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-   -   spitzer on romney, taxes (http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47853)

Danzig 08-08-2012 08:29 PM

spitzer on romney, taxes
 
http://www.slate.com/blogs/spitzer/2...to_growth.html


and i've heard of grover norquist, more than once...but just who is he, and why did pols sign his pledge? but that's another topic...

thoughts, anyone, on spitzers take?

Riot 08-08-2012 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881686)
and i've heard of grover norquist, more than once...but just who is he, and why did pols sign his pledge?

Grover is a lobbyist and a superpac owner.

Grover Norquist has been virtually singularly responsible for the record-setting inactivity of John Boehner's House, and the reason why our credit rating was ruined by the Tea Party.

Every Republican answers to Grover and Rush. Republicans being primaried right now are due to their lack of fealty to Grover.

The Republican Party signs the tax pledge of a lobbyist that created his "national financial plan" when he was 12 years old (Grover brags)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Norquist

Thepaindispenser 08-08-2012 09:12 PM

Real credible source, a guy who bangs hookers with his socks on and who still thinks Keynesion economics works! Hahahahahaha

pointman 08-08-2012 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thepaindispenser (Post 881706)
Real credible source, a guy who bangs hookers with his socks on and who still thinks Keynesion economics works! Hahahahahaha

Sources are only credible to Riot if they support her position.

DaTruth 08-08-2012 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 881713)
Sources are only credible to Riot if they support her position.

She would provide a link to the voices in her head if she could.

pointman 08-08-2012 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaTruth (Post 881715)
She would provide a link to the voices in her head if she could.

:D
:tro:

Danzig 08-09-2012 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thepaindispenser (Post 881706)
Real credible source, a guy who bangs hookers with his socks on and who still thinks Keynesion economics works! Hahahahahaha

i figured some would immediately mention spitzers past.

what that has to do with the points made i don't know.

dellinger63 08-09-2012 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881763)
i figured some would immediately mention spitzers past.

what that has to do with the points made i don't know.

You might have made the points using another source?

Spitzer should have disappeared in shame long ago. IMO

Danzig 08-09-2012 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellinger63 (Post 881765)
You might have made the points using another source?

Spitzer should have disappeared in shame long ago. IMO

look, i know the guy's rep. but i saw the article on slate, so i posted it. so, there may be others who have made those points-but i figured i'd put it up rather than look elsewhere to see if someone who didn't hire hookers had made the same argument. now, whether the source is a good guy or a bad guy notwithstanding-the facts are the facts in that article, aren't they?
so, sticking just to the points in the article, what are everyone's thoughts on what was said?


edit~come to think of it, i doubt it would matter who wrote it. the gist of it would still be ignored. i would imagine that many who post here have already made up their minds one way or the other.
i actually haven't yet-if i had to vote today, i'd probably vote for a third party candidate.

jms62 08-09-2012 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881767)
look, i know the guy's rep. but i saw the article on slate, so i posted it. so, there may be others who have made those points-but i figured i'd put it up rather than look elsewhere to see if someone who didn't hire hookers had made the same argument. now, whether the source is a good guy or a bad guy notwithstanding-the facts are the facts in that article, aren't they?
so, sticking just to the points in the article, what are everyone's thoughts on what was said?


edit~come to think of it, i doubt it would matter who wrote it. the gist of it would still be ignored. i would imagine that many who post here have already made up their minds one way or the other.
i actually haven't yet-if i had to vote today, i'd probably vote for a third party candidate.

Making up ones mind would require thinking and weighing the issues. On this site it is mostly Bloods vs Crips decisions never come into play.

geeker2 08-09-2012 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881768)
Making up ones mind would require thinking and weighing the issues. On this site it is mostly Bloods vs Crips decisions never come into play.

ROR !! :tro:

dellinger63 08-09-2012 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881767)
so, sticking just to the points in the article, what are everyone's thoughts on what was said?.

Fair Enough

I think a third of one's income is a fair enough cap for an income tax considering all of the other taxes one pays, State/Sales/Property/Utilities/Cable/Cell/Tolls/some casses City/
no matter what one's income is. Take out ALL deductions and allow those w/o access/means to a tax atty be on level ground with those that do.

I think the tax rates following WW II were obviously unique and using them as a justification to raising taxes today is disingenuous. We are not in a battle for our sovereignty

The Federal Government is involved far too much and being so big and clumsy can't help but trip over itself.

