Sources: Reid eyes payroll tax hike on wealthy

[Howie Doohan]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
I am the boss, I was funning with one of those other experts on poor people this morning. Yesterday, I was the boss from 7 AM to 6 PM....tough day....payday, had to figure out a way to cover the payroll. Wonder if Obama has ever had to figure out stuff like that?
40 mil a year? I dunno, seems like Brad Pitt or maybe J Lo has earned that, maybe Oprah, Tiger, MJ, etc, counting endorsements. Did they earn it? If the people who paid them agreed to pay them that, then yes, they earned it. I wonder if sports/entertainment should be exempt? Not many biz people make that kinda money, maybe a few wall streeters in the good old days, maybe Ross Perot, back in the day, maybe Bill Gates, I dunno.
The sports guys who earn that much money probably would not like to have Chris Dodd or Barney Frank hamper their efforts, whattayathink? Chris and Barney want to do that to wallstreet, right? I think if a publically traded company's board of directors agree to pay their executives, the govt should back off. The shareholders will not reelect the board, if the board does not hire officers who make the corp a profit. Thats the way it works in capitalism....you sell your sh't for more money than it costs you, and that is called a profit. Sell lots of sh't, make lots of profit.
whenever the govt gets into that loop, the sh't starts stinking, and before you know it, everything turns to sh't. I want the govt out of my sh't, if you don't mind.

I'm beginning to understand you and I don't disagree with you on most of your points. It's obvious that you have reasons for your beliefs. I think the only difference in our philosophy is that you tend to stereotype folks - "Ex-hippy lib college professors", "porch sitters", "Oprah watchers", etc. I guess I do that too. We all do. There will always be freeloaders and there will always be those that exploit others to get rich.
Ten years ago, I was a Republican and considered myself fairly conservative. All of these rightwing religious fundamentalist types like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dodson, etc. sent me to the other side. I do not like those that try to tell everyone else how to live. I particularly hate the phoney religious @$$h0!3$. I'm now a liberal atheist (that went to Catholic School for 12 years and has a close friend that's a priest). There are many reasons why we all believe what we believe (or don't believe). I like you and I respect your views. I know that you are a good person. It sounds like you've been burned a number of times. I gre up in New York. you grew up down south. We've been molded and influenced by different factors.

[Howie Doohan]

Chicago Hope and Change wrote:

<quoted text>
The answer is so obvious it is startling. But is should not be surprising that businessmen do not see it.
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/s...
We must drop the corruption of the ideology of greed and capitalism.
I guess that’s why businessmen have a hard time accepting the reality.
They have been committing a crime against society and their own mind will not allow them to accept their guilt.
You must try hard to break the bonds and dogma that have been layered upon you since birth.
Capitalism is evil and in your heart you know it.
Accept the new reality and join with our President to right this great injustice.
CHANGE is here.
Be a part of it.

I disagree. You're being too simplistic. Capitalism is not evil. Some capitalists are.

[Anon56]

A big part of me believes that all this hating the rich is simple jealousy. How does punishing success make any sense? What would be the motivation to be successful? If I was born in poverty and worked my entire life to earn a good wage and live the "rich" lifestyle, why do I have to foot the bill for someone who isn't willing to work as hard?

I do, however, understand the importance of helping those in need. Here's the problem... the government doles out assistance to any and everyone who has their palm out. For every 10 of us are at work living paycheck to paycheck there are 20 sitting at home in front of their tvs waiting on their welfare check without a care in the world because they know the government will be there to take care of them.

"Poor" does not mean you can't afford cable. "Poor" does not mean you can't afford $200 sneakers. "Poor" does not mean you can't buy a new SUV. "Poor" does not mean you can't get your nails done. In my eyes "poor" means you don't know where your next meal is coming from. So if we only gave assistance to people who TRULY need it I bet we'd have a big chunk of our national financial difficulties solved or at least improved.

Aaaaaand that's my 2 copper.

[inbred Genius]

Howie Doohan wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm beginning to understand you and I don't disagree with you on most of your points. It's obvious that you have reasons for your beliefs. I think the only difference in our philosophy is that you tend to stereotype folks - "Ex-hippy lib college professors", "porch sitters", "Oprah watchers", etc. I guess I do that too. We all do. There will always be freeloaders and there will always be those that exploit others to get rich.
Ten years ago, I was a Republican and considered myself fairly conservative. All of these rightwing religious fundamentalist types like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dodson, etc. sent me to the other side. I do not like those that try to tell everyone else how to live. I particularly hate the phoney religious @$$h0!3$. I'm now a liberal atheist (that went to Catholic School for 12 years and has a close friend that's a priest). There are many reasons why we all believe what we believe (or don't believe). I like you and I respect your views. I know that you are a good person. It sounds like you've been burned a number of times. I gre up in New York. you grew up down south. We've been molded and influenced by different factors.

