UM Money, Debts And Mortgages Experts

Unfortunately, I’ve never forgotten about them. That urks me, too. And prostitutes, etc. It was so funny, because I had heard on the news very recently (don’t remember many details, as I was driving) that some lawmaker was proposing to tax prostitution. That was the funniest thing I’d heard in a long time. Not that I wish there was a way to do it. But how on earth could it ever be done?

Some are misers – but there are misers in every financial level. I had to laugh at your picture of the lunch! Sharing a sandwich! LOL. Sounds like some of my dates! LOL.
I’m picturing you there with Ebeneezer Scrooge – boy, he was, wasn’t he? Well, did you at least get some substantial advice from him?

Refresh my memory. How did Helmsley get a raw deal? We all know that she didn’t go to prison for her comment (almost sounds like that in your post, but I know that’s not what you meant).

I don’t remember a lot about her experience, except for how tired I was at looking at her on the news. But in what way did she get a raw deal? Did she get more time than usual for her crime than others that had committed the same crime? Or maybe really had not evaded taxes after all? I’m not challenging at all, just really do not remember any unfairness in her situation.

But do they pay taxes? I’d forgotten about Nevada! A friend of mine went to Vegas and was telling me about how they hand out cards similar to baseball cards, to solicit. He said the streets are littered with them, and they hand them out to people who have children with them, etc. Wow. But do you know if they are taxed? That would be interesting to know – I never had thought about that.

Here is an interesting quote I came across in a book I am reading called America’s God and Country. It was written by Noah Webster who wrote the first American Dictionary in 1828. (I always get him confused with Daniel Webster who was Secretary of State under Harrison and Tyler).

When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.” The preservation of [our] government depends on the faithful discharge of this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded. If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws.

-History of United States by Noah Webster.

I am not getting into a debate about who was allowed to vote then, the ironic point is how true he was about corrupt politicians getting into office.

One can read that conclusion into it, but I don’t think that people want to penalize others. The general belief among the poor is that the rich get a pass when it comes to paying their fair share. Right or wrong, that’s not the same as punishment – unless it’s Leona Helmsley who was famous for saying “taxes are for little people”, then they put her in prison. She got a raw deal though, only because of her arrogance.

Many strict Constitutionalists maintain that the government has no right to tax personal labor in the first place, and that the IRS operates outside of the law. They also agree that taxing corporations is well within the Constitution. We have things backwards sometimes.

I just wanted it to be clear how I felt. That’s an intersting survey—wish we were able to find it.
Back when I first started my job here (about 20 years ago), working for a small business, I was a struggling single mom. I drove the proverbial junk car, didn’t have many nice clothes, etc. I couldn’t help the natural feeling of resenting our owners and some of the management, as they all lived in an affluent community and obviously had so many advantages that I did not.

I was whining to my mom about it, feeling sorry for myself. She told me the most sensible, true thing that put everything in perspective for me and made me content with being myself and them being themselves.

She said: No matter how wealthy a person is, there is always someone wealthier than him who looks down on him as having less. For every person who DOES have less, there is always somebody looking up at them, feeling they have more than them. She meant that as bad off as I thought I was, there was always someone who would consider me rich. And as wealthy as some people are, there’s always somebody with even more who would consider them beneath them.

Well, it made me feel better then. But I do have to say—-as wealthy as these small business owners were who were my bosses, they never at any time allowed me to feel inferior. They were very generous in their benefits (and still are), and share the fortune as much as possible. They realize that we are an integral and necessary part of their success. And I believe God blesses their business as a result of this.

Not sure why I’m bringing this up. Just hate that “rich” has to be one big category, which lumps honest, hard-working and fair businessmen who happen to be wealthy in with the likes of —–yes—- Paris Hilton, etc.

I was reminded of those words recently when Dateline did a show featuring a precious little boy who was born with progeria. It is a disease that makes a child age quickly and die very young.

The reporter asked him why he didn’t strike back when someone had said something cruel to him.

Without pause, this wise little boy said , two wrongs don’t make a right.

I was in tears.

Oh, that we would all follow the advice of this inspiring little boy. What a difference we could make in the world!

