Why there is a Tea Party

[fpi_2000]

Fraud should definitely be discouraged & prosecuted. Just try not to sound so racist about it next time. The biggest fraud enacted upon Americans was done by rich white guys on Wall Street.

Wrong,
the biggest fraud is by the so called 'public servants' in DC who do nothing but enrich themselves at the expense of all americans. they are the ones who allowed the wall street mess to happen, they take our money and give it to their cronies. the government seems to be one big ponzi scheme and people who actually want to work and not be on government sponsered welfare are the losers. just my 2 cents that the govt hasn't taken yet but will on the 18th as i write an 11k check to them....

[charm5496]

There are a few threads here about wages and car reimbursement. The general consensus is that bosses are less than generous and dumping legitimate business costs (gas & vehicle expenses) on employees. Are you really advocating working for less than we are right now? Copier techs don't make sh*t as it is, the only reason most of us do this is the accomplishment of fixing something and, more so, not being in one location all day long. Yes, we need to increase development & manufacturing, but not by creating wage slaves or relying on child labor.

I was not referring to us as copier techs working for less, but the manufacturing sector that is union controlled and choking out any chance of making a profit from products made here in the United States because they want everything for nothing. My neighbor retired from the Chrysler assembly plant (which is now shut down because of the economy and there inability to make a profit) and he sits at home clearing 70K a year and pays nothing for his health insurance. Sick part is he has no clue as to what it is really like out there in the workplace and why companies with unions are failing. He expects the goverment and Chrysler to pay for everything he wants and needs. Sick part is he is only in his 50's

and with the labor laws that are in place there shouldn't be an issue with any of that. This isn't the 1900 where kids were working in coal mines helping support the family when dad went to was in WWI.

[charm5496]

Fraud should definitely be discouraged & prosecuted. Just try not to sound so racist about it next time. The biggest fraud enacted upon Americans was done by rich white guys on Wall Street.

There were plenty of people who commited fraud on wall street and not all of them were white. Don't start calling someone a racist then turn around and make blanket statements like this.

We have too much waste in this country and too many lazy people wanting handouts.

[copyruss]

Looking at the gov't like an individual (wrong on several levels, but I'll indulge you), the issue isn't simply to cut expenses. Stuff happens in life and it has to get paid for. The roof gets a leak, the car breaks down and/or you get sick. Yeah, you trim the food budget, but you don't quit eating entirely. You cut movie night, but keep the electricity turned on.

The problem is that this fictional person, instead of trying to increase income during times of difficulty, is giving the boss back part of their paycheck (in the form of tax breaks). Increase income when things need to get paid for, cut taxes when you hit that break even point.

Yeah, unlike our government, we (or as you put it "this fictional person") can't just keep printing money, which devalues our dollar even more. My point was, and is, that this country will never get to "that break even point" without sticking to a budget.

Just keep increasing the taxes of the people who are creating jobs and really driving this economy and see what happens. It drives businesses and JOBS overseas. Call Verizon Technical Support and experience it for yourself.

I live in Florida where we don't have a personal state income tax and our Governor is trying to make this the most business friendly state in the country. How? Lowering business taxes attracts businesses that creates new jobs! You increase the tax base, thus increasing the "income" of the state - duh! You should really read Atlas Shrugged. It may open your eyes.

[Hemlock]

Yeah, unlike our government, we (or as you put it "this fictional person") can't just keep printing money, which devalues our dollar even more. My point was, and is, that this country will never get to "that break even point" without sticking to a budget.

Just keep increasing the taxes of the people who are creating jobs and really driving this economy and see what happens. It drives businesses and JOBS overseas. Call Verizon Technical Support and experience it for yourself.

I live in Florida where we don't have a personal state income tax and our Governor is trying to make this the most business friendly state in the country. How? Lowering business taxes attracts businesses that creates new jobs! You increase the tax base, thus increasing the "income" of the state - duh! You should really read Atlas Shrugged. It may open your eyes.

Atlas Shrugged? I haven't read it and likely won't, for the same reasons I won't read teh bible. A book where the author can take made up problems, apply made up solutions and put forth made up consequences is not adequate for navigating the real world. A much better book would be Secrets of the Temple by William Greider; a historical view of the economical climate that led to the creation of the Fed and its' operations through the Volker years. Despite the subject matter, it's a compelling read and illustrates the effects of taxation, interest rates and monetary policy on the national & global economies.

The laissez-faire capitalism proposed by Rand (according the the synopsis I've read) has been in practice for 30 years now, with disastrous results. Regulatory agencies have been either neutered or loaded with the same crew they're supposed to watch over; culminating in Wall Street raping homeowners, investors & taxpayers. Laissez-faire capitalism - allowing companies to police themselves - gave us Cuyahoga River Fire and the Valley of the Drums amongst other delights. The only thing a company looks out for is profit. The rest of us have to live in the waste they leave behind.

[MR Bill]

Hemlock, you asked where I play golf and racketball. Not sure why you ask? But at the YMCA for rball. Golf anywhere.?

And also for intertainment I go to the Symphony. Beethoven , 5th is just great. Schubert, Mozart. Wonderful music. I paid $1000 for season tickets at the Seattle Symphony.

Yes I have just a little bit of class. I'm just part of the proletariat class of folks. Unlike you progressive guys in DC that are so much smarter than us red state hicks.