Yes, I've been called a serial stereotyper before. It makes it easier to cover the most territory. Not all ex hippies with ponytails went on to be college professors, some of them turned into my brother. And I sit on my porch sometimes too, with a cold beer and a ballgame on TV. Never watched Oprah though, but from what I've heard, she's bigger than Obama. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I've always avoided those religous hucksters too, I used to watch Rev Ike's show, but I never bought a prayer cloth from him. Swaggert, Jim Bakker and Tammie fay plus lots of other phony charletons, bilked people out of money will pay for their crimes someday. Money corrupts, no question about it.....Bernie Madoff is not the first, and won't be the last....I've been busted twice in the stock market, the dot com crash of 2000 hit me hard, then the Barney Franks bad mortgage meltdown hit me again last year.

I don't like phonies, politicans are the biggest phonies there are, both parties, top to bottom, left to right. Most politicians are lawyers, and when you get involved with lawyers, bad things usually happen.

[inbred Genius]

Anon56 wrote:

A big part of me believes that all this hating the rich is simple jealousy. How does punishing success make any sense? What would be the motivation to be successful? If I was born in poverty and worked my entire life to earn a good wage and live the "rich" lifestyle, why do I have to foot the bill for someone who isn't willing to work as hard?
I do, however, understand the importance of helping those in need. Here's the problem... the government doles out assistance to any and everyone who has their palm out. For every 10 of us are at work living paycheck to paycheck there are 20 sitting at home in front of their tvs waiting on their welfare check without a care in the world because they know the government will be there to take care of them.
"Poor" does not mean you can't afford cable. "Poor" does not mean you can't afford $200 sneakers. "Poor" does not mean you can't buy a new SUV. "Poor" does not mean you can't get your nails done. In my eyes "poor" means you don't know where your next meal is coming from. So if we only gave assistance to people who TRULY need it I bet we'd have a big chunk of our national financial difficulties solved or at least improved.
Aaaaaand that's my 2 copper.

We live in the only country in the world where the poor people are almost universally fat...own cellphones, cable, flat screen tv's, cars with $500 spinner wheels, unlimited booze, drugs and cigarettes. I blame Kennedy/Johnson

[Howie Doohan]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, I've been called a serial stereotyper before. It makes it easier to cover the most territory. Not all ex hippies with ponytails went on to be college professors, some of them turned into my brother. And I sit on my porch sometimes too, with a cold beer and a ballgame on TV. Never watched Oprah though, but from what I've heard, she's bigger than Obama. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I've always avoided those religous hucksters too, I used to watch Rev Ike's show, but I never bought a prayer cloth from him. Swaggert, Jim Bakker and Tammie fay plus lots of other phony charletons, bilked people out of money will pay for their crimes someday. Money corrupts, no question about it.....Bernie Madoff is not the first, and won't be the last....I've been busted twice in the stock market, the dot com crash of 2000 hit me hard, then the Barney Franks bad mortgage meltdown hit me again last year.
I don't like phonies, politicans are the biggest phonies there are, both parties, top to bottom, left to right. Most politicians are lawyers, and when you get involved with lawyers, bad things usually happen.

I can't stand Barney. Everytime he's on TV I want to slap him. He's an arrogant jackass. You are correct - many politicians are the biggest phonies. I don't think that Obama is one. I think he's real. I may be proven wrong. You'd like my porch - enclosed. it's like my own little mini baseball hall of fame. I'll have to send you some pictures.

[Howie Doohan]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
We live in the only country in the world where the poor people are almost universally fat...own cellphones, cable, flat screen tv's, cars with $500 spinner wheels, unlimited booze, drugs and cigarettes. I blame Kennedy/Johnson

okay, okay.
Kennedy/Johnson? I thought you all blamed Jimeh for eveything?

[Anon56]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
We live in the only country in the world where the poor people are almost universally fat...own cellphones, cable, flat screen tv's, cars with $500 spinner wheels, unlimited booze, drugs and cigarettes. I blame Kennedy/Johnson

Ya know.. I don't know who to blame at this point. What you said above is, unfortunately, all too true. I'm sure a lot of us on topix have been behind a person in the grocery store who pays for ice cream, steaks and other luxury foods with food stamps (or cards.. I think they're cards now). The basic knowledge of "earning your keep" and the value of a dollar has gone the way of the dinosaur. Totally gone with little to no hope of returning.

