I thought a lot about this lately and here is what I think. We have a Republican today that resembles a lot like Lyndon Johnson. I never thought I'd see the day but this president as well as this Republican Congress could easily be mistaken for Democrats when it comes to spending money, running the war in Iraq and a drug prescription plan. Lyndon Johnson has been done proud. Most Americans prefer small government.
As a Republican, I could not agree more. They started out on a high note in 1994 with its Contract with America determined to change Washington, but ended up being changed by Washington. Earmark legislation became more important than landmark legislation. Power became more important than the values they stood for. Now they have to go back to the drawing board. This was a very odd election. I have always said that domestic issues were more important to voters than international issues and pocketbook issues are the most important of domestic issues where voters are concerned. This election saw a reversal of that. Republicans need to do a gut check and determine who they are and what they believe. This is pretty much what McCain is saying. They need to go back to the values that allowed them to win in 1994 if they expect to win in 2008.
Well according to the IRS the top 5% of income earners paid 54% of all taxes in 2003 and the top 1% paid 34% of individual taxes. (the most recent data I could find). Compared to 1999 where the top 5% only paid 37% of income taxes. Wow, the richest 5% surely are getting by without paying any taxes. Damn them for having Bush and his republican cronies in their pockets, if only we had a group of people that don't like "tax-cuts for the rich" maybe our economy wouldn't be in the horrible shape it is in right now.
Indeed, the top 5% of income earners made 54% of all the income earned in 2003 and the top 1% made 34% of income earned. Are you surprised that they pay equivalent taxes? Do you think they should pay less? And these numbers do not include the vast wealth they make from capital gains and rental income, which aren't generally counted. The ultra rich are dominating all of the income, not by being innovative and productive, but by inheriting money and taking dividends and capital gains on investments, which are no longer taxed! This produces giant windfalls for the ultra-rich, modest gains for the middle class who have modest investments, and zippo for the poor.
1. investments are very productive. it certainly helps the economy to have ultra-rich people investing in things. 2. it really doesnt matter if people put their money under their bed and does nothing, it doesnt justify taking money from them. i think a flat tax rate would be fair. yes, i think everyone should pay less. and since the rich pay much more, they should have their taxes lessened the most. of course it is hard to lower taxes when people still favor the existence of massive and ridiculous government programs like farm subsidies and social security.
Quote: If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 10,000 soldiers. The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 10,000 for the same period. That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq. Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington immediately.
I get this nonsense through email at least once a day. Frogleg do you realize how dumb this sounds? What the mystery person who started this dumb email did is take a strata of the population (soldiers and Marines in Iraq) and compared it to an entire population (Washington DC). It is supposed to paint some sobering picture that illustrates that Iraq really isn't so dangerous. I wonder how those death rates hold up if you compare the death rate of soldiers and Marines stationed in DC to that of soldiers and marines stationed in Iraq, or if you compared the murder rate of the entire population of DC to the murder rate of the entire population of Iraq. My guess is US troops and common citizens are a whole lot safer in DC.
if those numbers are correct, it does show that an American is safer in IRAQ than in Washington, D.C. (assuming Civilian American Deaths in Iraq are insignificant). It is telling and adds perspective.
Here's the problem, Taxes were only suppose to last for 10 years and NEVER be more then 3% . When our "leaders" want to do something that they know won't slide on it's own. The piggy back these bills in on "must pass legislation". That's the problem with the "system". It's not perfert and the crooks know how to get what they want. This piggy back system is how we got 90% of the crap that we don't like in this country. This is how Social Security was started. Income taxes and here lately is how they are targeting my internet poker. Anyone else ever wonder why the government can write bad checks and get away with it? Let me go bounce a check for about $1500 at wallmart. Betcha someone will be on my ass in no time. This country needs a new vision and some people who want to make things better. Ya'll do relize how un-stable we are? I wouldn't be surprised to see a new depression within the next 5-10 years. If ya got money in a bank then you might have problems. MY family had alot of money at the turn of 20th century. When the depression hit we got screwed. It took my family over 20 years to get back 8-15 cents on the dollar. So if you think that FDIC covers you, guess again. Everyone says the first 100k is gauranteed. LOL dream on. Ya you might get 8-15 % on the first 100k. You get nothing on the rest. You gotta look at the past and understand it to prevent these kind of things from happening in the future. Ironically, our politicians ignore the past. I got my money socked away in some nice places. Land, gold, offshore bank accounts. Etc...etc... Edited, oh ya you know why you are issued a SS# eh? Do you know what this means to the banking system? Just wondering if people know this. If no one knows I will try to explain it off the top of my head...
No it isn't. All it really tells is the guy who came up with that little stat either doesn't understand how statistics and probabilities work or is a spin doctor. It is an apples and oranges comparison. You are comparing dissimilar populations.
