Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[Tomahawk]

Which of you politicos is dialed into the Senate proceedings? I need to know if they're going to bump the first time home buyers credit up and if they're going to make it a true credit instead of a loan

[Butchers Bill]

Um, no one is even considering raising taxes at this point. All stimulus plans being discussed include lowering taxes. Let it go. Your tax dollars are not the beginning middle and end of politics.

The stimulus is a separate discussion.  We are talking about Obama appointees.  The tax hike is coming...

[Tomahawk]

nm

[rjs246]

Um, no one is even considering raising taxes at this point. All stimulus plans being discussed include lowering taxes. Let it go. Your tax dollars are not the beginning middle and end of politics.

The stimulus is a separate discussion.  We are talking about Obama appointees.  The tax hike is coming...

Yeah, raising taxes when the country is in a massive amount of debt is such a horrible idea. Nevermind that Obama is only in favor of raising taxes on the wealthiest five percent of the population.

The real issue is that the tax code is needlessly complicated and riddled with massive loopholes that encourage people to dodge paying their taxes. That goes for democrat and republican alike.

People's obsession with miniscule tax policy fluctuations is mind boggling. The only thing that should be of interest to anyone is reforming the tax code. Not whether we're paying a little more or a little less over the course of a year. There's other more important shtein going on out there...

[stalker]

Why is raising taxes on the wealthiest 5% okay. Seems like a little NIMBY.

[phillymic2000]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/03/daschle/index.html

Daschle removes his name from nomination.

[rjs246]

Why is raising taxes on the wealthiest 5% okay. Seems like a little NIMBY.

Frankly, I think taxes should be raised on just about everyone until this country is out of the red. But that idea isn't popular with anyone, so I'm not expecting a lot of support.

[stalker]

Why is raising taxes on the wealthiest 5% okay. Seems like a little NIMBY.

Frankly, I think taxes should be raised on just about everyone until this country is out of the red. But that idea isn't popular with anyone, so I'm not expecting a lot of support.

Why not chop entitlements and taxes instead?

[Butchers Bill]

Um, no one is even considering raising taxes at this point. All stimulus plans being discussed include lowering taxes. Let it go. Your tax dollars are not the beginning middle and end of politics.

The stimulus is a separate discussion.  We are talking about Obama appointees.  The tax hike is coming...

Yeah, raising taxes when the country is in a massive amount of debt is such a horrible idea. Nevermind that Obama is only in favor of raising taxes on the wealthiest five percent of the population.

The real issue is that the tax code is needlessly complicated and riddled with massive loopholes that encourage people to dodge paying their taxes. That goes for democrat and republican alike.

People's obsession with miniscule tax policy fluctuations is mind boggling. The only thing that should be of interest to anyone is reforming the tax code. Not whether we're paying a little more or a little less over the course of a year. There's other more important shtein going on out there...

Psst...the election is over.  Reality has set in.  The tax cuts from 2001/02 had a sunset provision and are due to expire soon.  They will not be renewed under a dem administration, and they will claim they didn't raise taxes, just let the "Irresponsible Bush Tax Cuts" expire.  Christ...doesn't anyone else see this?

I also disagree with your assertion that "miniscule" tax policy fluctuations aren't important.  Any time the government forcefully takes whats mine, I have an issue with it.  Here in NJ, the average homeowner pays 7k a year in property tax alone, plus FICA, plus State, plus Federal, plus sales tax, plus gas tax, plus various "usage" taxes.  My effective tax rate is close to, if not over, 50%.  This is unacceptable.

Government spending never goes down...it always goes up.  The rate of spending may decline, but year over year its on the rise which means more and more taxes need to be raised to support the beast.  There is a such thing as good government spending, but our current system does not allow a true checks and balances because a two party system is inherently corrupt. 

[rjs246]

Why is raising taxes on the wealthiest 5% okay. Seems like a little NIMBY.

Frankly, I think taxes should be raised on just about everyone until this country is out of the red. But that idea isn't popular with anyone, so I'm not expecting a lot of support.

Why not chop entitlements and taxes instead?

I would absolutely love to cut entitlements. I never said I only wanted to raise taxes.