I believe many very wealthy people are very careful with their money. That’s probably why they have it! Some are downright misers though. Many years ago I met a retired lawyer through work. We talked alot about me starting my own business. He invited me to lunch one day to discuss it. I was skinny as a rail and this man winked at me as he ordered one sandwich that we shared! He said, you don’t want to gain weight do you? I laughed and thought… you don’t want to pay for two sandwiches! LOL

Also you forgot about all the people who do not pay taxes, ie drug dealers and criminals of the like, even thouse who get paid under the table in cash and don’t pay taxes on it. Yet they all have 100 dollar tennis shoes and 80 dollar jeans, yet they still collect food stamps and live in goverment housing…things that make you go hummmm

If you are referring to my post, please don’t put words in my mouth. For one thing, I only said that our state and local taxes are already set up this way, and nobody has complained or felt like it was aimed at the rich. That’s all I said. Period.

Also——please take the time to fully read the posts before you respond. (If you’re referring to mine). Look closely, and you will see that I copied an excerpt from the “Fair Tax” website, then followed up by saying it sounds like it IS a punishment for the rich, and that it made me uncomfortable.

I’m not sure whose post you’re responding to—-just wanted to make it clear that, if it’s mine, NO I DO NOT BELIEVE IN TAXING THE WEALTH. Oh—–and accept my apology if it’s not my post you’re responding to. LOL!

Wow—that is a very good point! Well—consider, if you will—-Gilligans Island (I know, I know—-don’t laugh). But, really, who ended up really running the place and keeping everybody alive and fed? Gilligan, the Captain, the Professor and Mary Ann. The Howells and the Movie Star were simply dead weight. LOL.
Seriously, though, you have a really good point. I agree completely!

A self-made rich person, who came up through the ranks and has knowledge and experience and knows how to appreciate what he has—–that person, to me, is what I call “rich”. The likes of Paris Hilton (choking as I type her name) and those, like you said, who were just born into it—–I don’t consider that “rich” in any way. Their lives seem so very empty and void, and the only way to entertain themselves in their dull lives is by getting in trouble and making themselves notorious. And it’s getting harder and harder for them to do so, as they just keep getting more and more extreme.

Didn’t mean to go on. I’ve seen Ms. HIlton’s name a few times on the board, and just have to choke everytime I see it or hear anything about that pitiful little rich girl.

So you believe in taxing the wealth. Do you also believe that we should dole out food based on a person’s size?

People in a free society should be free to give away what they earn, use it as they please, or hoard it. As horrible as that may sound to some. That is what living in a capitalist society is all about. Read the biography of R.G. LeTourneau. He went bust several times. In the end, he made millions and gave 90% away of his own choosing.

If society does not allow this, then it takes away the incentives to take risks. As evil as many people call the oil companies, ask your familiy members if they happen to own any stock or mutual funds which are invested in these companies? If they do, then I guarantee that they are looking for a substantial return on their investment.

It is not all roses though. An economist I know who works for the Federal Reserve has said many times, that what is good for society is not always good for the investors. His 2 favorite examples are the Railrods in the mid-1800s and the fiber-optics in the 1990’s. Both of these laid foundations for generations to come, but those heavily invested, lost their shirts.

I do believe that if someone is willing to take the big risk, then they are entitled to decide how to spend their gains (if they get any). If I have any money left when I die, I should have the right to leave it to my kids, my grandkids, give it away, whatever I decide.

I realize that. I’m just saying that these taxes are based such that the more spent, the more taxed. So it seems the “rich” are carrying the largest burden in contributing the the state and local tax. One thought, though – when you read stories about true millionaires, who really do have money, you find ironically, they don’t spend very much. A good percentage of them are very frugal.
I wonder if, really, our taxes are being paid in most part by just people who live beyond their means and do max out credit cards, trying to keep up with the Jones’.

One ting, though, that trouble me, was this section from the “Fair Tax” page——->

Is the FairTax fair? Yes, the FairTax is fair, and in fact, much fairer than the income tax. Wealthy people spend more money than other individuals. They buy expensive cars, big houses, and yachts. They buy filet mignon instead of hamburger, fine wine instead of beer, designer dresses, and expensive jewelry. The FairTax taxes them on these purchases. If, however, they use their money to build job-creating factories, finance research and development to create new products, or fund charitable activities (all of which help improve the standard of living of others), then those activities are not taxed.

