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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:29:33 pm

Title: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:29:33 pm

WTF is Bush?  He's sure not a Liberal, but he's obviously no Conservative either... he'll just eff over anyone any chance he gets.

From CNN:

Quote
The president's tax-reform advisory panel today submitted two final proposals to the Treasury Department, both of which offer significant changes to the tax breaks people have come to expect. The panel proposed converting the home mortgage interest deduction into a credit equal to 15 percent of mortgage interest paid.

I mean, seriously... he's supposed to be for tax breaks, yes?  Tax breaks rather than eliminating one of the most basic deductions that regular families come to heavily rely on?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 01, 2005, 04:34:28 pm
I paid my house off this year. Good timing, eh?

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:36:10 pm

If I run the numbers, this results in my paying nearly $2000 more in taxes than I do now.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 01, 2005, 04:37:05 pm
OUCH!

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:41:30 pm

Yep, my home value is just above the cap and I'm supposedly in that "they can most afford it" middle class bracket right below the wealthy that don't get hit and the poor who can't afford it.  So I get slammed hardest whenever things like this happen.

Can most afford it ---my bottom---, someone tell that to the oil company that wants $450 to fill my heating oil tank this month.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 01, 2005, 04:43:49 pm


Can most afford it ---my bottom---, someone tell that to the oil company that wants $450 to fill my heating oil tank this month.

That reminds me, I need to have my propane tank filled. Better brace the checkbook.

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:44:56 pm

I may as well just get a job working for Exxon and then decline my paycheck.  They're on the receiving end of everyone's money most of the time anyway.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Bones on November 01, 2005, 04:46:27 pm
Yep, my home value is just above the cap and I'm supposedly in that "they can most afford it" middle class bracket right below the wealthy that don't get hit and the poor who can't afford it. So I get slammed hardest whenever things like this happen.
It doesn't matter what country you are from or who governs it, middle class always get slammed because there is a more of them.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Sephroth57 on November 01, 2005, 04:46:52 pm
by the time i can buy a house everything is gonna be ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- even more, at least youre that far already
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:47:53 pm

Being this far is only good if you can KEEP the house.

Remember, you can have 75% of your house paid off and still lose it all just like that if you miss three payments.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Bones on November 01, 2005, 04:49:39 pm
What are home loan rates in the states?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 04:56:18 pm

Mine is like 5.875 I think, but the current rates are higher than that.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: mr.Curmudgeon on November 01, 2005, 04:58:23 pm
WTF is Bush?  He's sure not a Liberal, but he's obviously no Conservative either... he'll just eff over anyone any chance he gets.

He's a Corporatist and an elitist. Think of who has gained the most from Bush's tenure in office:

Big Business and Old Money.

He bought off a bunch of middle-class people with a $300+ check, from their tax return, while giant conglomerates racked in BILLIONS with no-bids contracts for his nation-building campaign, deregulation, and tax cuts for the wealthy. Just so C.E.O's could shore us their personal legacies by squirreling it away in off-shore accounts. That money will NEVER find it's way back into our economy.

Then, instead of turning is knife on pork-barrel spending, he turned it on the American people, via the attempt to privatize Social Security, etc.


mrC

Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: grueinthebox on November 01, 2005, 05:01:30 pm
by the time i can buy a house everything is gonna be ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- even more, at least youre that far already

I feel your pain...  I was planning on buying a house next summer, but now I'm having to reconsider based on the skyrocketing cost of electricity around here.  I'm not sure I'll be able to fit the electric bill into my budget.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Zero_Hour on November 01, 2005, 05:02:29 pm
Current avg. rate for a 30 year fixed rate, no upfront points in the U.S. is 6.5%, according to reuters.


Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: shmokes on November 01, 2005, 05:03:42 pm

If I run the numbers, this results in my paying nearly $2000 more in taxes than I do now.