And the Bush tax cuts were part of what put us in this mess we're in. farg cutting taxes to win political capital.

[stalker]

Um, no one is even considering raising taxes at this point. All stimulus plans being discussed include lowering taxes. Let it go. Your tax dollars are not the beginning middle and end of politics.

The stimulus is a separate discussion.  We are talking about Obama appointees.  The tax hike is coming...

Yeah, raising taxes when the country is in a massive amount of debt is such a horrible idea. Nevermind that Obama is only in favor of raising taxes on the wealthiest five percent of the population.

The real issue is that the tax code is needlessly complicated and riddled with massive loopholes that encourage people to dodge paying their taxes. That goes for democrat and republican alike.

People's obsession with miniscule tax policy fluctuations is mind boggling. The only thing that should be of interest to anyone is reforming the tax code. Not whether we're paying a little more or a little less over the course of a year. There's other more important shtein going on out there...

Psst...the election is over.  Reality has set in.  The tax cuts from 2001/02 had a sunset provision and are due to expire soon.  They will not be renewed under a dem administration, and they will claim they didn't raise taxes, just let the "Irresponsible Bush Tax Cuts" expire.  Christ...doesn't anyone else see this?

I also disagree with your assertion that "miniscule" tax policy fluctuations aren't important.  Any time the government forcefully takes whats mine, I have an issue with it.  Here in NJ, the average homeowner pays 7k a year in property tax alone, plus FICA, plus State, plus Federal, plus sales tax, plus gas tax, plus various "usage" taxes.  My effective tax rate is close to, if not over, 50%.  This is unacceptable.

Government spending never goes down...it always goes up.  The rate of spending may decline, but year over year its on the rise which means more and more taxes need to be raised to support the beast.  There is a such thing as good government spending, but our current system does not allow a true checks and balances because a two party system is inherently corrupt. 

OOh Rah! I don't need to answer anything else, Bill nailed it. And by the way, douche bag RJS, the Bush tax cuts pulled us out of a contracting economy that was happening after Y2K and 9/11.

[rjs246]

Government spending never goes down...it always goes up.  The rate of spending may decline, but year over year its on the rise which means more and more taxes need to be raised to support the beast.  There is a such thing as good government spending, but our current system does not allow a true checks and balances because a two party system is inherently corrupt. 

I basically agree with all of this, but cutting taxes is not the answer. Reform in the government is the only long-term solution to this kind of problem. I'm not suggesting that Obama is going to accomplish it by himself, but I do think that there is a genuine desire on his part and that's all I can ask for.

Cutting taxes is mindless pandering to the public. Bigger ideas are needed.

And stalker, your wit is unmatched! 'Douche bag' AAhhaaHAahAhAhahaAhaha, oh god I can't stop laughing! HAahahahahhaaha. You sure told me. I'm so ashamed.

Clown.

[phillymic2000]

but I do think that there is a genuine desire on his part and that's all I can ask for.

He ran on Yes we can, and change is coming, I could give a rats ass if he has a genuine desire to do it. He said he could and would, so we should expect him to do it.

[rjs246]

That's fair. And I think we're seeing the first steps towards that now. My point was simply that I don't think he can overhaul goverment and fix what's broken in four or even eight years. He can set it on the right path if people are patient enough to understand that things take time, but I seriously doubt that 4 years from now DC will be a well oiled machine of ethical behavior. Steps in the right direction should be encouraged and applauded.

[Butchers Bill]

That's fair. And I think we're seeing the first steps towards that now. My point was simply that I don't think he can overhaul goverment and fix what's broken in four or even eight forty years. He can set it on the right path if people are patient enough to understand that things take time, but I seriously doubt that 4 years from now DC will be a well oiled machine of ethical behavior. Steps in the right direction should be encouraged and applauded.

I have said repeatedly I hope that Obama is the best President the US has ever had...it's in my own self interest.  Rush Limbaugh can suck it.

That being said, I hope that someone, anyone, can limit the power of the federal government interfering with commerce and our private lives.  Ever since LBJ and the "War on Poverty" (some would argue since FDR) our civil liberties have weakened every passing year.