COL Gene

Reply to Why I Favor Tax Cuts for the Wealthy in Politics JoeUser Forums

Helix teh II You got it. The first thing we must do is agree on what we want the government to do for us. Not just the far Right or far Left but what the majority want. Second, we must pay for those services. Not pay part and charge the balance. It may be necessary to eliminate some programs but those the majority want must be properly funded and run well to be effective in delivering the desired service. Those who say stop increasing the budget in future years are l

Social Security Math in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Social Security Math Below are the results of President Bush’s Social Security plan as outlined one web site www.gop.com For a worker age of 53, their account value at age 68 would be $48,922 with a 8% compounded yield per year. Adjusted for inflation at 3% that is the equivalent of $30,980 today. For a worker age 43 their account value at age 68 would be $1

Reply to Tax break incentives and how they work in Politics JoeUser Forums

Jobs are created when there is increased demand that can not be met without adding workers. The increase productivity has reduced job creation. To increase demand, people must spend money they receive. the middle and lower income workers will spend a much higher percent of additional income then wealthy individuals. Some added money from tax cuts to the wealthy dooes create new jobs. However, overall a greater percent of added income to middle and low

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Returning to the tax rates in effect during the 1990's is NOT SOAKING THE RICH. The simple fact is that we are not collecting enough in taxes to balance the budget. If the choice is to collect a little more from those that can afford it or from those that are just making ends meet, the choice is simple.

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Terphan1980 What is #34 in answer to in this Blog?

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

drmiler The added revenue is needed to balance the budget and the top 5 % can affort a little higher taxes which was clearly documented in the 1990s when tax rates were higher.There is also an economic principle that the wealthier a person the less they will spend of of any added income including that which would come from a tax cut. This is called the marginal propensity to consume. Thus by increasing the taxes on the wealthy there is less impact on demand then the same tax increases

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

We have not had a recession for about two years and are running a deficit of about $675 Billion. It is long past time that the budget should be balanced. Another issue is the War. In the past, we have paid for the added cost of war with tax increases. Bush has put it on the tab.

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

I was aware of that. That does not alter the fact we are spending about $675 Billion more this year then we tax. That is what can not continue. When cuts that are acceptable to the majority have been made and loop holes closed, the remaining deficit must be filled with more revenue (Taxes). The tax rates in every other industrilized nation are far greater then in the US. Also, the higher tax rates on those who can afford to pay a bit more did not adversely inpct the economy in the 1990's in the

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

A ten trillion dollar national debt by 2008 and a $500 billion interest payment on that debt is not what I call "Knee jerk reasons" Neither is the $6.5 Trillion we have paid in interest since 1980.

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Draginol I do not think your ideas will fly. If congress used your suggestions to balance the budget, they would not be reelected and the new members would reverse such changes. It is better to deal with issues before they become too large. Returning to the tax rates for the top 5% that were in effect prior to 2001 and cutting pork plus closing corporate tax loop holes would go a long way to bringing the budget into balance. The conce

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

I guess the CBO is also a left-leaning thinktank. They just indicated that the Bush tax policies will add another 2.58 Trillion to the deficit. There is nothing wrong with the tax rates that were in effect prior to 2001. People in your income bracket had the best ten years in their history. I know I did. If you believe things like the military, or any other agency that employs people or buys anything can be level funded, you have lost it. We could cut

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

GET THIS WE CAN NOT CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE THEN WE TAX. WE MUST EITHER CUT EXPENSES OR INCREASE TAXES. I AM IN SIX FIGUARS TOO AND RAN SEVERAL LARGE BUSINESSES. YOU CAN NOT ACT LIKE BUSH AND KEEP INCREASING THE DEBT AND THE INTEREST THAT REQUIRES. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN DEAL WITH THE DEFICIT BY SPENDING CUTS ONLY. THUS, AT SOME TIME THE WEALTHY WILL SEE A BIG TAX INCREASE. YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK!

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

ParaTed2K We live in the US. I am suggesting the top two income tax brackets return to 39 and 36% and keep the Estate tax. The tax cuts that eliminate the marriage penality and the 10% bracket, the increased child exemption should be retained because they help the middle income workers. The added revenue from the top two brackets and Estate Tax (Impacts less then 1% of Americans) would provide hundreds of billions each year to help balance t

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

drmiler First, if the other 95% agree so what? Senond, given the gains the wealthy had in the 1990's with the tax rates at the higher levels, thay have nothing to complain about. It is the middle and low income families that get the crums and are hit with higher energy and health costs with little or no salary increase to offset the increases in essential goods and services they need to live.

