New tax rate

[<G Man>]

Originally Posted by 09 XBones

Washington State? Montana? Alabama? Nobody lives there. Name me a state that has people living in it like Florida, Texas, California, Connecticut, heck even Delaware where bridges and tunnels don't have tolls...

I know around Tampa, FL, the Courtney Campbell Causeway, the Howard Frankland Bridge, the Gandy Bridge and the Sunshine Skyway are all toll free. Those are all pretty major crossings.

Bones, what is the point you are trying to make and why won't you just admit that you are wrong once again?

[ReconLdr]

No matter you slice it, my paycheck will be less in 2013 than it was in 2012. We as a nation are taxed too much, our government spends too much and too many people are content to just point fingers.

In recent years there has been an all out attack on our liberty. It gained momentum under GW Bush with the PATRIOT Act, then Obamacare and the improved NDAA. With every new "Act" passed, more government spending comes along with it and We the People have to foot the bill.

I currently pay 33% to the feds, 6.2% for SS (which probably won't be there when I'm old enough to collect it), 3% to the state and 1.2% for local taxes for a grand total of 43.4% of my earnings taken for taxes. That figure doesn't include property taxes, sales tax, or any of the other taxes that are out there.

I gotta ask those of you who are "ok" with paying more taxes, "How much of my paycheck should I be allowed to keep?" Last year (2011) between my wife and the government collected $51,000 from our paychecks and I still had to write a check to the feds for $3100. Yet, my scumbag cousin paid in $8,000 and got a return of just under $10,000. I'd really like for someone to explain to me how this is even remotely fair??? How is it that 48% of the population pays no federal income tax but, it's ok to take 1/3rd of my salary only to be told I didn't pay enough???

[RGRider]

Hmmm, JHall573, says we have a low tax burden these days.

[DJW]

Originally Posted by 09 XBones

Unions don't pay taxes, therefore cannot get a "break" on taxes.

<blink>

<blink>

<blink>

That's what I love about you bones: your understated sense of humor.

[<G Man>]

Originally Posted by 09 XBones

Unions don't pay taxes, therefore cannot get a "break" on taxes.

Originally Posted by DJW

That's what I love about you bones: your understated sense of humor.

Yeah, I wish I could catch a non-break like that and not have to pay taxes.

[<G Man>]

Originally Posted by ReconLdr

No matter you slice it, my paycheck will be less in 2013 than it was in 2012. We as a nation are taxed too much, our government spends too much and too many people are content to just point fingers.

Um, how much should we be taxed?

How much should the government spend?

I see what you mean about the pointing fingers thing. I mean with such definitive facts and terrific ideas as you have presented there is no reason for everyone not to be doing the right thing.

[Fred1369]

we do have a lower tax rate than Europe and Scandinavia.
I don't know what the tax rate is in Botswana.

[ReconLdr]

Originally Posted by <G Man>

Um, how much should we be taxed?

Less than we are right now.... If I had to come up with a number to start negotiations I would start at 10% fed, 1% state and work from there.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be taxed. I'm saying that 44% is way to ****ing much. I also feel EVERYONE should have skin in the game. No more getting more in your tax return than you paid in.

How much should the government spend?

Considerably less than they do now. The next great debate will be the Debt Ceilling. Politicians from both sides will argue for raising the limit.

If your sewer backed up and filled your house with ****.... which would make more sense A) Raising the roof to accomodate more sewage or B) Pumping out the sewage and fixing the problem so it doesn't fill up your house again?

I see what you mean about the pointing fingers thing. I mean with such definitive facts and terrific ideas as you have presented there is no reason for everyone not to be doing the right thing.

Are you trying to say the "status quo" is acceptable? That almost half of the people in this country pay no taxes at all and some of them turn a profit from this mess???

I'm not saying this is a Democrat or a Republican problem... It's a POLITICIAN problem. As far as I'm concerned the only difference is where the $$$ goes. The Dems give the $$$ to the "poor" in the form of welfare and public assistance and special treatment for the Unions (their voting base). The Republicans give the $$$ to their defense contractor friends (their voting base). No matter who is in office, We the People are the ones paying for all of this.

[RGRider]

I don't think this will be doable by just going after the so-called 'rich'.

