Politics

[Big_Easy]

Spar the victim mentality, you deliberately come on here to antagonize people. You given just as good as you have gotten.

As I've said in prior posts, If I have to individually tag every sarcastic post, I can.

For the most part it has been rather tame, no one hates you on this site, so lighten up. It is amazing someone would come to a site to post day after day when they feel insulted and hated.

Insults with no basis in fact don't bother me.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

@Big Easy Ever take a second and replace the word rich with anything else in one of your rants?

If you replaced rich with black Jew or queer the mere suggestion of unfair taxation becomes discrimination, so why should those more successful be treated any differently? Are not all men created equal under god?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I would love for @BRICKBURN to go through his posts and provide a professional assessment.

Won't be playing any time soon.

 

[Ward]

The USA has labelled both Canada and the EU as threats to their "National Security" in order to justify new duties declared by their military Commander-in-Chief on the international trade of steel and aluminum. So I suggest that USA made products such as firearms and ammunition should be sold exclusively within the USA so Canada and Europe can help our esteemed neighbour defend themselves and improve their national security. Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that Canadians and Europeans should make do with their own products exclusively. For all our AfricaHunting friends in Canada, Europe, Africa and elsewhere, please don't buy any American made products. Lets's support the USA in their concern. One can never be too careful when there are evil guys to deal with, and it is our duty to help, as always.

As a U.S. citizen and a taxpayer, we have become tired of carrying the dead weight of Canada and Europe. Spend your own money on defense, better yet elect somebody that isn’t a flaming liberal and takes your freedom and your guns. Let’s not forget the financial thievery that occurred by your government during the trucker strike. If Canada never bought another thing from the U.S. it would hardly be noticed but Canada would end up under the thumb of China.

 

[Big_Easy]

But yet you want stable prices, but advocate for the employer (not government) to provide paternal leave, sick leave, holiday leave, vacation, bereavement, etc, so how do you make that rock bleed?

Many employers already provide such benefits. Including said benefits is simply not that expensive. It's not some insurmountable obstacle that cannot be navigated. Go look at any publicly traded company, find their annual report and look up what their labor costs are. Now make some basic assumptions about hourly employe rates and work out a few additional weeks of PTO. Lets say it ends up being one month of additional PTO, so 1/12. That's an 8.3% increase in their labor costs. Say for a McDonalds franchise their labor costs are 26%, thats a total increase of 0.083 x 0.26 = 2.1%. If the golden arches can't handle an increase of 2% in their costs, we've got bigger problems.

The "rock" I was referring to was the bottom half of Americans, not corporations. The bottom half that live paycheck to paycheck. And who @rookhawk suggested we should increase their federal income taxes to 25% of their income. I'm not sure where that money comes from when they already live paycheck to paycheck. Living in the US is expensive.

How do you do this? Seriously I am asking? The reason why that tax rate is around 23% is because of long term capital gains and they harvest losses when they have a gain to offset it and deploy capital. You can go ahead and tax their wages at 46%, go ahead and raise capital gains to 46%, guess what rate the rich will pay, 23% or less, because they will find a way to make that money work for them, it might all done through a corporation, you going to raise the corporation rate?

Tax all income at the same rate. No more preferential treatment for unearned income over ordinary/earned income. If all of these loopholes existed, then the rich would already be using them. Is there going to be some level of tax avoidance? Sure. There always is. The net-effective tax rate for the top 1% is 23-25%, the current capital gains tax rate is 23.8%. That's not a coincidence.

They will move offshore, so how do you get that 46%...which is on top of your FICA tax, state tax, and the other 20 taxes. So seriously how?

The rich don't pay full FICA taxes like the rest of us, we're talking about the top 2% of income earners in my suggestion. Almost all of their income is from unearned sources such as capital gains, dividends, rents, royalties, etc.

Also why would you hate the stock market doing 15% a year (sorry cant find the quote). That dropping off would have the biggest impact on generations of retirement funds.

