republican budget director. we need major tax increases not decreases

[DHOHHI]

Quote from Tsing Tao:

privatize all education, get rid of unions, and take the money saved to return to those who need it based on income and this is solved.

I don't think you have to privatize it. But get rid of unions. What's your motivation to excel if you're a teacher for example and you can only make $XXX based on your degree(s) and years of service. Do what Michelle Rhee did in Wash DC. Offer teachers a chance to make 6 figures if they excel and have the ability to fire incompetent teachers at the same time. And think outside the box -- more charter schools, longer school days, more days/year. No wonder we're 23rd and 25th in the world in reading and math.

Having volunteered 10 years now in schools, from homework help to math tutoring, I've seen pretty much everything and it's pathetic what's going on in public schools.

 

[DHOHHI]

Quote from Tsing Tao:

thank you for the compliment. it was not an easy decision. i make a good six figure salary (close to 200k) but i drive an old jeep wrangler (paid for in 2002) and my wife drives a nice saturn i bought in cash in 2008. we live in a townhouse that is one third the size of our previous big house, and one fourth the mortgage payment, less taxes, and much lower utility bills. we are comfortable. i could go out tomorrow and buy some zippy 100k sports car. but why on earth would i?

what angers me is that everywhere i read about the fiscally irresponsible getting away with it. bailouts. no one gives me shit.

I'm semi-retired, have traded the past 15 years. Why? I lived BELOW my means all my working (corporate) life so I had choices. My wife is the same.

Speaking of cars ... I just "stole" one. I mean a car is a depreciating asset. Why spend $40K or more on a SUV, Mercedes, etc.? I found a new 2010 Chevy Cobalt for just under $19K. With rebates, GM Mastercard credit, etc. I walked out paying $10K for it and that excluded my trade in.

I do think some people are FINALLY getting it that MORE is not necessarily better. There's a ton of people living high on the hog that'll be eating peanut & butter sandwiches in retirement, if they ever can afford to retire. So I hope they're enjoying their steak and lobster and 7500 sq. ft. house now.

 

[DHOHHI]

Quote from Gabfly1:

Really? Are the millionaires hurting that badly? The poor dears.

I think Obama should have proposed a $1 million cut off point rather than the $250k level, at least until the economy stabilizes, after which time the $250 level should be revisited. Then there would be even less justification for all the brouhaha from the Right.

Agree on $1 million or maybe even $2 million.

No one can tell me that Lebron James and/or any pro athletes will miss a few $$$ in higher taxes. Same with CEO's and Wall Street types raking in big bonuses. I bet Goldman and all the other banks are adding up how many billions they'll award in bonuses the next couple years with the tax cuts extended.

 

[chartman]

Quote from Gabfly1:

Really? Are the millionaires hurting that badly? The poor dears.

I think Obama should have proposed a $1 million cut off point rather than the $250k level, at least until the economy stabilizes, after which time the $250 level should be revisited. Then there would be even less justification for all the brouhaha from the Right.

What you think and what is reality can be totally different. There was no possible way, without a compromise, to continue the Bush tax rates. Everyone's taxes would have increased. Again, during a major recession there should not be a tax increase. When, and if, the economy improves would be the time to look at the tax code and make sure everyone is paying a fair share. Of course, that means something different to each person as most people thinks they are paying too much and the other guy not enough.

 

[Ricter]

Quote from DHOHHI:

I don't think you have to privatize it. But get rid of unions. ...

Good luck. If capital can organize for its interests, so can labor.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from Gabfly1:



I think Obama should have bla bla bla

 

[DHOHHI]

Quote from Ricter:

Good luck. If capital can organize for its interests, so can labor.

And it's reprehensible that union members can get PAID to sleep. In my former life I worked in the auto industry and seeing plant workers sleeping on the job I found astonishing. I was told a grievance could be filed but there would be no consequence. Same with teachers unions. The "rubber room' in New York, full of teachers who were out of their respective classrooms for various reasons (from incompetence charges to child endangerment to many more) was costing taxpayers $100 million per year.

 

[Gabfly1]

Quote from DHOHHI:

Agree on $1 million or maybe even $2 million...

Whoa, let's not go crazy.

If we are going to discuss a range, I would think something between $500k and $1M. People still earning that kind of money are probably not hurting quite as much as those in the lower snack brackets, if at all. Of course, the numbers I'm throwing out are just ballpark and for discussion purposes. But, realistically speaking, people still earning a million have probably not had to scrimp too excessively to get by. And let us not forget that the rationale for the extension of the Bush tax cuts, in the face of a burgeoning deficit, is to give people some leeway to get by in difficult times. Is the guy still earning $1M really going to curtail his spending? And would a tax cut really cause him to spend appreciably more? I doubt it. And at times like these, you have to look for the utility.

 

[Ricter]

Quote from DHOHHI:

And it's reprehensible that union members can get PAID to sleep. In my former life I worked in the auto industry and seeing plant workers sleeping on the job I found astonishing. I was told a grievance could be filed but there would be no consequence. Same with teachers unions. The "rubber room' in New York, full of teachers who were out of their respective classrooms for various reasons (from incompetence charges to child endangerment to many more) was costing taxpayers $100 million per year.

The rentier class gets paid while they sleep.

 

[Tsing Tao]

Quote from Gabfly1:

Groovy. Based on your own research, have you been able to identify any point in time when tax cuts have, in fact, paid for themselves? Please be sure to not overlook the liability side of the balance sheet in connection with any point of reference you may wish to raise.

i have not researched the topic enough to provide you what you're seeking. the reason i have not is because i see no need to go beyond the logical argument of "if i have more money from the government, i spend more money on discretionary things."