[Hamilton]

Originally Posted by 09 XBones

Washington State? Montana? Alabama? Nobody lives there. Name me a state that has people living in it like Florida, Texas, California, Connecticut, heck even Delaware where bridges and tunnels don't have tolls...

Hey boney, I finished my list of bridges in Southern California that charge a toll, hopefully this will save you some time :

1.
2.
3.

Do you lie to your kids as you do out here? Just curious...

[<G Man>]

Originally Posted by ReconLdr

I'm not saying this is a Democrat or a Republican problem... It's a POLITICIAN problem. As far as I'm concerned the only difference is where the $$$ goes. The Dems give the $$$ to the "poor" in the form of welfare and public assistance and special treatment for the Unions (their voting base). The Republicans give the $$$ to their defense contractor friends (their voting base). No matter who is in office, We the People are the ones paying for all of this.

What I'm saying is that it is a lot easier to tear something down than it is to create something. A house that took a year to build can be competely demolished in a few hours. An idea that took years to refine can be shot down by one overlooked item.

I don't think this "problem" is a politician problem, I think it is a people problem and a nation problem. We are a nation of finger pointers. The vast majority of people in this country don't have a clue how to produce anything, fix anything, design anything or even be constructive in general. We as a union only know how to point out those things that we don't like with no ideas or valid input to offer as to how it could be better.

I'm not trying to chastise you in particular and I think we are generally on the same page. I just thought it was a bit ironic that your post was pointing a finger at the finger pointers.

[<G Man>]

Originally Posted by Hamilton

Hey boney, I finished my list of bridges in Southern California that charge a toll, hopefully this will save you some time :

1.
2.
3.

Do you lie to your kids as you do out here? Just curious...

Please tell me he doesn't have kids.

[Hamilton]

Originally Posted by <G Man>

Please tell me he doesn't have kids.

Maybe they'll rebel, buy guns.

[RGRider]

Wow, imagine that! Cut and control govt spending and the economy turns around.

Texas Comptroller reports jump in revenue to $96 billion
PAUL J. WEBER,Associated Press
Posted: 01/07/2013 11:48:02 AM MST

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The state comptroller estimates that Texas will generate $96.2 billion in general revenue in 2014-2015, a major jump in tax collection from the last two-year budget cycle.

Republican Comptroller Susan Combs on Monday was releasing her biennial revenue estimate. The crucial number sets the limit on what lawmakers can spend for 2014 and 2015, when Democrats and teachers hope to reverse, or at least bandage, deep cuts in the current budget that included $5.4 billion slashed from public education.

Combs reported Monday that the state collected $8.8 billion more revenue during the current 2012-2013 revenue cycle than she initially forecast, giving lawmakers breathing room in settling a $5.2 billion deficit in the current budget.

"Texas experienced a very strong rebound from a severe recession," Combs said.

Over the next two years, Combs expects more than $3.6 billion will automatically go into the Rainy Day Fund, which is available to lawmakers when needed. That will leave $92.6 billion for lawmakers to divvy out.

But that doesn't mean they will spend all of it.

Lawmakers don't have to spend all the money Combs says is available - and chances are they probably won't. Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst have promised to limit any increase in state spending to a sum of population growth plus inflation, or 9.85 percent.

Under current conditions, their plan would create a general revenue budget of $89.29 billion. Combs' estimate
in January 2011 was $72.2 billion in general-purpose spending available.

Texas' economy is humming again after lawmakers in 2011 wrote a cut-to-the-bone budget as the nation lurched out of the Great Recession.

At the time, unemployment in the state was the highest in a decade and the Legislature faced a $27 billion shortfall. But unemployment now is at a four-year low of 6.2 percent, sales tax receipts are skyrocketing and money is pouring into state coffers behind a new energy boom.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdate...nue-96-billion

[Uncle Salty]

Originally Posted by ReconLdr

I'm not saying this is a Democrat or a Republican problem... It's a POLITICIAN problem. As far as I'm concerned the only difference is where the $$$ goes. The Dems give the $$$ to the "poor" in the form of welfare and public assistance and special treatment for the Unions (their voting base). The Republicans give the $$$ to their defense contractor friends (their voting base). No matter who is in office, We the People are the ones paying for all of this.

The Democrats are guilty of corporate welfare as much as the Republicans. Both parties are robbing from the middle class. Hell, many on Obama's team came straight from Wall St.