I don't hate the stock market making record returns. In order to understand my position better, you need to remember that the bottom 50% of Americans by income only own 1% of the stock market. So it's annual returns are mostly meaningless to their retirement accounts. The bottom 90% of Americans own less than 10% of the stock market. Again, the market's ROR is only moderately important to their retirement accounts. The top 10% owns more than 90% of the market. The top 1% owns between 50-55%. These record returns your are so happy about disproportionately benefit the uber wealthy. Not middle America. The reduction in growth rate from 13-15% to 8-9% would be more than offset by the increases in the salary and the value of benefits to the middle class. The historic long-term ROR for the markets is around 8%. It would simply be returning to a time when market returns were in the high single digits, and salaries and benefits were more plentiful.

Your ideas come across as someone who has read a few books, never ran a business, never worked with a tax professional, and probably got fire even though they were "doing their best" hence your hatred of corporate America.

I've previously discussed my experience with corporate America, and I can't say it was a positive one. Although it was only with regards to private equity owned companies, so there's that. Many users on here see corporations as some benevolent entity. And perhaps there's some truth to that for small businesses and mid-tier ones. But large corporations? No. Absolutely not. Automotive companies that knew their cars were dangerous but produced them anyways, resulting in deaths. Petro-chemical companies that knowingly contaminated drinking water supplies and slowly killed people with cancer? Insurance companies that deny care and kill patients to increase their annual bonuses....For decades, across numerous C-suite executives.

I think you all forget that these large companies are run by people. People are not inherently good. There's a reason why we have laws, police, jails, etc. You're upset by some gang-banger killing the liquor store clerk? So am I. But I also know that these company execs have killed people too. I'm equally outraged at both. Just because they run a company, doesn't mean they're good people. Cream may rise to the top, but scum does too.

Yes you can do basic math but accuse others of not being able to, but you have no practical experience, and again you fail to connect dots or understand nuances.

Here is some advice, log off of here, stop being so bitter about the corporate world/rich people/basic jealously of success, figure out an actual plan or skill, and do what is best for you and your family...side benefit you can probably afford to hunt Africa.

Thanks, but I'm good on the life skills for now. It's also not jealousy. Doug asked what I do advocate for, and I gave him a list. And not having my country go bankrupted because we are too skittish to tax the rich is pretty high on my list. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Quick question: What African species do you want to hunt the most? Or is there a particular location you are looking at?

For Africa, Crocodiles. For America, Alligators. It wasn't legal to hunt them when I was younger in FL, but you can now. Although it's still a lottery, they're not that had to get. The only good dinosaur is a dead dinosaur.

 

[BRICKBURN]

My question for @BRICKBURN would be, why am I the one that must absorb daily disgusting insults and rhetoric, while it seems that no one else is held to that standard? Everyone else is allowed to insult and degrade away on me.

I personally consider the "Politics" thread to be the cesspool of AH, who's frequenters/inhabitants dip their toes through their own conscious choice and at their own risk. This thread is replete with insults flying in every direction and I avoid this thread like the plague.

I usually am invited to visit when someone complains about racism, bigotry, etc.

You appear to be able to manage yourself amongst the other denizens here quite well.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Jesus, how bad at math are you people. I knew most Americans were math illiterates, but I didn't know it was that bad. What circus schools did you guys go to? Total personal income taxes collected are about $2.4 Trillion dollars each year. The top 2% pay about 50% of those. Or $1.2 Trillion. Are you all still following the basic math? Stay with me people.

The net-effective tax rate paid by the top 1% is around 23% (I know I know, it's a little higher for the 2%-1% crowd, but we're rounding here people!). So taxing the rich at a 23% rate produces $1.2 Trillion in revenue. Still with me? Good. So if you double that amount to say 46%, that equals an additional $1.2 Trillion in revenue per year. Simple enough? Good. Our deficit is ~$1.85 Trillion.
1.85 - 1.2 = $650 billion deficit left over. Math isn't hard people. We could easily eliminate half of this remaining amount through programatic cuts. So lets say $325 Billion left. This remaining amount is less than 1% of GDP. So it doesn't matter much.


I see you posted this at 8 am so I'll assume you forgot to have coffee yet. Do better.