[inbred Genius]

Howie Doohan wrote:

<quoted text>
okay, okay.
Kennedy/Johnson? I thought you all blamed Jimeh for eveything?

so many democrats, so much blame.....K and J signed the porch sitters bill of rights document...well Johnson signed it, but Kennedy greased its path.

Jimmy ruined the airlines and trucking industries, and tried to ruin the military, but his 4 years were only enough time to damage it. Thankfully, Ronnie saved the bacon that day.

[Howie Doohan]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
so many democrats, so much blame.....K and J signed the porch sitters bill of rights document...well Johnson signed it, but Kennedy greased its path.
Jimmy ruined the airlines and trucking industries, and tried to ruin the military, but his 4 years were only enough time to damage it. Thankfully, Ronnie saved the bacon that day.

Ronnie was baloney, not bacon!
As far as the above post. I was once behind someone in line at the grocery store. She had her four kids come up to the counter separately with items and paid each time with food stamps, each time getting the change in cash, of course. When she finally had enough cash, she said, "Oh yeah, gimme a pack of Kools". I wanted to slug her! Thought you'd like that story.

[Rusty Nayle]

Anon56 wrote:

<quoted text>
Ya know.. I don't know who to blame at this point. What you said above is, unfortunately, all too true. I'm sure a lot of us on topix have been behind a person in the grocery store who pays for ice cream, steaks and other luxury foods with food stamps (or cards.. I think they're cards now). The basic knowledge of "earning your keep" and the value of a dollar has gone the way of the dinosaur. Totally gone with little to no hope of returning.

Yes,they use a card now. Downloaded like a debit card every month. I'm not sure when they went to that system but it was a while back. I found out about that change last spring when I was on a state contract job for armed security art the regional welfare office,keeping child protective services workers from being harrassed/assaulted. The workers were told it was a cost cutting measure. But privately they told me it was probably so as to save the recipients the stigma/embarrassement of being on welfare when using the old paper coupons/stamps. The new cards look like a bank card and unless you are the cashier or bother to look real close no one knows.

[inbred Genius]

Howie Doohan wrote:

<quoted text>
Ronnie was baloney, not bacon!
As far as the above post. I was once behind someone in line at the grocery store. She had her four kids come up to the counter separately with items and paid each time with food stamps, each time getting the change in cash, of course. When she finally had enough cash, she said, "Oh yeah, gimme a pack of Kools". I wanted to slug her! Thought you'd like that story.

Yep, that story is repeated often, in the world of easy welfare.

Here's one for you....one time years ago, I hadda fire a guy a couple weeks before Christmas, I don't recall why, but it had to be serious, right before Christmas.....So I'm apologizing to him, sorry it had to be, blah blah, he basically said, that it was ok, not to worry about it, no problem because (and I quote) " Now they gonna bring my check to the doh" If I had more time, I'd tellya about the time a guy didn't go home on Friday night with his paycheck, and Saturday morning,his old lady was waiting for him in the parking lot when he arrived, with her gun, and she started shooting when he appeared. There I was, right smack dab in the middle of a gunfight between them.

[inbred Genius]

In Georgia, they are called EBT cards. They probably do cut down on fraud, I think it requires a pin number to use, which would prevent theft as easily. I don't know if it allows anything other than basics, nothing too special like gourmet coffee or anything.

I wish I had one, I have to get store brands and do without.....

Georgia also has some kind of program called WIC, women, infants and children, which I really don't know much about, but I think it's designed to keep women, infants and children from going hungry, run out of formula, diapers etc. Probably a good program, if not rift with fraud.

Despite what I type on Topix, I'm not opposed to free school lunches, free food/stamps/EBT cards whatever, for people who truly qualify....its the sorry bums that get my typing fingers fired up.

[Rusty Nayle]

inbred Genius wrote:

In Georgia, they are called EBT cards. They probably do cut down on fraud, I think it requires a pin number to use, which would prevent theft as easily. I don't know if it allows anything other than basics, nothing too special like gourmet coffee or anything.
I wish I had one, I have to get store brands and do without.....
Georgia also has some kind of program called WIC, women, infants and children, which I really don't know much about, but I think it's designed to keep women, infants and children from going hungry, run out of formula, diapers etc. Probably a good program, if not rift with fraud.
Despite what I type on Topix, I'm not opposed to free school lunches, free food/stamps/EBT cards whatever, for people who truly qualify....its the sorry bums that get my typing fingers fired up.