When our Federal Budget is $4 trillion and we have a total of 350 million people that comes to $11,400 per individual. Or for a family of 5, $57,000 per year! This is not sustainable no matter how much we tax the rich. When you consider roughly 150 million of the 350 million file taxes that yearly bill comes to $26,666 per person.

Pure and simple the government needs to be reduced by between 50%-70%
but that would require individual responsibility and that may be impossible to pull off.

The Sons of Liberty must be rolling in their graves with talks of 50% taxes what more 90%.

jms62 08-09-2012 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellinger63 (Post 881785)
Fair Enough

I think a third of one's income is a fair enough cap for an income tax considering all of the other taxes one pays, State/Sales/Property/Utilities/Cable/Cell/Tolls/some casses City/
no matter what one's income is. Take out ALL deductions and allow those w/o access/means to a tax atty be on level ground with those that do.

I think the tax rates following WW II were obviously unique and using them as a justification to raising taxes today is disingenuous. We are not in a battle for our sovereignty

The Federal Government is involved far too much and being so big and clumsy can't help but trip over itself.

When our Federal Budget is $4 trillion and we have a total of 350 million people that comes to $11,400 per individual. Or for a family of 5, $57,000 per year! This is not sustainable no matter how much we tax the rich. When you consider roughly 150 million of the 350 million file taxes that yearly bill comes to $26,666 per person.

Pure and simple the government needs to be reduced by between 50%-70%
but that would require individual responsibility and that may be impossible to pull off.

The Sons of Liberty must be rolling in their graves with talks of 50% taxes what more 90%.

How about elimination of government pensions and make them 401K's like everyone else has for the last 30 years. How about and I know I will catch a rash of **** here but how about military pensions/police mentions starting at 65. There is so much ****ing waste in the system but those that are responsible for fixing the problem are benefitting from it so it will never be fixed.

Danzig 08-09-2012 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellinger63 (Post 881785)
Fair Enough

I think a third of one's income is a fair enough cap for an income tax considering all of the other taxes one pays, State/Sales/Property/Utilities/Cable/Cell/Tolls/some casses City/
no matter what one's income is. Take out ALL deductions and allow those w/o access/means to a tax atty be on level ground with those that do.

I think the tax rates following WW II were obviously unique and using them as a justification to raising taxes today is disingenuous. We are not in a battle for our sovereignty

The Federal Government is involved far too much and being so big and clumsy can't help but trip over itself.

When our Federal Budget is $4 trillion and we have a total of 350 million people that comes to $11,400 per individual. Or for a family of 5, $57,000 per year! This is not sustainable no matter how much we tax the rich. When you consider roughly 150 million of the 350 million file taxes that yearly bill comes to $26,666 per person.

Pure and simple the government needs to be reduced by between 50%-70%
but that would require individual responsibility and that may be impossible to pull off.

The Sons of Liberty must be rolling in their graves with talks of 50% taxes what more 90%.

your ideas aside, what do you think about romney's proposals, and how they add up? or don't add up? the facts remain, as frequent posts here have shown, that marginal tax rates are the lowest in decades and that the purported job increases haven't materialized with cuts in the wealthiests' taxes. the wealthiest are paying the lowest taxes in 80 years, yet job creation from those supposed job creators haven't materialized. meanwhile, debt and deficits have increased.
so, knowing all that, what do you think of romney's ideas?

Danzig 08-09-2012 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881791)
How about elimination of government pensions and make them 401K's like everyone else has for the last 30 years. How about and I know I will catch a rash of **** here but how about military pensions/police mentions starting at 65. There is so much ****ing waste in the system but those that are responsible for fixing the problem are benefitting from it so it will never be fixed.

retirement ages need altering, i've been saying that for some time. typically, military and police/fire depts have had full retirements at 20, sometimes 25 years. in rare cases, 30 years service is required.

when my father joined the d.c. police dept, you had to serve 30 years to retire. then it changed to 20, he received full retirement while i was still in high school. he was 43 years old. his retirement pay and benefits are something that many would turn pea green with envy if they saw them. last i heard, they'd raised retirement to 25 years service. considering the rates of return any more on pension plans, it's no surprise that cities are in a tremendous bind. they used to make money while offering decent pensions-those days have been over for years now. yet no one in the govt agencies, city agencies, etc changed with the times. as interest dropped, they didn't change to go with those hits on pensions. now they're in a huge hole.

dellinger63 08-09-2012 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881791)
How about elimination of government pensions and make them 401K's like everyone else has for the last 30 years. How about and I know I will catch a rash of **** here but how about military pensions/police mentions starting at 65. There is so much ****ing waste in the system but those that are responsible for fixing the problem are benefitting from it so it will never be fixed.