Many of them do pay, just not income taxes, they still pay FICA taxes. But, have you ever heard the saying that "you can't squeeze blood out of a stone?"


Very well then. How much should we cut from the sacred cows called Social Security and Medicare? So far nobody on here has advocated that. How about the bloated sacred cow called the military industrial complex? How much should we reduce their budget? How about Veteran's Affairs?


I guess no more military, no more SSA, no more Medicare, no more VA. Sorry veterans, sucks to be you. How very far-left of you. I didn't realize you supported unilateral disarmament. Good to know.

I personally enjoy the conversation BigEasy brings to the forum. He is our face of an increasing movement of the victim mentality take, take, take. It gives us a place to vent our daily frustration with this movement. Instead of yelling at the radio or TV, we have our own BigEasy.

Now. Back to the discussion at hand.

BigEasy, your solution is for the top contributors to have their tax rates doubled. As if this one time act would satisfy the appetite of the takers.

Great. Let’s enact that for 2027. So in 2027 we will hand over 75% of our total income to various government entities local, state and federal.

Now 2028 rolls around and the takers want more. and spend more than they take in, in 2027.

So your answer would still be raise more from taking it from those now paying 75%?

So by 2030 we are now paying 120% of our total annual revenue stream to taxes.

I will now be selling things to pay my taxes. (This is what happened and happens in every run away confiscation nation).

Then after I run out of things to sell. I am now in the group with nothing to keep your scheme operating.


Your plan runs aground in short order.

 

[WAB]

I sure wish everyone would just ignore BE’s comments. There used to be a lot of useful information on this thread. Now it has just devolved into a pissing match with someone who appears to have no real world experience and is just here to insult and argue. Can’t we all just agree to ignore him and cease to respond to the drivel?

 

[Altitude sickness]

WAB, I fundamentally agree with your statement.

But this insidious, cancerous mindset is gaining a firm toe hold here. And needs to be squashed at every opportunity.

 

[rookhawk]

I have never claimed to serve in the military. And I'm not sure what that has to do with discussing the topic of our current budget deficits? Please define "meaningful position in a major corporation," and why that matters?

Honest answer? Because you think like a spoiled kid and you don’t realize it. You’re very comfortable keeping government entitlements going because it’s what “the people deserve” but you have no reverence for duty, obligation, self sacrifice, or the morality that a person should keep what they earn through hard work.

That’s why we think you’re a kid and a grad student without much life experience. You’ve yet to produce something so you’re fixated on taking something. You also think complex systems can be revolutionized easily with your superior thinking. That type of naive socialism is shattered through life experience and studying the human condition given enough time.

 

[Doug3006]

Each of us has the ability to resolve this problem. Short of abandoning the politics thread entirely, we can simply press the ignore button, and @Big_Easy simply disappears from our lives.

 

[Pheroze]

WAB, I fundamentally agree with your statement.

But this insidious, cancerous mindset is gaining a firm toe hold here. And needs to be squashed at every opportunity.

It will always be a debate as there are statistics to support both sides - or most arguments for that matter. So, if someone sees the value in asking for more from someone else you won’t change their mind. I will never understand why someone would advocate for that.

My parents moved us here in the late 1960s, and I have had some negative experiences. I don’t doubt for a second there is a tilted playing field. I watched my father struggle and become extremely successful. In the process I was taught it’s how you react, not what someone is doing to you.

The dogs bark but the caravan moves on, he would say.

It has proven to be a successful mindset, but exhausting sometimes. I wouldn’t change it for a second because my culture is about figuring out a path. In the process you do a lot of good for people around you. I promise you this. It’s probably why I enjoy hunting so much. I love the puzzles life puts in front of me. You can’t teach that to a person who does not enjoy pushing against things and taking pride in that Sisyphean life.

As a proud immigrant I am offended by the victim mindset. Believe it or not, it makes life more challenging and less enjoyable. Honestly.

There is only room for one thing in everyone’s grave. All you take with you is you pride and reputation. No one lauded over a person by exclaiming “he could really spend a tax dollar” except those dependant on the purse.

 

[Red Leg]

More insults disguised as guesswork. Stay on topic please.


