Times are Hard

Thanks Jonballs. Jackie S might get tired of the bullshit. He is 64, close to my age. We could just say fuckit. Sell the business. There goes my 15 jobs, his 12 jobs. We could live quite comfortably on what we have saved and invested. However, I suspect Jackie S likes his "job" just as I do. So as long as I enjoy it and don't get too discouraged by the politics and tax stuff I will keep on keeping on. 2012 will tell the tale. The thing is there are probably thousands of small business' that have seen their profit margin shrink in the last 3 years who are just barely hanging on. It won't take much to tip the balance and close them up, thus causing the 9+% of unemployment to go up, maybe dramatically. I seem to remember Bush tried to do something about the "marriage" tax, to even out the tax rate between single and married filling income tax. Guess that did not work out for some reason.

Here is my gripe.
While I am not "rich", I do ok. I am in that group of Americans who make between $200,000 and $500,000 a years.

I pay about 38 percent of my weekly check to the Federal Government. Yes, I pay more in personal Federal Withholding than 90 pecent of Americans make. Originally Posted by Jackie S

I'd hate to see how much more you'd have to make than the great unwashed before you considered yourself "rich."

This sort of attitude is a huge part of the problem in the U.S. Dumb fuckers who make up to half a million a year and don't think that they're rich. If you were poor for a few months, we could cure that. You'd think half a million a year was rich then!!!

It used to be "To whom much is given, much is asked." "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Now, it's "Yeah, I know I make close to half a million a year, but by God, I can't spare a nickel for the government so they can take care of the poor, because I'm not 'rich'".

We sure have gone down the shitter in the last 50 years.

Thanks Jonballs. Jackie S might get tired of the bullshit. He is 64, close to my age. We could just say fuckit. Sell the business. There goes my 15 jobs, his 12 jobs. Originally Posted by Jdriller

So the people you sell the business to are going to just fire all the employees and board up the place? My guess is if that's what they're going to do, they won't pay much. Or might they continue to run the business and keep the jobs??!!!!!

I suspect Jackie S likes his "job" just as I do. So as long as I enjoy it and don't get too discouraged by the politics and tax stuff I will keep on keeping on. . Originally Posted by Jdriller

Thats what the socialists fail to understand.Money can be a motivation and is a BIPRODUCT of a SPIRIT that has you working at something you enjoy and having FREEDOM to do it, at least thats how this country flourished, before all the regulation creeped in.I hardly think you enjoyed EVERY minute, especially if you are a landloard that holds mortgages to try and grow your business .People fail to realize that rental property can be a 15, 20 year grind making little to NO profit every year.The only thing you have is the desire and fortitude to grind it out all the while having people fucking lined up to pick a penny out of your pocket while running their ignorant mouth aluding to you being greedy and lucky in life.Ive been involved in many trades through 30 working years, and every one has been burdened with new regulations.the hvac industry was run in circles over the "OZONE" bullshit crap science in the late 80,s that had business throwing good money down a theoretical rathole .Just when you get a small business up and running, here comes some beaurocrat that needs a job and to find a way to get into your pocket with some new bullshit regulation.Ive lived in New York with this high property tax to piss the money away on feel good shit my whole life and am in the process of selling off and getting out, this high tax, high regulation shit hole is ridiculous.Although, this crap is coming nation wide if people dont wake up.

So the people you sell the business to are going to just fire all the employees and board up the place? ! Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Actually YES!! In New York the landloards get fed up and say FUCK YOU! board up aperfectly good house and walk away..all the time..the city wants it so bad, go ahead and take it..have a BALL!!

Only a douche with waaaayyy too much time on his hands Originally Posted by JONBALLS

This from the guy who's been banned 23 times and just keeps coming up with a new handle.

OOhhh PPPPOOOORRRRR MICHELLE OO BUM BUM!!

And with this sort of maturity level, does it surprise anyone?

Thanks Jonballs. Originally Posted by Jdriller

You're thanking a total goof-ball for backing you up.

Jackie S might get tired of the bullshit. He is 64, close to my age. We could just say fuckit. Sell the business. There goes my 15 jobs, his 12 jobs. We could live quite comfortably on what we have saved and invested.

Did you close up shop in the 90's? When Obama's proposed tax rates were actually in effect? Didn't think so. Quit being a whiner.

And quit making shit up to defend your being a whiner.

I seem to remember Bush tried to do something about the "marriage" tax, to even out the tax rate between single and married filling income tax. Guess that did not work out for some reason. Originally Posted by Jdriller

As I recall the Iraq thing did not seem to work out very well for GW either! And neither did Afghanistan, bringing OBL to justice, the aftermath to Katrina and inheriting a balanced budget and leaving in his wake the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression.

