What Is A Billion?
The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual
manner, think about whether you want the "politicians" spending your tax
money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising
agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one
of its releases
a. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
b. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
c. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age
d. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
e. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government spends it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's look at New Orleans. It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D)! , is pre sently asking the Congress
for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans .
Interesting number, what does this mean?
a. If you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.
b. If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets
$1,329,787.
c. If you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, DC, HELLO! Are all your calculators broken?
The following is too true to be funny
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax ! his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"
And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Servic! e Fee Ta x,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-rec! urring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
Comment:
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and there was prosperity,
absolutely no national debt, the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What the hell happened?
I dont know :'(. The bad thing is .Its not going to get any better.Not in our life time.TO BAD SO SAD. :'(
This hits the nail on the head.
To top it all off, what has the government done for it's citizens that would warrant so much money???
One thing they have done for us is make (or changed) so many laws that nobody knows which way is up and practically re-wrote our constitution with amendments. We practically have to get a permit to use our BS because our neighbors rights may be violated if the smoke or aroma passes over their land.
Quote from: Oldman on October 14, 2006, 07:02:28 AM
What the hell happened?
Hmmm, that's a tough one???? ??? ??? Let's see, could it possibly be, that the Republican's took over Congress and a questionable majority of morally and fiscally conservative voters decided to put their "Faith" and their wallets in the hands of a dyslectic, intellectually challaged, National Guard drop out???
Probably not, but don't you think it's time for a change? Ooops, can I say that on this forum????
What the hell happened ? Well first lets realize this. If you are a crook or an idiot
it really won't matter ..republican or democrat....Both party's are well supplied
with both.........But what the hell happened???????
In the fifties most families had 1 home.....1 car.....0 campers...0 big boats
0 vacation homes.....0 backyard in-ground pools...0 four-wheelers for every family
member And just one phone in the house...not 5 cell phones too...0 $200 tv-cable
bills...0 computers + internet fee's...And only 1 bread winner.......................
What the hell happened ?....Our WANTERS got stuck. I WANT I WANT I WANT
GOT WANTS ? How about the gotta-haves ?..............Coyote
This discussion reminds me of a quote, I believe from the late William Proxmire. "A billion here, a billion there. Pretty soon you're talking real money". And that was in the day when a billion really was something, not the chump change it seems to be today. Bring back the Golden Fleece awards.
Tom
Quote from: coyote on October 14, 2006, 09:35:55 PM
What the hell happened ?....Our WANTERS got stuck. I WANT I WANT I WANT
GOT WANTS ? How about the gotta-haves ?..............Coyote
AMEN, Coyote, AMEN :) :)
How important are the upcoming elections? Extremely important! Below is a list of what we can expect if the liberals win. These elections are crucial. It is vitally important that you vote. Please vote and encourage others to do the same. As bad as things are, they will be infinitely worse if the liberals win.
The strategy of the liberals is to get Values Voters so disgusted and discouraged that they will not vote. If that happens, the liberals will have achieved their goal and they will be running our country.
Even though the republicans are far from perfect, they are light years better than the far left wacko's that are running the democratic party.
Here is what we can expect if the liberals win:
1. Amnesty for 12,000,000 illegal immigrants.
2. A push to make homosexual marriage and polygamy legal in all 50 states.
3. Only liberal judges will be appointed. They will create laws to implement the social agenda liberals cannot get passed through the legislative process.
4. Liberals will make the killing of the unborn more difficult to stop.
5. Liberals will continue to try to rid our society of Christian influence, including any reference to God in our Pledge and on our currency.
6. A return to the "Fairness Doctrine" in broadcasting where opposing views must be given equal time. Every conservative talk show host will be forced to give a liberal equal time on every issue. The purpose of this rule will be to shut down conservative talk shows.
7. An increase in taxes to push new social programs.
8. Passing a new "hate crimes" law making it illegal to refer to homosexuality in a negative manner.
9. Liberals will give terrorists from other countries who try to kill Americans the same rights American citizens enjoy under our constitution.
10. We will withdraw from Iraq, sending the message to the terrorists that if they will just be patient they can win and bring their terrorist acts to the U.S.
Quote from: projump on October 15, 2006, 11:42:36 AM
How important are the upcoming elections? Extremely important.
Yeppers! At least that sounds rational ;)
There's still time to change course before Gingrich's "Contract on America" becomes a reality >:(
Sounds like a win win .Lose situation. ;D.Why cant we all just get along .Never mind i forgot which planet i was on.Next beer please ;D
Quote from: icerat4 on October 16, 2006, 09:14:20 AM
Sounds like a win win .Lose situation. ;D.Why cant we all just get along .Never mind i forgot which planet i was on.Next beer please ;D
I have tried to make it a point not to respond to any of the polictical topics. Since I've made that decision, I can just sit back and humor myself by reading the responses.
Oh! The point of my post. Icerat4, you nailed it with that statement. :)
iTs the beer part right habs.LOL LOL ;D.
projump
I'm a "R" but for the most part I voted "D" last time. I'm not going to get into this much, here, other than to say that anyone who votes a party line for the sake of the party is just another court's jester of a self-licking-ice-cream-cone... no matter what side of the coin you are on, R or D.