For some reason, it made me uncomfortable with the categorizing it has made of “rich” people, almost with a bitterness toward them in general. I have no feelings one way or another about the rich, but I still did not like the tone of the statement, almost as if it were, as someone says, a punishment.

I’m confused. I haven’t read the Fair Tax information yet – but, based on only what you’ve mentioned – is that not already the way it is? All taxable sales are based on purchase nothing else. And income tax is based on salary. So, if everybody now who makes purchases pays for tax on what they purchase, whether rich or not, how will a new “fair tax” be different and unfair to the rich? Are they not already paying taxes on taxable items now? And, even now, if what you say is true, are they not already buying more because of more money, therefore more tax? I’m not asking this for argument sake – just sincerely curious.

My ignorance keeps getting exposed! But I have to ask – why would the name Neal Boortz cause dispare? I’m not familiar with him, so I guess I’m off to Google to find out about him. Thanks for the information.

You will find a lot about Neal BOORtz doing a search. Check this site and read the comments! Gotta agree with the writer who says, what would Jesus think!

The sales tax does not go to the Federal Government, it goes to state and local. That explains a lot. This man obviously believes that there’s a direct relationship between one’s worth as a person (his very right to life) and the value of his bank account. Un-effing-believable! Well there’s a tribute to free speech in America, when a Nazi can have his own radio show.

Amazing isn’t it this guy can make big bucks spreading his hate. I love some of the comments on that site.. like save the farmer and possibly get some food and leave the blabbermouth radio host! LOL!

Consider that there’s just been a national disaster. Who would you rather have with you: a migrant worker and mechanic who know how to grow food and keep the tractor running, or Oprah and Rush? Not that those two are examples of this, but many rich people are good examples of people who’ve learned how to take advantage of others and the system, but someone who knows how to make shoes or build a wall has far more value. Besides, most great wealth is inherited, so like Paris Hilton, these people are probably not examples of anything other than just being born right. Why save them?

Well I saw the Fair Tax site and read the FAQ. There’s a lot to like there, but it’s regressive and leaves the biggest loopholes of all in that vast sums of wealth can be earned, accumulated and retained both within corporations and in personal accounts and these monies are never taxed unless the money is actually withdrawn and spent on goods in this country. The middle classes spends nearly all of their income in ways that will be subject to the sales tax, and although the wealthy do spend a lot, they hardly spend it all. That’s why they’re rich!! The money they DON’T spend goes completely untaxed and the same is true of the vast sums that remain in their corporations.

This fortune will compound with interest and furthermore be passed on from one generation to the next without being taxed creating royal bloodlines the likes of which we haven’t seen since Luis IV and the Czars. I’m not so sure this is as “fair” as we’d like. Unless I’m missing something, it looks more like another way to dupe the people into giving the rich another lucky windfall. If they find a way to correct the parts I’ve highlighted, I might be a supporter, but when I see who is behind this, I don’t think it’s possible.

There is also a Fair Tax book that has a lot of good info in it if your interested. It’s called The Fair Tax Book and is written by Congressman John Linder and Neal Boortz. Many will dispare simply because Neal’s name is on the book and that is not a good reason to write it off. It is the brainchild of Congressman John Linder,who, along with his contacts did all of the research. Neal helped put it into book form. It is available at most large book stores, on-line sites, etc.

How would you define fair? What is “Fair” and “guaranteed” as frow wegot1000? The progressive income tax is socialist at its base. Karl Marx wrote this in 1848.

The Fair Tax is still progressive because there is no tax exempt entities. Every purchase of a new item will be taxed. The wealthier the person, the more new items they purchase. The more they purchase, the more tax they pay. Even the Kennedy’s will begin paying the tax.

I do trust that you are not of the opinion that all rich people should be punished.

I stated once before, those who believe in current progressive income tax should apply the same logic to the next Pizza they order and plan to share. Before anyone gets any pizza, everyone gets weighed. The heaviest person gets the least and the lightest gets the most. It really is the same thing at heart. As long the Dems keep preaching class warfare, then people will not see anything as fair unless the rich pay 99% of their income in taxes.

Taxes are not designed to bring everyone to the same economic level. It is to fund the government (yes, who wastes far too much!).