Comments on: Re: Last Word on Tax Cuts

By: The End is Nigh?

The End is Nigh? — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:45:25 +0000

Trey, Our ability to collectively own guns is stopping the possibility of a police state? Really? So you and I can ward off the US Marines, and a string of B-52’s with our 9mm’s? I’m sorry, but that seems a tad bit alarmist.

Waaaaaait a second…were you one of the those guys that spent a year’s salary on canned vegitables and Ozarka water jugs in the days leading up to Y2K?

By: Bill Kennedy

Bill Kennedy — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:59:17 +0000

Trey, that’s sure is some strategery you posit there. Too bad it makes as much sense as KB-H did in hers.

By: Backer

Backer — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:24:50 +0000

Marty, I was just saying that if I was as financially smart as you……
It was a compliment; and btw, I really like your columns.

By: Marty Cortland

Marty Cortland — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:55:13 +0000

Why am I getting dragged into this? The most salient point that I noticed on the “S&P” country list itself was the country actually occupying the 22nd slot: France. The U.S. was 24th. (Can’t believe that the Times is that sloppy. Either that, or those devious Brits are insulting us by considering the U.S. interchangeable with France.)

By: Backer

Backer — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:17:43 +0000

Lord knows I’m not financial genius. Otherwise, I’d be writing Marty Cortland’s column for him. However, that doesn’t keep me from having a perception of this whole tax the rich, tax the corporations, tax the personal income of everybody who has a job concept. It reminds me of my first wife.
At the thought of getting a new credit card, or line of credit, she would go on a shopping spree. At one point in her second marriage she owed $6k/month in credit card payments. So, she took me to court to increase my child support. (She’s no longer married to her second husband, btw.) Congress seems to have the same attitude – let’s go spend, because the bill will come later, and even then we only have to pay the minimum monthly charge. Or, if we have trouble paying it let’s charge the people/corporations (the ex-husbands) more taxes (child support/alimony). Paying just the minimum monthly charge on a $1000 credit card bill will take approximately 30 years to pay off – per finanical reviews I’ve read.
Now, I’ve got a good wife who agrees with me to pay cash for as much as we can. But, we pay a penalty (higher interest rates, more down payment) when trying to buy a house or car because we’re not in debt up to our eyeballs. There’s a leadership saying, “Morality flows from the top down.” Apparently, this economic morality of high debt = good credit flows from the top (Congress) down to the American people. “Charge it today (because I don’t have willpower to wait), make the minimum payments (so I can keep my cash flow for fun things), and hope I stay employed.”
Personally, and again based upon my financially challenged perceptions, I favor a flat 10% tax – along with reducing government (programs, workers, entitlements, etc) by 50% or more. I welcome any insight as to where I’m wrong in this.
Alas, Babylon – what are we to do?