If I were you I would NOT run the numbers.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 01, 2005, 05:04:50 pm
I mean, seriously... he's supposed to be for tax breaks, yes? Tax breaks rather than eliminating one of the most basic deductions that regular families come to heavily rely on?

Thats OK, they just send you one of these...

(http://www.ionikh.gr/ico/VaselineJelly.jpg)

This ones gonna hurt if it doesn't get shot down.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ClubNinja on November 01, 2005, 05:06:59 pm
Oh joy.  Oh effin' joy.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: grueinthebox on November 01, 2005, 05:08:32 pm
Almost forgot to add:

"George Bush doesn't care about home owning people!"
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ClubNinja on November 01, 2005, 05:19:29 pm
Almost forgot to add:

"George Bush doesn't care about home owning people!"

Imagine being a black home owning person right now - Bush double doesn't care about you.

Of course, he probably also doesn't believe that you exist.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 01, 2005, 05:32:31 pm
BUSHit
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 01, 2005, 06:01:21 pm
It doesn't get signed until tomorrow.  That gives you a day to do something about it. 

Instead of being a Curmudgeonly and posting a b!tch b!tch b!tch post, you should post numbers for us to call to stop it.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: whammoed on November 01, 2005, 06:23:21 pm
Sounds like that would actually benefit me right now.  I barely made over the standard deduction last year itemizing everything including the mortgage interest.  I would probably get more back. :-\
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: mr.Curmudgeon on November 01, 2005, 06:28:49 pm
you should post numbers for us to call to stop it.

Typical DD, always looking for someone else to do the work for him. You're such an entitlement-queen. Activism sure is "hard work", DD, but you wouldn't know that now would you.



mrC
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 01, 2005, 08:02:34 pm

See, I would, but if you follow the story, it says that these are things that Bush's tax reform committee are going to recommend be proposed.

You want me to post phone numbers on how to protest a recommended proposal?

Do you also want me to get a mailing address to which we can register complaints about something someone may say should happen at some point?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: grueinthebox on November 01, 2005, 08:05:14 pm
Do you also want me to get a mailing address to which we can register complaints about something someone may say should happen at some point?

If that something puts a $2k hit on the pocketbook, absolutely!

...Not that they care what we have to say anyway... 
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 01, 2005, 08:27:35 pm
They don't care about this new tax proposal.  Either way they're still getting paid.  They do care if voters are interfering with their cushy jobs by filling their voice mail and causing their secretary to sit at her desk all day taking names and address instead of picking up lunch and coffee.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 02, 2005, 02:10:54 pm
Countdown for that one being sent to hell. 5... 4... 3...

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 02, 2005, 02:11:37 pm

I figured, what the hell, let's liven it up a bit.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 02, 2005, 02:24:37 pm
Chad....OUCH
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 02, 2005, 02:26:22 pm

It's the best concise summary of Bush's two terms in office that I can find.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 02, 2005, 02:42:08 pm

It's the best concise summary of Bush's two terms in office that I can find.

HA!

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 02, 2005, 03:43:51 pm
Did it get signed? Or were you really being  Curmudgeonly and posted before knowing all the facts and now hoping this thread gets banned before we can laugh at you?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: abrannan on November 02, 2005, 03:52:54 pm
From what I understand of this plan (Which I've seen dubbed as the "snowball's chance in hell" plan) there are a lot of other differences.  For one, it gets rid of the Alternative Minimum Tax.  It also drops the vast majority of Americans into a 15% tax bracket (Which for most of us is a big break).  Also included in the plan are 401(k) style savings plans for "life events", new home purchases, Education, etc.

But you go ahead and focus on the narrow picture...
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: mr.Curmudgeon on November 02, 2005, 03:55:05 pm

Now I know what Chad meant when he said he was a kicker.


Did it get signed?

Jesus. Can't you're lazy-ass be inspired enough to do a 2 sec. search on Google to find out for yourself? Damn.