One question for you now. Do you own your own company or work for someone?? Fair question to ask.

You stated that the only thing a company looks out for is profit. The rest of us have to live in the waste they leave behind.

Sorry but for such a smart guy, that is the stupidest thing i think I've ever heard.

So do you own your own business? If so what kind of waste are you leaving behind. OH and are you making a PROFIT. Shame on you if so. If you are not making a profit then you our out of business.

And if you work for someone then what waste are they leaving . And if the are not making a profit then you are out of a job. RIGHT.

You are part of the problem. You really make my head hurt. I gotta get to work and go make a nasty profit now.

[Hemlock]

Now what can we cut. Plenty.
National Public Radio? Endownment (sic) for the Arts?

And also for intertainment (sic) I go to the Symphony. Beethoven , 5th is just great. Schubert, Mozart. Wonderful music. I paid $1000 for season tickets at the Seattle Symphony.

Orange Schubert is the best, especially mixed with vanilla ice cream or in a mug of ginger ale.

Looking at the fact sheet for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra I see they're funded by, amongst others, The National Endowment For The Arts. You complain about the existence of the NEA yet partake in activities it funds. Do you golf on public courses? If so, you're enjoying something also funded by people that may never set foot on it.

I did not say that profits were bad, that's you setting up a straw man so you could have something to rail against. Wages are stagnant, benefits receding and companies are getting tax breaks at the same time they're shipping jobs overseas.

I work both ends of the spectrum; as a copier tech doing IT and application support by day and work for myself as a DJ on nights/weekends. When I'm not doing either of those, I'm a volunteer firefighter here in my community.

By the way - Washington State, at last check, was blue. And if pixels on a screen give you a headache, you may wanna get that checked out.

[printershelp]

You guys are united when it comes to service repair help. and divided in politicals view. let me ask just one question for both parties.

WHY UNITED STATE IS LOW RANKING (RANKING 37 TH ) WHEN IT COMES TO HELTH CARE SYSTEM.

[tack]

Why there is a Tea Party

amen brother! 45% of americans pay no taxes. i say tax them. everybody needs to have skin in the game.

[copyruss]

Read this article from the Wall Street Journal regarding the rankings that were done 11 years ago. Statistics can be manipulated to prove anything.

An Ill-Conceived Health-Care Ranking - WSJ.com

Our system is far from perfect. I pay more than I ever have in insurance, my copays have gone WAY up. Frivilous malpractice lawsuits have driven up costs - doctors have to perform all sorts of tests - even seemingly unnecessary tests - to cover their butts. Check New Jersey - OBGYN practices closed down or moved to Pennsylvania because of monsterous malpractice liability insurance.

After the passage of Obamacare, my rates went even higher. I do believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, but it is totally unconstitutional for the US government to mandate the people that they have to purchase any product or service. Obamacare is a Socialist program if there ever was one. Has anyone had a decrease in their rates or copays or deductibles since? I think not.

As far as the care itself, after 25 years in our wonderful industry, I had a heart attack (go figure). I was taken to a Seton hospital, where I was extremely well taken care of by a very professional, competent staff. They placed three stents in my heart by going through a catheter inserted in the femural artery. One very samll incision about 1cm was all it took. I was home two days later. Just a few short years ago, this process didn't exist and they would have had to crack my chest open and would have required open heart surgery. I'm sure I would have been in the hospital for a whole lot longer and the rehab would have been a lot longer too.

Is our system perfect? No. Is it expensive? Yes. Would I want to be in any other country that alledgedly has a better system? HELL NO!

[Hemlock]

amen brother! 45% of americans pay no taxes. i say tax them. everybody needs to have skin in the game.

Everyone that purchases, pays taxes. At the grocery store, at the pump, when buying clothes, when buying a vehicle, servicing a vehicle, yearly on personal property. I'd venture to say that the homeless are the closest to paying no taxes at all.

[copyruss]

I'm sure you know that he was talking about Federal Income tax. You may be liberal, but you aren't stupid...

But from you're statement about EVERYONE pays taxes, it appears as if you are a supporter of the Fair Tax Act.

The FairTax is a proposed change to the federal tax laws of the United States intended to replace all federal income taxes with a single broad national consumption tax on retail sales. The plan has been introduced into the United States Congress as the Fair Tax Act.

Even the people that are in the Black Market (not being racist... that's what it's called) would not be immune.

So glad you're on board with this!!

Don't you hate when you're own arguement is used against you?

[Hemlock]

Don't you hate when you're own arguement (sic) is used against you?

What argument?

[copyruss]

Everyone that purchases, pays taxes. At the grocery store, at the pump, when buying clothes, when buying a vehicle, servicing a vehicle, yearly on personal property. I'd venture to say that the homeless are the closest to paying no taxes at all.

I guess it really wasn't an arguement, but you were refuting Tack's statement of 45% of American's paying no taxes, (which is true, by the way) with your statement.

Have to ask you a question. I don't know your financial situation, but induldge me one more time. If you are currently paying 35% of your salary in taxes and then had to pay in 45% next year, wouldn't you look harder for every possible deduction that you could possibly take?

[copyruss]

BTW - thanks for pointing out my spelling error. I'm sure it makes my point meaningless...