thanks.
Thanks to the American Christian Lobbyists Association the rest of your can pay higher taxes to keep my church from paying any taxes at all. Gotta love it when we are forced to contribute to religions and churches we don't believe in. Oh, you can also support my church for me by letting me deduct my voluntary donations from my income. Glad everyone is into Zen Buddhism and Liberal Protestantism. Thanks.
Sorry for tirade.
When Americans learn that the tax code exists to give politicians the ability to sell tax breaks, maybe something will change.
One tax rate - all income- all taxed the same- all the time - no deductions - ever.

Boring.

[better informed decisions]

Informed Opinion wrote:

<quoted text>

One tax rate - all income- all taxed the same- all the time - no deductions - ever.

from what I've read that would be the Fair Tax but no income tax?

[guesswho]

Bill in Dville wrote:

<quoted text>
Do your own FairTax research, start with the word "prebate". It's been explained ad nauseum in here already.

More Bullshit, I pay gains tax when I sell stock and real estate. I am far from the upper percentage, adding in my wages earned I pay a lot more than Romney as a percentage of income!! The real estate part was before Bush sunk the economy, not so much now.

You dance all around the POINT, which is the upper percentage of earners pay LESS AS A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME THAN MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS!!! You still won't answer the question "WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST THE UPPER PERCENTAGE OF WAGE EARNERS PAYING THE SAME AS MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS"

You believe in the FairyTax, do you also believe in the myth of TRICKLE DOWN! A myth perpetuated by the upper percentage of wage earners to validate their need to just get richer at the expense of the middle class. Look at the history of middle class wealth over the last 20 years, and then compare that to the history of the rich for the same period. The rich get richer and the middle class is becoming the working poor. Great for corporations trying to compete with China, not so great for Americas Middle Class workers.

Why do you want to see this trend continue, a simple answer is long overdue, skip the bullshit

[who knows]

Bored wrote:

<quoted text>
Boring.

Just another reason the American Middle Class is getting screwed. They would rather watch a football game than try to understand why and how they are getting screwed. Or maybe they just enjoy it, who knows.