Tax Day Tea Parties

[FORD]

It's a case of simple mathematics. When the rich paid their fair share of taxes, this country was prosperous. When they started getting ridiculous tax "cuts" (along with their numerous loopholes) that's when the country started falling apart. Which began with the Reagan tax "cuts" in 1981, and accelerated with the Chimpy tax cuts in 2001.

Now there's more to it than that, such as the massive deregulation, corporatist friendly trade policies, etc. But the fact that the rich do not pay their fair share of the tax burden is a HUGE part of the problem.

And there's nothing "partisan" about acknowledging that reality.

[Combat Ready]

It's a case of simple mathematics. When the rich paid their fair share of taxes, this country was prosperous. When they started getting ridiculous tax "cuts" (along with their numerous loopholes) that's when the country started falling apart. Which began with the Reagan tax "cuts" in 1981, and accelerated with the Chimpy tax cuts in 2001.

Now there's more to it than that, such as the massive deregulation, corporatist friendly trade policies, etc. But the fact that the rich do not pay their fair share of the tax burden is a HUGE part of the problem.

And there's nothing "partisan" about acknowledging that reality.

How are the individual States doing with sky high taxation? California and New York for starters?

[FORD]

A lot of states had to raise their taxes to make up for what the Chimpy tax "cuts" for tax dodging millionaires cost them.

In Washington state, we have a Repuke asshat who puts these stupid ballot measures out every year or two. The teabagger types read the misleading ballot title which will be something like "Should yearly car license tabs be only $30 for everybody?".

Well sure. Who wouldn't want that?

Except the revenue that comes from those licensing fees goes to maintain and improve the roads. And it goes to maintain existing transit systems, as well as expanding them for better service. Which in turn lightens the burden on the roads, as commuting by bus or light rail becomes a practical solution for more people.

Well guess what? The teabaggers never read past the headline, the stupid ballot measure passed. Tim Eyman got a brand new Cadillac Escalade from the GOP as payment for "services rendered" and the citizens of Washington state got rapidly deteriorating roads and highways, because the money to fix them no longer exists.

A friend of mine was doing pretty well for himself at the time. He owned his own business up in Bellevue. He owned a couple of expensive cars, and was paying higher annual fees for the tabs as a result. Just the type who would benefit from Eyman's bullshit initiative.

But he voted against it. Why? Because he had to drive 405 and 520 to get to work like thousands of others. And expensive cars don't ride much better than cheap cars on shitty roads. And I haven't had the opportunity to ask Bill Gates, but I'd bet he voted against it as well, because the "richest man on the planet" (and his lawyer/lobbyist dad) are openly in favor of progressive taxation.

[Nitro Express]

I think of lot of it is whiny pseudo-patriots and bullshit fanned by talking head assholes...

What? You have to pay taxes?

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A real tea party is willing to risk jail time and harsh treatment standing up to a govt. It's not paying your taxes and sending a photo of a raised middle finger instead of a 1040. Standing around the post office carrying a sign is far from a real tax revolt.

[Nitro Express]

The banker bailout started with Bush and continued under Obama. My question is would McCain do anything differently? Obama is a Democrat and does things with a Democrat flavor but anyone who had a chance to win the presidency would have sold the bailout. That's reality. The problem has been brewing for a long time even before George W. Bush. The American people are getting what they deserve because they let the politicians and bankers get away with it while they were going to get rich overnight in the stock market and real estate. America got stupid and greedy and the politicians and bankers took advantage of it.

[Guitar Shark]

The American people are getting what they deserve because they let the politicians and bankers get away with it while they were going to get rich overnight in the stock market and real estate. America got stupid and greedy and the politicians and bankers took advantage of it.

I think it's a slightly different problem - the American people have been living beyond their means, and borrowing to maintain standards of living they feel they deserve, for far too long. Now, it has caught up to us with a vengeance.

[Combat Ready]

The banker bailout started with Bush and continued under Obama. My question is would McCain do anything differently? Obama is a Democrat and does things with a Democrat flavor but anyone who had a chance to win the presidency would have sold the bailout. That's reality. The problem has been brewing for a long time even before George W. Bush. The American people are getting what they deserve because they let the politicians and bankers get away with it while they were going to get rich overnight in the stock market and real estate. America got stupid and greedy and the politicians and bankers took advantage of it.

Great post Nitro!