During the recession of the early 80's(remeber that one?)I was fresh out of the Marines with a wife and new born. The plant I had gotten a decent job at had a huge layoff and on the dole I went. Back then you couldn't BUY a job. When the unemployment ran out we went to see about welfare for a little while. While waiting we sat in the waiting area with other people who were waiting for appointments. We overheard several who obviously knew each other and they were talking about how much they got for ever how many kids they had,and what other benefits could be had if you knew the system. When if was our turn for the interveiw we explained our situation and waited to see what they could do to help us. We were told since we were married we were ineligible. HOWEVER if we were to split up they could put my wife and child in public housing with all the bennies of welfare. We looked at each other in TOTAL disbelief,got up and left. On the way out I told the case worker it was a sorry azzed government that subsidized bastardy and sloth for generations while people who tried to do right by their families were ineligible for assistance. We didn't go back. I went out and did day jobs for the farmers I worked for when I was a kid. To this day I loath welfare for able bodied people and have derided,belittled and generally spat on worthless no account trash like them.

[Seeking truth]

DDA wrote:

<quoted text>
Could you please explain why "our dollars today are worth less"...how about the excessive printing and spending of Obama...could that be part of the problem?
The American public has cut back. It's the government who continues to spend and tax.

You mean BUSH who signed no strings attached TARP before leaving office.

[Seeking truth]

DDA wrote:

<quoted text>
Could you please explain why "our dollars today are worth less"...how about the excessive printing and spending of Obama...could that be part of the problem?
The American public has cut back. It's the government who continues to spend and tax.

Our dollars are always worthless when spendthrift Republicans are in power. Keeping the value of the dollar low boosts exports and reduces the cost of debts. You must have been born after the Reagan debacle.

[Seeking truth]

Let's just raise taxes to what they were when Reagan was president.

[feawen]

inbred Genius wrote:

<quoted text>
So you're saying that we evil capitalists should just repent, open our checkbooks to Obama, and let him do what he wants with our money?
That Soros link was cute....he probably has Obama's private cell phone number on speed dial. You libwhacks are very amusing.

Nah... let's give him the benefit of the doubt and redistribute the wealth... We'll start with the wealth of Soros and drop him down to, say,$25,000. a year?

[PooPooKaSplatter]

ad nauseum wrote:

<quoted text>
OK. I will try my best to explain this in very small, one syllable words......... What happens when that "rich" person who "owns" the company gets that "5.4 percent tax on income". The first thing the "rich" person will do is 1) look at that tax bill 2) Have a COW 3)PASS THE TAX INCREASE ON TO THE PRODUCT/SERVICE via the price of said products and services,
The last thing that will happen is Y-O-U and your F-O-O-L PORCHSITTERS (along with all the rest of us)will wind up paying the "tax on the rich", because it is a well known fact that COMPANIES DO NOT PAY TAXES..........Y-O-U in your Super-Intellect state of mind.........will pay the tax in the form of higher prices. This will be, in addition, to the taxes you already pay.
You people are so very stupid it is beyond words.

I'll make this small and easy for you......no taxes ! Obama ran on TAX CUTS and No new Taxes.

You are the stupid.

[Stop the madness]

Anon56 wrote:

A big part of me believes that all this hating the rich is simple jealousy. How does punishing success make any sense? What would be the motivation to be successful? If I was born in poverty and worked my entire life to earn a good wage and live the "rich" lifestyle, why do I have to foot the bill for someone who isn't willing to work as hard?
I do, however, understand the importance of helping those in need. Here's the problem... the government doles out assistance to any and everyone who has their palm out. For every 10 of us are at work living paycheck to paycheck there are 20 sitting at home in front of their tvs waiting on their welfare check without a care in the world because they know the government will be there to take care of them.
"Poor" does not mean you can't afford cable. "Poor" does not mean you can't afford $200 sneakers. "Poor" does not mean you can't buy a new SUV. "Poor" does not mean you can't get your nails done. In my eyes "poor" means you don't know where your next meal is coming from. So if we only gave assistance to people who TRULY need it I bet we'd have a big chunk of our national financial difficulties solved or at least improved.
Aaaaaand that's my 2 copper.

I am SO in agreement with you!