I dig how you can't help but make smarmy comments about me, all the while exposing yourself as the lazy, know-nothing ignoramus that we all know and love. Stop dragging your knuckles and visit 'GOOGLE.COM'...and leave me out of your fetid posts.



mrC
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Santoro on November 02, 2005, 03:58:05 pm
What's with the weird line on his stomach?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: mr.Curmudgeon on November 02, 2005, 04:00:15 pm
What's with the weird line on his stomach?

I didn't watch the clip long enough, nor close enough to notice.   Sicko.   :P
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Santoro on November 02, 2005, 04:01:26 pm
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 02, 2005, 04:06:33 pm
What's with the weird line on his stomach?

Damnit...made me look a second time  :o
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 02, 2005, 04:11:14 pm
Not going back for a closer look.

I guess all of the mods took the day off today. Think how the cheesecake thread could have flourished. But no, all we get is an unending loop of a guy taking it in the speedbags. Tragic.

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 02, 2005, 04:11:55 pm
But you go ahead and focus on the narrow picture...


I focus on the picture that means thousands of dollars in extra taxes for my family, when we are already hurting financially.

Why would I focus on something else?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 02, 2005, 04:15:51 pm
Jesus. Can't you're lazy-ass be inspired enough to do a 2 sec. search on Google to find out for yourself? Damn.


The Clinton News Network only says that Bush's committee came up with this plan, it doesn't say if Bush refused or accepted the plan.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 02, 2005, 04:20:15 pm

That is correct.

I started the complaining earlier than usual because this is not a smooth Conservative move.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Stingray on November 02, 2005, 04:48:37 pm
Countdown for that one being sent to hell. 5... 4... 3...

-S

Close to three hours. That's not very on-the-ball is it? ;)

-S
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 02, 2005, 04:50:16 pm
Mods are around...at least in the Main section.
They took off a link to fleabay on a dumb guy selling roms & emulators.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 02, 2005, 05:24:21 pm
Pre-Hell post  :angel:
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 02, 2005, 06:06:55 pm
Post-Hell post
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 02, 2005, 06:13:10 pm

It's like a coach running on the field to get ejected.

Sometimes, you have to fall on your own sword to rally the troops.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Santoro on November 02, 2005, 06:29:10 pm
they got it.  pic gone.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: abrannan on November 03, 2005, 09:00:34 am
But you go ahead and focus on the narrow picture...


I focus on the picture that means thousands of dollars in extra taxes for my family, when we are already hurting financially.

Why would I focus on something else?

Oh, I don't know, probably the fact that the other aspects of the plan mean you'll be paying thousands LESS in income taxes, while getting a little less back on your mortgage interest.  Net result to your family is that you'll have a few thousand MORE in your pocket, which will help you financially. 






Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 03, 2005, 10:19:09 am
I read somewhere that yes the mortage interest deduction is gone but that will be translated to some type of credit.  Still use in some calculation but to a lesser degree.

We'll just have to see what actually makes in thru and become live.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Havok on November 03, 2005, 12:03:10 pm
But you go ahead and focus on the narrow picture...


I focus on the picture that means thousands of dollars in extra taxes for my family, when we are already hurting financially.

Why would I focus on something else?

Oh, I don't know, probably the fact that the other aspects of the plan mean you'll be paying thousands LESS in income taxes, while getting a little less back on your mortgage interest.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 12:29:58 pm
Oh, I don't know, probably the fact that the other aspects of the plan mean you'll be paying thousands LESS in income taxes, while getting a little less back on your mortgage interest.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: allroy1975 on November 03, 2005, 12:36:21 pm
don't taxes need to go up?  isn't that how it works? 
republicans keep saying no new taxes....tax cuts..wooo!  meanwhile everything gets all horked
then the democrats come in..fix everything but raise taxes and eventually people get sick of paying higher taxes so they let the republicans come in and hork everything up to get taxes down a couple bucks?