[FORD]

McCain was involved with Neil Bush's Savings and Loan fraud. What does that tell you?

[Combat Ready]

A lot of states had to raise their taxes to make up for what the Chimpy tax "cuts" for tax dodging millionaires cost them.

In Washington state, we have a Repuke asshat who puts these stupid ballot measures out every year or two. The teabagger types read the misleading ballot title which will be something like "Should yearly car license tabs be only $30 for everybody?".

Well sure. Who wouldn't want that?

Except the revenue that comes from those licensing fees goes to maintain and improve the roads. And it goes to maintain existing transit systems, as well as expanding them for better service. Which in turn lightens the burden on the roads, as commuting by bus or light rail becomes a practical solution for more people.

Well guess what? The teabaggers never read past the headline, the stupid ballot measure passed. Tim Eyman got a brand new Cadillac Escalade from the GOP as payment for "services rendered" and the citizens of Washington state got rapidly deteriorating roads and highways, because the money to fix them no longer exists.

A friend of mine was doing pretty well for himself at the time. He owned his own business up in Bellevue. He owned a couple of expensive cars, and was paying higher annual fees for the tabs as a result. Just the type who would benefit from Eyman's bullshit initiative.

But he voted against it. Why? Because he had to drive 405 and 520 to get to work like thousands of others. And expensive cars don't ride much better than cheap cars on shitty roads. And I haven't had the opportunity to ask Bill Gates, but I'd bet he voted against it as well, because the "richest man on the planet" (and his lawyer/lobbyist dad) are openly in favor of progressive taxation.

I asked about California and New York because their taxes are sky high. Yet, California is bankrupt. More taxes is not the solution. If it were, California would be cruising along with streets paved of gold. Try running a business in California nowadays.

What's a pack of smokes cost in New York....15 bucks? All the extra tax revenue has their state budget in the black? Of course not.

[Combat Ready]

McCain was involved with Neil Bush's Savings and Loan fraud. What does that tell you?

McCain is another Senate lifer sellout. Fuck McCain.

[bueno bob]

McCain is another Senate lifer sellout. Fuck McCain.

Vote Kucinich.

:D

[Big Train]

Don't have to have a hood to be a racist, buddy....

Gee thanks pal. Thank you for providing proof, which is all I ask for. I had not seen anything stronger than calling him a socialist.

There were some knuckleheads to be sure, but let's not just the group by the fringe. I refrain from that on the other side. And before anyone jumps on this, I'm not condoning those photos or the people in them.

[Big Train]

Have both reached "titanic proportions," or has the debt reached "titanic proportions?"

I'd say both Nick. The debt was sky high and the decision to issue ever more debt to somehow erase the original debt made it "titanic". The amounts I (and just to be clear, so it isn't derailed to be about me) and everyone else pay is astronomical and it is now going to be much much worse. For me, this isn't a partisan issue. I've been an independent conservative for almost 11 years now and my differences span both parties. They have grown ever more reckless and wasteful.

This recession, financial pain IS the answer. Questioning every cost related to government, what we truly need and what we truly don't. What we really believe in and should fund versus what we don't. This is what private businesses are being forced to do, with layoffs, restructuring and divestitures. This is what people are doing in their personal financial lives as well. The government should be asked to do the same, not expand things. This papering they are doing is just buying them time. Not hard choices are being made truly.

[Big Train]

It's a case of simple mathematics. When the rich paid their fair share of taxes, this country was prosperous. When they started getting ridiculous tax "cuts" (along with their numerous loopholes) that's when the country started falling apart. Which began with the Reagan tax "cuts" in 1981, and accelerated with the Chimpy tax cuts in 2001.

Now there's more to it than that, such as the massive deregulation, corporatist friendly trade policies, etc. But the fact that the rich do not pay their fair share of the tax burden is a HUGE part of the problem.

And there's nothing "partisan" about acknowledging that reality.

So by that logic the country was growing by leaps and bounds in the 1970's under Ford and Carter, right? American cities like NYC were a utopia of prosperity and such?

[Big Train]

I asked about California and New York because their taxes are sky high. Yet, California is bankrupt. More taxes is not the solution. If it were, California would be cruising along with streets paved of gold. Try running a business in California nowadays.

What's a pack of smokes cost in New York....15 bucks? All the extra tax revenue has their state budget in the black? Of course not.

As an owner of California corporations, I can agree to that. In full.