I completely concur and it has worked in Wisconsin, by just making public employees contribute to their own pensions not cutting them fully.

Public employees should also not be allowed to double dip or have two or three pensions.

To receive a military pension one has to serve 20 yrs for 50% of the average of your top 36 months in pay and up to 100% for 40 years in. I think if you serve this country for 20 years at FAR FAR under what a public or private sector employee would be paid you deserve every cent of that pension. What more 40 years?

The teachers' union situation is the polar opposite of the military. IMO

jms62 08-09-2012 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellinger63 (Post 881798)
I completely concur and it has worked in Wisconsin, by just making public employees contribute to their own pensions not cutting them fully.

Public employees should also not be allowed to double dip or have two or three pensions.

To receive a military pension one has to serve 20 yrs for 50% of the average of your top 36 months in pay and up to 100% for 40 years in. I think if you serve this country for 20 years at FAR FAR under what a public or private sector employee would be paid you deserve every cent of that pension. What more 40 years?

The teachers' union situation is the polar opposite of the military. IMO

Obviously you do not understand me. I am fine with the amounts of the pensions I just think they should collect it starting at 65 no in their 40's.

Clip-Clop 08-09-2012 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881793)
retirement ages need altering, i've been saying that for some time. typically, military and police/fire depts have had full retirements at 20, sometimes 25 years. in rare cases, 30 years service is required.

when my father joined the d.c. police dept, you had to serve 30 years to retire. then it changed to 20, he received full retirement while i was still in high school. he was 43 years old. his retirement pay and benefits are something that many would turn pea green with envy if they saw them. last i heard, they'd raised retirement to 25 years service. considering the rates of return any more on pension plans, it's no surprise that cities are in a tremendous bind. they used to make money while offering decent pensions-those days have been over for years now. yet no one in the govt agencies, city agencies, etc changed with the times. as interest dropped, they didn't change to go with those hits on pensions. now they're in a huge hole.

My father was a police officer in NJ, joined the force at 23, got credit for 4 years of Air Force service in Germany and retired with a full pension at age 41. Hasn't worked since other than the occasional kitchen job since he likes to cook but always gets paid in $. Started collecting SS two years back, lives on the water in FL without a care in the world.
I do not condone this as being appropriate.

Danzig 08-09-2012 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop (Post 881801)
My father was a police officer in NJ, joined the force at 23, got credit for 4 years of Air Force service in Germany and retired with a full pension at age 41. Hasn't worked since other than the occasional kitchen job since he likes to cook but always gets paid in $. Started collecting SS two years back, lives on the water in FL without a care in the world.
I do not condone this as being appropriate.

yeah, my father is 71 and still works part time at the golf course where he lives. it's absurd, just like military pensions. and just like full ss paid when you turn 65-and a loser like my bro in law will collect full benefits with the bare minimum worked. it's all absolutely ridiculous. there are so many real issues that need addressing, but all the pols in dc (yes, ALL of them, regardless of party affiliation) work only on keeping their seats. they kick all problems down the road.
don't work on debt, just keep raising the ceiling (both parties).
don't do an ss fix (both parties) just keep saying it only needs minor tweaking, but don't even effing do the tweaking.
don't address medicare/caid-just cut payments to doctors, while doing nothing about fraud, waste and abuse.
don't do anything about defense (both parties) because the contractors provide jobs in their hometowns, and that might cost votes.

what are (again, repeating myself) the two biggest drains on the federal govt? defense, and 'entitlements'. not foreign aid, not any of the other depts in the federal govt.
so, one would have to assume, that if those two areas were properly addressed, the debt/deficit issues would be resolved.

as for taxes-the rich are paying less in taxes than they have in decades. as their share has gone down, the supposed jump in hiring has NOT occurred. those cuts haven't worked! yet people want to continue them. why? i'll tell you why.
because the rich control the purse strings. the two big parties need cut off at the knees.

Danzig 08-09-2012 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881799)
Obviously you do not understand me. I am fine with the amounts of the pensions I just think they should collect it starting at 65 no in their 40's.