Now if you want to really discuss these issues then jump over to HERE (http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/index.php) and go to the Political forum. I will be glad to chit chat with ya over there about your comments made here!
If you do come then be factual and have items to back you up or you will find someone eating your lunch.
Thanks!
Olds
Quote from: icerat4 on October 16, 2006, 11:16:57 AM
iTs the beer part right habs.LOL LOL ;D.
It is the beer part, but also your temporary amnesia of what planet you were on. ;D
Quote from: TomG on October 14, 2006, 07:07:12 PM
Quote from: Oldman on October 14, 2006, 07:02:28 AM
What the hell happened?
Hmmm, that's a tough one???? ??? ??? Let's see, could it possibly be, that the Republican's took over Congress and a questionable majority of morally and fiscally conservative voters decided to put their "Faith" and their wallets in the hands of a dyslectic, intellectually challaged, National Guard drop out???
Probably not, but don't you think it's time for a change? Ooops, can I say that on this forum????
C'mon Tom, that's a real stretch. I see Olds' original post as a comment on politics in general and not a finger-pointing excercise. I think we can pretty much all agree that it's the
system that needs fixed, regardless of who you happen to think caused it.
If I'm not mistaken, since 1906, there have been plenty of Dem presidents and congresses, same with the Reps. Now, if you could show where an amazing percentage of the additional taxes Olds listed were enacted by the Reps, you would have a valid point. I don't know the answer to that but think you would be wasting your time researching it. ;)
I'm goin' with Rat, time for another beer.
Kirk
Quote from: Oldman on October 16, 2006, 03:12:20 PM
other than to say that anyone who votes a party line for the sake of the party is just another court's jester of a self-licking-ice-cream-cone... no matter what side of the coin you are on, R or D.
I forgot to include that I absolutely agree. My R state HR won't be getting my vote come November, nor the Gov in 2008.
Kirk
thank goodness I'm drinking while you guys are typing.... :D :D
Arcin' & Sparkin'
There goes the wind in my sail :D :D
Yea watch out for the Boogyman over there ;D
QuoteC'mon Tom, that's a real stretch. I see Olds' original post as a comment on politics in general and not a finger-pointing excercise.
Chez you are so correct. The reason I posted this information is I believe of all of the place I post to that this group has a common ground were politics is set aside. It was a simple statment of fact. l
OOk at the monies we are spending that we don't have to spend. My hope was someone might go figure out how we are financing this... maybe even find out who is buy up our now 30 year issued bonds.
Maybe this will sit well with some folks but it does not sit well with me... that one of the major communist countries of the world is financing us with a *cough* "credit card." Don't think so? Go look at who is buy up our paper notes.
This is not a R or D issue; this is an American issue. We need to stop the bleeding now. We need folks to run this country R or D to stop the bullchit and start looking after what is good for us, and for our GrandKids sake stop purchasing stuff we don't have the monies for.
Think about this. Most of the folks who are running this country will be dead in 30 years. Do you think they really care about all of those 30 year notes coming due then?
In closing I will say that I'm going on 57 years of age. In 30 years I will be dead, so these notes will not effect me personally. I will not state why I'm upset about this business of spending more than we have. I will ask each person to ask themselves how does this sit with them. Then vote the next election to reflect your feelings.
My take is simple: We need to stop spending monies we don't have.
QuoteYea watch out for the Boogyman over there ;D
I wonder when I saw your name over there if it was the same person as over here. You are correct... Boogyman is a one-way-thinker who has to much time on his hands. He is without a doubt the only person I have ever had a love - hate feeling towards. He is a Pitbull for sure.
I'm still drinking while you guys are typing..... :D :D :D
For the record, I am part of Box's tag line: top 5% paying about 50% of the taxes. :o
Quote from: Arcs_n_Sparks on October 16, 2006, 07:10:41 PM
I'm still drinking while you guys are typing..... :D :D :D
For the record, I am part of Box's tag line: top 5% paying about 50% of the taxes. :o
Man O man that sure beats the other side of where folk wish they could make more that 7 bucks an hour.
Where things like paid vaction, holidays, personal days and a good health plan was part of just everyday living.
Personally I rather pay this upper limit--which we do-- than be locked into the other side-- which I'm glad we are not.
My question to you ... you ole beer drinker is which of the two would you rather be? A 50% tax payer or someone making $7.00 per hour with no benefits?
When I go to vote Nov. 7th , I will only vote for those who campain strictly on their own qualifications
and not just bad mouthing their opponent................Hmmmmmm, I can't find anyone to vote for.
Well I think I'll smoke a chicken and as Merle Haggard sings in his song......
I think I'll just sit here and drink!