But he was good at photo ops! Strutting his stuff in a flight suit across the Abe and chopping wood at his ranch in Crawford!

I do not feel that anybody has given me a damned thing, except the opportunity to do the best I can with the effort I have put forth. I thank God I was born in this Country

Owning a business is about more than just making money. You take on the responsibility to furnish customers with the best in service while cultivating a relationship that will insure a future income for not just you, but for the employees that depend on your good business sense and customer realtions for their livelyhood. This is an ongoing trial, if I screw up, I not only hurt myself, but the men that I employ.

The problem with most of our Leaders is they do not have a clue what it really takes to cultivate a business into a profitable enterprise, and keep it that way. The President said, "many of us are just lucky". That is about as out of touch as I can amagine.

It was brought up what President Kennedy said, "ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your Country". It seems to me that the entire Democrat Party and Liberal establishment has turned away from that, and said, "don't ask what you can give your Country, ask what your Country can give you.

Do I give back? Yes. Every day I open the doors means my employees have a place to work, support their famillies, contribute to the economy, and pay their taxes.

For the first years we were married, my Wife and I did with out in order to put what we earned back into our business. We did not buy the big house, the fancy car, the big diamond ring, or the Rolex watch. We put it where it counted.

I only wish she were alive now to enjoy some of the fruits of our labor.

Thats what the socialists fail to understand.Money can be a motivation and is a BIPRODUCT of a SPIRIT that has you working at something you enjoy and having FREEDOM to do it, at least thats how this country flourished, before all the regulation creeped in. Originally Posted by JONBALLS

Look you math degenerate.
We have a huge federal deficit.
You know why?

I will tell you ....we do not pay enough in taxes.

WTF is wrong with you? We started two wars and then gave ourselves a tax break. How fucn stupid.

Now you are dumb enough to endorse a god damn chain e-mail that is in fact a bald face lie.

Michelle Obama's trip did not cost two billion dollars.

You are a moron if you believe that kinda shit.

That is wtf is wrong with this country....a bunch of stupid folks believing a bunch of stupid lies.

Quit thinking there is a free lunch.

If you want lower taxes , endorse cutting military spending and SS and Medicaid and unemployment benefits. See how well that goes over.

But first learn simple math.

Tax cuts during time of war is the single most stupid thing you GOP backing hicks have ever done. You gave yourself a tax braek and piled up a huge deficit. Obama rightly wants to put the tax rate back to where it was. His only problem is he should return it back to all, not just the rich.

You are full of shit if you quote JFK and think we believe you believe giving back to your country. You come across as a greedy/ignorant bastard in regards to taxes. Learn how taxes actually work before believing any politician or chain mail crap.

.

Thanks Jonballs. Jackie S might get tired of the bullshit. He is 64, close to my age. We could just say fuckit. Sell the business. There goes my 15 jobs, his 12 jobs. We could live quite comfortably on what we have saved and invested. . Originally Posted by Jdriller

Do it. But at least understand that if you sell a business....that business will not then shut down and layoff your former workers.

What kind of logic are you using?

If you do not want to pay for these two wars Bush started and then gave you a huge tax break, just say so. Sell your business. But quit making shit up. If you sell a business netting 2-300k, the new owner will not shut the doors because they have to pay an extra 6k in taxes. They might take that into consideration before buying it but they aren't going to shut the dorr....just like you aren't.

And quit making a foll of yourself by believing that Michelle Obama spent 2 billion dollars on her trip to China.

Some idiot said that at the time and it was shot down then.

Google can be your friend!

It used to be "To whom much is given, much is asked." "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." Originally Posted by TexTushHog

It’s interesting that you should “choose” to remember those inspiring words in such a way, because that is not at all what he said.

Near the beginning you will find that JFK makes this statement: “And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God [my emphasis and an obvious caveat of your interpretation]. Moments latter he says: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” In the passage immediately preceding the lines you cite, Kennedy calls upon ALL Americans—not just the rich—to defend “freedom in its maximum hour of danger.” Similarly, the following line reads: “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” [my emphasis]. In other words, JFK was calling on ALL Americans to remain vigilant and ready to sacrifice and serve against the enemies of the state during the early Cold War period. Note how remarkably similar in motive JFK’s appeal is to “W’s” call to arms against Saddam Hussein. It was a call to ALL Americans to help free foreign peoples of their oppressors [one had a Khrushchev; the other a Hussein], even though the U.S. may not have any vested interest in doing so.