Reply to Out of Touch with America in Current Events JoeUser Forums

dabe You are correct. If Bush had told the American People what he planned for a second term, he would be working on the ranch in Texas. The other issue is that most of the policies Bush is pushing like the farm subsidies, Social Security and his budget cuts require congressional action. Bush may have received 51% of the vote th November but that does not mean the American people agree with the changes he wants made. It is important that

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Parated2K Tax cuts to the middle income is more effective to stimulate the economy because most of the tax cut is spent and stimulates demand. A much smaller part of tax cuts to the wealthy is spent and does not stimulate the economy to the same extent. Therefore, since we need the revenue to help balance the budget, it is better to tax the wealthy then the middle income worker. I am suggesting to return to the tax rates for the top 5% that were in effect prior to 2001. Those were the

Out of Touch with America in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I watch the Lou Dobbs show and each night he has a question that listeners respond to via the Internet. I know these polls are not scientifically constructed however the topics that are being covered are in the forefront of the issues that are important to our nation. It’s remarkable to me night after night those who choose to vote on th

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Tax cuts that make it impossible to banance the budget take from everyone. Some time that debt will have to be repaid and until it is repaid, we will all pay the interest. Since 1980 the American Taxpayers have paid $6.5 Trillion in interest on the National Debt. That has taken from us ALL!!! If a person has expenses greater then their income, they do not go part time and make less. They get a better job or a second job to make ends meet. Tax cuts are like going part time when you could not pay

Reply to Republicans out to DESTROY social security!! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Dr Guy His tax cuts. The only group that has received a substantial amount are wealthy. Median tax cut $470. Cuts to people making 1 million and above average $113,000. Cuts to state and local tax bases has shifted $185 Billion during the past four years causing state and local tax increases and college increase tuition. 500,000 children have lost health care coverage since Bush took office. Source www.bushtax.com. add the higher interest w

Reply to What will you have under Bush Social Sceurity plan in Politics JoeUser Forums

Yes, he has not provided a plan that addresses all the issues. The info used in this chart is per www.gop.com. He has not said where the money comes from to : replace the money diverted to individual accounts pay the full benefits to older workers and people that dop not select the individual accounts or How much of a reduction in Social Security benefits would a person see if they choose the individual ac

Reply to Support Our Troops- Approve $82 Billion for War in Politics JoeUser Forums

Great Idea. We should spend every dollar wisely. The private contracting increases the cost of providing services in combat areas. That is because of the higher salaries paid to the civilian workers then we pay to our military for doing the same job. We also have the profit to the companies providing the services. This was a BAD idea. Someone should tell Rummy and Bush!

What will you have under Bush Social Sceurity plan in Politics JoeUser Forums

Let’s take a look at the Bush proposal for Social Security private accounts. Below is a table which shows the results of allowing workers to set aside $1000 in year one and increase that investment by $100 per year from their Social Security taxes. The column on the right shows the cumulative balance using an 8% compounded rate of return. As you can see, the amount

Reply to Support Our Troops- Approve $82 Billion for War in Politics JoeUser Forums

My total income does not fall within the top 5% of all Americans. Where my retirement income falls compared with others drawing military retirement income has nothing to do with the issue!

Reply to Support Our Troops- Approve $82 Billion for War in Politics JoeUser Forums

Draginol The reason to restore tax rates on the top 5% is to pay for what we are currently receiving. The reality is we are NOT paying for the services we are reveiving to the tune of $675 Billion this year. Parated2K The inciome of the top 5% of the population combines all income - Wages, interest, dividents etc. I may be in the top 5% of military retired pay but my total incomne is not in that bracket. We need to look at the overall budget- cut where we can

Reply to What has Bush accomplished that helps us? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Draginol I did read the article that estimated 270 Billion in 2004 is due to the tax cuts. I can not locate it . The issue is that he continued tax cuts and making them permanent is bad policy. The Brookings Institute did a study that showed making the Bush tax cuts permanent would aid $2.4 trillion by 2014 to the national debt. You can go to their web site to find that study.