Seriously...don't flame me too hard...i have NO idea what i'm talking about.  I'm just trying to get my post count up.

Allroy
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 12:43:32 pm

No, no one ever comes in and fixes anything. 

No matter who is in, they hork it all up, and they all raise taxes.

The line between Democrat and Republican is pretty much nil now except for partisan behavior.  Neither party is interested in what is best for the people or America.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: allroy1975 on November 03, 2005, 12:52:18 pm
Yeah! 


(still working on that post count  ;) )
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 03, 2005, 01:03:21 pm
No, no one ever comes in and fixes anything.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 02:05:19 pm

It is not fixed until something better replaces it.

Has that happened?
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Dartful Dodger on November 03, 2005, 02:30:26 pm

It is not fixed until something better replaces it.

Has that happened?

Raw sewage/nothing is something better.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: MameJunkie on November 03, 2005, 02:41:37 pm
One of the items Bush said the new tax calulations had to do was to take in AT LEAST the same amount of $$$.  That means best case = same as now but good chance it will go up.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 03:13:17 pm

Another:

We've all seen the original... this one is funny.

(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3329/kungfu1jh.gif)
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: markrvp on November 03, 2005, 03:27:14 pm
That made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe.  The part where the lasers hit him and he collapses out of frame is priceless.  :D
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 03, 2005, 03:30:22 pm
That means best case = same as now but good chance it will go up.

Best case is the 100k + earners who manage to hide whatever they can in assorted tax shelters pay their fair share, and us middle class folks get a break.

Not holding my breath.  I'm still fighting with Pennsylvania over $8 they owe me from 2003.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 03:33:53 pm

Here in MA, people around $100k ARE middle class.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 03, 2005, 03:38:07 pm
Never thought of that.  I guess class definition changes based on location.

I've always considered myself middle class (except when drinking, then definitely low class) but I make half of what you just mentioned.

Gotta go restructure my world views again.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 03:44:16 pm

Here, any household under $70k combined income can pretty much kiss owning a home goodbye.

Anyone making less than $30k is going to have trouble finding an apt that's not a rathole.

Anyone making less than $20k is barely able to own a car if they have housing expenses.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Havok on November 03, 2005, 03:51:31 pm
100K is about average I would think for a combined income...
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 03:56:37 pm

In most parts of the country, I suspect it's not, once you factor in cost of childcare for both parents to work.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 03, 2005, 03:59:22 pm
My wife stopped working when we had our son.  Her salary wouldn't have made up for the child care and tax penalties for a double income family.

Even my tax guy has no clue what these proposed changes would do in the real world.  He doesn't seem concerned about losing his livelyhood anytime soon.

I started reading thru the 46+ pages of the report, but lost my mind somewhere after the executive summary.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Santoro on November 03, 2005, 04:00:24 pm

Here, any household under $70k combined income can pretty much kiss owning a home goodbye.

Anyone making less than $30k is going to have trouble finding an apt that's not a rathole.

Anyone making less than $20k is barely able to own a car if they have housing expenses.

Same here (NYC/NJ) but maybe a little worse.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 03, 2005, 04:03:28 pm
I'm not far south of you, in the Philly 'burbs.

Amazing how cost-of-living fluctuates.

Taxes:  fluc 'em all.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Santoro on November 03, 2005, 04:26:07 pm
I think that I am easily commutable to NYC is the thing.  Same with Chad to Boston. 

Nothing against Philly or anything, just not as big a city.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: Ed_McCarron on November 03, 2005, 04:28:56 pm
"Nothing against Philly or anything, just not as big a city."

Smells just as bad.  Nope, you are 100% right.  I forget how big other cities are - I avoid them as much as possible.
Title: Re: I'm going to be Curmudgeonly
Post by: ChadTower on November 03, 2005, 04:40:25 pm

Eastern MA, along with NYC and parts of CA, are the most expensive places in the US to live.  The next places aren't even all that close, either.