JFK was addressing ALL Americans, not just the well to do. In particular, he was juxtaposing the wealth of freedom and opportunities afforded ALL Americans with the indignities forced upon the oppressed living under dictators in Communist’s regimes and those people struggling in developing nations. This core belief ultimately propelled him to employ young Americans in the U.S. armed forces [I, for one, answered that call] to stem the spread of communism in SE Asia and other regions of the world. For other young Americans, JFK set up the Peace Corp where they served as American ambassadors of Democracy; while they also assisted and educated numerous struggling souls living in less privileged, developing nations abroad.

Oh! There’s one last thing. JFK’s very last remark in that historic address was: “[L]et us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.” [Again, my emphasis—often, a little salt makes for a good antiseptic]

It’s interesting that you should “choose” to remember those inspiring words in such a way, because that is not at all what he said.

Near the beginning you will find that JFK makes this statement: “And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God [my emphasis and an obvious caveat of your interpretation]. Moments latter he says: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” In the passage immediately preceding the lines you cite, Kennedy calls upon ALL Americans—not just the rich—to defend “freedom in its maximum hour of danger.” Similarly, the following line reads: “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” [my emphasis]. In other words, JFK was calling on ALL Americans to remain vigilant and ready to sacrifice and serve against the enemies of the state during the early Cold War period. Note how remarkably similar in motive JFK’s appeal is to “W’s” call to arms against Saddam Hussein. It was a call to ALL Americans to help free foreign peoples of their oppressors [one had a Khrushchev; the other a Hussein], even though the U.S. may not have any vested interest in doing so.

JFK was addressing ALL Americans, not just the well to do. In particular, he was juxtaposing the wealth of freedom and opportunities afforded ALL Americans with the indignities forced upon the oppressed living under dictators in Communist’s regimes and those people struggling in developing nations. This core belief ultimately propelled him to employ young Americans in the U.S. armed forces [I, for one, answered that call] to stem the spread of communism in SE Asia and other regions of the world. For other young Americans, JFK set up the Peace Corp where they served as American ambassadors of Democracy; while they also assisted and educated numerous struggling souls living in less privileged, developing nations abroad.

Oh! There’s one last thing. JFK’s very last remark in that historic address was: “[L]et us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.” [Again, my emphasis—often, a little salt makes for a good antiseptic] Originally Posted by I B Hankering

Proof positive that we no more need God in politics now or then.

Hey IB , do you think it a good idea to start a war and cut taxes?

Wars, plural.

Wars, plural. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

If he thinks starting one war and cutting taxes a good idea, I just figured he would be doubly happy with the unfunded second war and unfunded drugs for seniors.


These so called conservatives are the biggest bunch of folks that want something for nothing that I have ever seen. Sounds like welfare to me!

Wars, plural. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) had the following exchange in today’s House Armed Services Committee hearing with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates regarding the legality of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the military operation in Libya.

Congressman Forbes: “Mr. Secretary, if tomorrow a foreign nation intentionally, for whatever reason, launched a tomahawk missile or its equivalent into New York City, would that be considered an act of war against the United States?”

Secretary Gates: “Probably so.”

Congressman Forbes: “Then I would assume the same laws would apply if we launched a tomahawk missile at another nation—is that also true?”

Secretary Gates: “You’re getting into constitutional law here and I am no expert on it.”

Congressman Forbes: “Mr. Secretary, you’re the Secretary of Defense. You ought to be an expert on what’s an act of war and what is not.”

http://www.forbes.house.gov/News/Doc...umentID=233219

Per the above, Gates pretty much agrees that Usama bin Laden started the war in Afghanistan. Along that same line of thought, “W” started a war [war – singular – no “s”] in Iraq. The “Anointed One” is bombing Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan—despite Pakistani protests. Gates pretty much conceded those are “wars” – plural, as in multiple – add the “s-es”. And the U.S. still has troops fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Again, Do You think it fiscally responsible to start two wars and give the country a tax break ? Can you answer that simple question?

We have war(s) going on right now (if you wanna play the war game).

Do you think it smart that we at least raise taxes to pay for them. Forget who is in office. If it was stupid for Bush to cut taxes in time of war then it is really smart of Obama to ask to raise taxes in time of war? That makes sense to me because I thought it was stupid to cut taxes and start war(s).

Is that concept to hard for you to understand? We need to raise taxes to pay for these war(s). Really simple. Do you agree with that principal or not?

If you think we should withdraw, fine. I agree with you there. I never wanted to start the things in the first place but I am not stupid enough to think it a good idea to start war(s) and cut taxes and then bitch about the deficit.

That shows a complete lack of basic math skills.