I have stated more facts to back up my position, and cited more high quality sources than everyone else that has posted on this thread combined over the past 6 months. If a MOD would like to discuss with me, I would welcome that. My question for @BRICKBURN would be, why am I the one that must absorb daily disgusting insults and rhetoric, while it seems that no one else is held to that standard? Everyone else is allowed to insult and degrade away on me.


Doing so would require me to Dox myself, and I'm not interested in right-wing cancel culture coming for my job. Especially since the hate and anger on this thread is quite evident.


I have never claimed to serve in the military. And I'm not sure what that has to do with discussing the topic of our current budget deficits? Please define "meaningful position in a major corporation," and why that matters?

But you have made yourself the topic by alienating virtually every other contributor to these discussions.

Your service or lack of it has absolute nothing to do with anything other than I can instantly spot a military poser. That is equally true of those who have or have not held senior corporate positions. So I am certain you have done neither of those two things. With respect to the latter - without those experiences - such as presenting a quarterly or managing P&L, I have no real interest in anyone's opinions of corporate governance, ethics, and accountability. That ilk is already far too well represented by the AOCs, Warrens, Sanders, and Owens of the world.

There are many others here that can do the same with respect to their professions and personal histories. All of us have been quite open with each other about those backgrounds - that is hardly doxing. So no insult intended- simply musing what actual life experiences you bring to this discussion.

I suspect @wesheltonj and I are pretty close. As I noted when you first showed up, I concluded you were not a serious person (He also is still awaiting your first hunting report) - Just a troll with access to google and no real world experience at much of anything.

But please, prove me wrong.

 

[Pheroze]

In my mind there was a cultural shift in the mid 1980s. I think something changed around the time the movie “Colors” came out. The good guys were no longer the people we rooted for. The focus has shifted to finding value in gangsters and the like. Look at that culture of easy money and violence over thought and we can see the devolution of our society in general. Now the hero is lawless and unstructured.

 

[jeanes]

In my mind there was a cultural shift in the mid 1980s. I think something changed around the time the movie “Colors” came out. The good guys were no longer the people we rooted for. The focus has shifted to finding value in gangsters and the like. Look at that culture of easy money and violence over thought and we can see the devolution of our society in general. Now the hero is lawless and unstructured.

I agree with you but I would place the shift a bit earlier, about the time the movie "The Wild Bunch" came out. Whenever it started, there has definitely been a change for the worse in our morals and values.

 

[Red Leg]

In my mind there was a cultural shift in the mid 1980s. I think something changed around the time the movie “Colors” came out. The good guys were no longer the people we rooted for. The focus has shifted to finding value in gangsters and the like. Look at that culture of easy money and violence over thought and we can see the devolution of our society in general. Now the hero is lawless and unstructured.

I agree with you but I would place the shift a bit earlier, about the time the movie "The Wild Bunch" came out. Whenever it started, there has definitely been a change for the worse in our morals and values.

And social media has been an out of control accelerant.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

The need for two income households has resulted in the majority of two generations of children being raised by technology instead of parented unfortunately we’re all seeing the results.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Social media is a blessing and a curse. People staring at a screen, thinking everybody else’s lives are better than theirs. Using only the left portion of the brain is a source of psychosis and a path to a hopeless meaningless existence.

Many of the zombies out protesting for reasons they can’t even define. Get the only emotional felling from being angry.

If people never use the right side of the brain. They can’t feel gratitude, contentment or joy.

Add in AI joblessness and the young face a miserable, purposeless existence.

 

[Nyati]

WAB, I fundamentally agree with your statement.

But this insidious, cancerous mindset is gaining a firm toe hold here. And needs to be squashed at every opportunity.

He is not going to quit, he just enjoys himself too much with the discussion.

If you and many others just pressed the ignore button, this thread could become interesting again.

Just a suggestion

 

[Altitude sickness]

I switch directions for you Nyati. Can’t promise you find it interesting though.

I hope they find where the leaks are coming from regarding General Caine warning Trump about war escalation. focusing on munitions stockpiles, risks, and logistical strain in Iran.

Government employees Aiding the enemy should be dealt harshly.