:tro:


and no double dipping. another practice that just pisses me off.

Clip-Clop 08-09-2012 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881808)
yeah, my father is 71 and still works part time at the golf course where he lives. it's absurd, just like military pensions. and just like full ss paid when you turn 65-and a loser like my bro in law will collect full benefits with the bare minimum worked. it's all absolutely ridiculous. there are so many real issues that need addressing, but all the pols in dc (yes, ALL of them, regardless of party affiliation) work only on keeping their seats. they kick all problems down the road.
don't work on debt, just keep raising the ceiling (both parties).
don't do an ss fix (both parties) just keep saying it only needs minor tweaking, but don't even effing do the tweaking.
don't address medicare/caid-just cut payments to doctors, while doing nothing about fraud, waste and abuse.
don't do anything about defense (both parties) because the contractors provide jobs in their hometowns, and that might cost votes.

what are (again, repeating myself) the two biggest drains on the federal govt? defense, and 'entitlements'. not foreign aid, not any of the other depts in the federal govt.
so, one would have to assume, that if those two areas were properly addressed, the debt/deficit issues would be resolved.

as for taxes-the rich are paying less in taxes than they have in decades. as their share has gone down, the supposed jump in hiring has NOT occurred. those cuts haven't worked! yet people want to continue them. why? i'll tell you why.
because the rich control the purse strings. the two big parties need cut off at the knees.

Yet Scott Brown will be voted out this year in lieu of another party line sheep. Shame, I hope he moves to Colorado if it goes down. Think I should send him a note?

Danzig 08-09-2012 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop (Post 881814)
Yet Scott Brown will be voted out this year in lieu of another party line sheep. Shame, I hope he moves to Colorado if it goes down. Think I should send him a note?

that's the thing...one party loses, their imminent death as a viable party is proclaimed. the other party has risen like the phoenix from its ashes (because previously it was written off as dead and buried)...
the voters run, back and forth, from one evil to the other....and then we all wonder why nothing changes.
we need another ross perot. someone who has the $ and the ability to get something going. someone who is an alternative, that people will vote for without feeling they're 'wasting a vote'.

Clip-Clop 08-09-2012 10:28 AM

I'm going mountain biking all this typing has made me sad this morning.

dellinger63 08-09-2012 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881799)
Obviously you do not understand me. I am fine with the amounts of the pensions I just think they should collect it starting at 65 no in their 40's.

OK I didn't understand you and I completely disagree.

Public pensions are contributed to every year by the taxpayer. That money is put into an account and invested by the pension fund manager. Should that pension manager make a bad financial decision and lose money, just like a private citizens 401K, the balance is decreased. However unlike the private citizen public sector pensions are insured by the fact taxpayers (private citizens) will be required to pay for any loses.

Recently my work lead me to review the WorldCom BK case. The number of public pension funds listed as creditors was outstanding. That money is gone forever and it is the mistake of the pension fund manager hired by whatever public union not the taxpayer.

Since the taxpayer also pays the salary of the public worker, putting food in their childrens mouths, clothing them, paying for vacations, healthcare etc. It would be a nice gesture for them to give something back to the taxpayer. Maybe restoring their 401k's etc. :D

Clip-Clop 08-09-2012 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881817)
that's the thing...one party loses, their imminent death as a viable party is proclaimed. the other party has risen like the phoenix from its ashes (because previously it was written off as dead and buried)...
the voters run, back and forth, from one evil to the other....and then we all wonder why nothing changes.
we need another ross perot. someone who has the $ and the ability to get something going. someone who is an alternative, that people will vote for without feeling they're 'wasting a vote'.

Ross is touchy with me, 41 was a great man and Ross was the problem there.

Danzig 08-09-2012 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop (Post 881820)
Ross is touchy with me, 41 was a great man and Ross was the problem there.

just using him as an example of a third party candidate getting some real attention.

dellinger63 08-09-2012 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellinger63 (Post 881819)

Recently my work lead me to review the WorldCom BK case. The number of public pension funds listed as creditors was outstanding. That money is gone forever and it is the mistake of the pension fund manager hired by whatever public union not the taxpayer.

Some of the worst losers:

Quote:

The news disintegrated the value of WorldCom's already battered shares, and three bond-rating agencies slashed WorldCom's debt ratings deeper into "junk" territory, citing the increased likelihood of default.