Even when we think everything is bad , It's still the best place in the world ! GOD BLESS AMERICA
I am not in the top 5%, but am considered "upper middle class" by my tax guy (the ole check book don't seem to reflect that). I live within my means and save for the future, but at just 33 years old the present tax code is less than fair. I gladly pay my taxes to support my country, county, state, city, school district (thou I have no kids). It seems their has to be a better way to balance it all out. I do not wish to be penalized for going to school and getting a good job. Here is a site I submit for you to decide.
http://www.fairtax.org/ (http://www.fairtax.org/)
No beer tonite, just a little Crown-n-Coke
Quote from: Oldman on October 16, 2006, 07:41:11 PM
Quote from: Arcs_n_Sparks on October 16, 2006, 07:10:41 PM
I'm still drinking while you guys are typing..... :D :D :D
For the record, I am part of Box's tag line: top 5% paying about 50% of the taxes. :o
My question to you ... you ole beer drinker is which of the two would you rather be? A 50% tax payer or someone making $7.00 per hour with no benefits?
Oldman,
Drinking scotch tonight..... :D
Your question is a difficult one, since it mixes two topics: 50% taxpayer vs. $7/hr and progressive taxes.
My grandfather was a coal miner (gray collar). My father was a policeman (blue collar, literally). I guess I am a white collar (but I hate white shirts). I was the first in the family to college. The question I ask: do we reward hard work, and do minimize the penality with accumulating wealth (savings or small business development).
I have no trouble helping people less fortunate, and donate quit a bit. I have more trouble when we embed it in the tax code, especially when we decide to give to people more money than they have been taxed (EITC). I also have trouble when we extend these concepts to utilities and other services beyone the reach of voters.
As a two income household, we are getting hammered quite a bit. When you get to the point where someone should quit working, I think we have collectively lost. I was going to pay $58K in federal taxes last year, but that apparently was not enough. The AMT decided that since I am a "millionaire" and in a position to have deductions reducing my federal taxes to zero (not), I needed to cough up another $4K. I am now having that conversation with my wife: quit work, spend more time with the kids, reduce the tax madness.
However, in the spirit of smokiness on the forum, I am now returning to my scotch and thinking about how many butts to burn this weekend. :D :D :D
Hey Olds,
Sometimes I wonder about this senerio. Don't hit a lick..Get the whole family SSI cards.....Food stamps...Hud for rent and utilites...Clothes vouchers....Free college.....And full health insurance with
no deductable...............Adds up to about $47 an hour plus one helluva benifit package !......NAWWWW...
can't do that ! My Dad would come back and haunt me..............I think I'll just continue to pay to play!
Coyote
Where is Owrstrich when you need him????
The part I like most in California is where we have decided illegals get in-state tuition, but my nephews in Michigan will have to pay full freight if they decide to get an education over in the land of fruits and nuts. :D :D :D
Okay, maybe I've had more scotch than the daily adult minimum. :D :D :D
Back to smokin'
A_n_S
Bingo A_n_S....................I guess my political correctness never quite got up to speed. Just
Like my keyboarding skills. Coyote
Arcs_n_Sparks
I think I did not make myself clear. I'm not for raising taxes. Like you I pay more than I care to think about. My whole point here is we are spending billions of dollars per day that we don't have. That is my biggest issue with those that are currently running this country. Their direction is buy now pay much later with much interest rather than get a second job. A second job is normally what folks get when they want to purchase something that cannot fit into their current budget. For us a second job is to raise our taxes.
There are three possible avenues here.
1. Continue financing our spending habits.
2. Get a second job.
3. Live within our budget and stop spending monies we don't have.
These are the only three possibilities I know of. Is there another option? If so someone share it with me. Personally I vote for #3. I sure don't want to pay anymore in taxes (#2,) nor do I want to bankrupt my country's future (#1.)
I'm not going to get into my second biggest issue, that being just why in the hell are we in Iraq? However I will say that if the D's come into power this next time it will not be because of my vote. It will be because the R's threw it away. While this is now off topic I will state clearly that Bush scares the hell out of me. He is like that nut over there in Iran who thinks he is the finger tip of God's will.
I'm going to vote for the persons who say that they are going to stop this spending of monies we don't have. I could give a rat's A$$ less care if they are D's, R's, or whatever. You folks here who have kids at home better be looking for a change too, or your kids will be paying one hellva a price as adults.
EDIT: Something else that is off topic but close and dear to my heart. That is if our direction does not change you can bet your 1st born or 2nd or 3rd born there will be another draft. I don't know how many here remember the last draft. I do and I will tell you right now the draft ain't pretty.
Following this thread with interest although not in a position to comment directly, however I would say that many of the issues and comments relate to the UK as well.
QuoteI don't know how many here remember the last draft. I do and I will tell you right now the draft ain't pretty.
Olds, you're dead right about the draft. It is one ugly sucker. I got my notice in 1968 and ended up in Phu Bai that same year. I pray no one ever gets drafted again for another useless war.
You hit the nail on the head too about financing this mess. Just look at who sucks up every scrap of that 30 year paper. No matter who wins the next presidential election I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. It'll be a lose-lose situation.
Tom
oK GUYS ITS MILLER TIME. ;D
Ahhhhh. Music to my ears. I'm about to crack open an ice cold Hopfenperle ;D ;D ;D
Tom
The over used phrase these days is....What the hell is with these kids these days?
When it should be...What the hell is with these parents these days?
Coyote