As a result of all this, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the biggest pension fund in the U.S., faces an unrealized loss of $565 million in its $150 billion portfolio, according to the Reuters news agency.

The country's No. 2 pension fund, the New York state retirement system, estimates it lost $300 million. It has $112 billion in total assets.

Reuters notes that Cal Teachers, the third-largest U.S. public pension fund, with $100 billion in assets, suffered a $109 million unrealized loss due to WorldCom.

Reuters also reported these other state pension fund losses related to WorldCom:

- The State of Wisconsin Investment Board says realized losses on its $58.5 billion in assets reached $29 million on WorldCom bonds and $7.3 million on stock.

- Michigan lost $116 million in its four pension funds.

- The Florida State Board of Administration public pension fund lost $92 million on WorldCom stock and estimates a $54 million loss on its bonds holdings.

- Virginia's retirement system has an unrealized stock loss of $44 million in indexed funds.

- Oregon pensions have $63 million in unrealized losses, of which $38 million is in stocks and $25 million is in bonds.

- North Carolina has $100 million in losses.
So sorry, the money is gone. But deal with like a private citizen would. You know the one's now asked to replace this lost :$::$::$:

And maybe hire a different fund manager!


http://compensation.blr.com/Compensa...ension-Funds/#

pointman 08-09-2012 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881763)
i figured some would immediately mention spitzers past.

what that has to do with the points made i don't know.

Spitzer also lacks credibility since he was a man drunk on power who governed as a bully who forced people out who disagreed with him (sound like anyone here?). He also is a Keynesion follower which are principles that have been proven to not work. He also left a mess in New York by banging a hooker with his socks on.

pointman 08-09-2012 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881791)
How about elimination of government pensions and make them 401K's like everyone else has for the last 30 years. How about and I know I will catch a rash of **** here but how about military pensions/police mentions starting at 65. There is so much ****ing waste in the system but those that are responsible for fixing the problem are benefitting from it so it will never be fixed.

You are seeing the light here, J. Something has to be done about these pensions that the taxpayers cannot afford nor can get in the private sector. They will bankrupt this country. As long as the Unions are in the politicians pockets (overwhelmingly Democracts) we are doomed.

Danzig 08-09-2012 01:18 PM

i was looking up some facts and figures on the state of arkansas yesterday. i found it somewhat disheartening that the top employer in the state was the state government.
third highest with number of employees? the federal government.

Danzig 08-09-2012 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 881847)
Spitzer also lacks credibility since he was a man drunk on power who governed as a bully who forced people out who disagreed with him (sound like anyone here?). He also is a Keynesion follower which are principles that have been proven to not work. He also left a mess in New York by banging a hooker with his socks on.

so had he taken them off, would it have been less of a mess????? :D:D

jms62 08-09-2012 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881875)
i was looking up some facts and figures on the state of arkansas yesterday. i found it somewhat disheartening that the top employer in the state was the state government.
third highest with number of employees? the federal government.

Sounds like Haiti.

Danzig 08-09-2012 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 881851)
You are seeing the light here, J. Something has to be done about these pensions that the taxpayers cannot afford nor can get in the private sector. They will bankrupt this country. As long as the Unions are in the politicians pockets (overwhelmingly Democracts) we are doomed.

yeah, guaranteed pensions are a killer right now, with the current interest climate-and it's been bad for some time.
my biggest concerns about 401 k's are absolutely no guarantees, and the people working them for companies make HUGE money off them with the fees. that can be scary-some people are clueless about funds, and would be counting on money to be there...but if they screw it up, they won't have any money to retire with.

Danzig 08-09-2012 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 881878)
Sounds like Haiti.

it's unsustainable. govts don't make profits. you can't have govt be the highest employer, when employees are paid from tax dollars. it's damned depressing.

pointman 08-09-2012 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881877)
so had he taken them off, would it have been less of a mess????? :D:D

I'll defer the answer to that to Doug . . . .

dellinger63 08-09-2012 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881882)
it's unsustainable. govts don't make profits. you can't have govt be the highest employer, when employees are paid from tax dollars. it's damned depressing.

It will be like Poland in the 1970's. People will pretend to work and the gov. will pretend paying them in a few decades

dellinger63 08-09-2012 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig (Post 881875)
i was looking up some facts and figures on the state of arkansas yesterday. i found it somewhat disheartening that the top employer in the state was the state government.
third highest with number of employees? the federal government.

:tro:


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