[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Also, NATO was pretty happy to allow / WELCOME Sweden and Finland into their organization. One reason is that their GNPs are high enough to be able to PAY for excellent military equipment, NOT that the US is lacking in any way in military capability. Just saying that ALL, ALL indications are that the Scandinavian countries have top economies. True that they have a VAT system as does most of Europe, but somehow they make it work for THEM. I am NOT sure HOW they do it, but I know for a fact that they have a strong middle class (and we do NOT today) and they DO find a way to make their WEALTHY class feed back WEALTH INTO their country. Many US millionaires and Corporations find ways to DODGE paying their fair share of taxes - they even push their wealth overseas to avoid taxation. And I assume there is a different mentality in the Scandinavian states about whether their government is "friend or foe". In the US the Federal government is considered to be the FOE and as such, US citizens may have less of a problem than a Scandinavian citizen may have about CHEATING their government OUT of taxes.
......It may be as simple as that. After all, in most things, ATTITUDE is everything. I also notice that Scandinavian citizens are NOT very interested in immigrating to the US.
........Ca. may be one of the few US states with a true PROGRESSIVE tax system as intended by the founding fathers, who ran away from Kings. The wealthy in Ca. are always complaining that they pay too much taxes. They want the tax burden shifted to the middle class as has been done in many US states. The middle class in Ca actually pays less of the tax burden than in most other states with flat tax / sales tax systems or states which have succumbed to the wealthy push to get the state to flatten out their PROGRESSIVE systems.

When will you stop posting misinformation? Sweden and Finland are NOT part of NATO. And if Turkey has its way they never will be.

[loweglor]

Sales tax bill.......... probably the most ridiculous bill ever written by a Republican. There are no explanations as to the reasons they give why changes need to be made.......... you can't tell people it will save money without explaining how, in detail. Typical GOP mindset......... don't tell how.

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by loweglor

Sales tax bill.......... probably the most ridiculous bill ever written by a Republican. There are no explanations as to the reasons they give why changes need to be made.......... you can't tell people it will save money without explaining how, in detail. Typical GOP mindset......... don't tell how.

....as opposed to all the ridiculous bills written by your side?

[Lindsyburnsy]

Originally Posted by tvbound

Once again, the highly gullible are believing lies. First of all, the hiring of just under 87,000 new employees (under current law) are not all agents/enforcement and will help replace the roughly 50% of the current +-82,000 IRS employees eligible for retirement in the next 5 years. Secondly, the IRS currently audits nearly 80% fewer millionaires than a decade ago and the total shortfall of those not paying their fair share, is estimated at $310 BILLION. Thirdly, if the new bill wasn't really about protecting the wealthy and large corporations from paying their fair share, which it obviously is, the new proposal could have put a floor for increased audits, such as only individuals making more than say $2 million - and a minimum net income for small/mom & pop businesses.

Those simple steps would ensure that the false fear now being spread about the middle class and small businesses being the primary target...totally moot. I think most people, deep down at least, know why those simple steps will be opposed by a certain demographic.

Exactly right. Most TV residents are getting their “news” from one source and are being inundated with half truths and fear mongering. Now it’s taking away gas stoves. The conservatives are flooding the airwaves with this BS and all it does is cause more hatred. I thought we voted for fixing the economy, cheaper healthcare, fixing immigration and protecting our schools from gun violence. These things aren’t even on the short list.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The Scandinavian countries MUST be doing something right because, as many US Doctors know, they are in the top 10 countries for both having the least INFANT MORTALITY and highest quality of life and other such factors. The US is a badly distant 30th in most factors (and I have been writing this for years here) The US is NOT in the TOP TEN for anything except things like gun violence and murders. (also, it was not that way after WW2)
.........The US was in the top 10 for factors like quality of life around 1950 and has been steadily slipping. Today Iceland is #1 for least infant mortality, Estonia is #3, and Finland is #4. The US is WAY down on THAT list. So, yes, I do stand by my statement about the economies of the Scandinavian countries.
.......I just looked up current statistics at worldpopulationreview.com for number of infant deaths per 1,000
........the US is in the middle of about 100 countries. US is 5.44 deaths per 1,000
........Russia is 4.36.....Cuba is 4.08........Poland is 3.74......UK is 3.62.......S. Korea......2.59......SWEDEN is 2.15
.........Japan is 1.82.......NORWAY is .......1.79 .......ICELAND is #1 at 1.54

I am NOT a US hater, I just like to be a US REALIST when comparing ALL the world's countries.

Thanks for not replying to my point...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I noticed that there were no comments about my 2nd paragraph which puts EVERYTHING into the correct perspective and is completely NOT debatable.
.....And those statements about Baltimore just remind me to NEVER try and compare a WEALTHY SUBURBAN school system to a crime-ridden POOR school system............did I hear someone say "apples and oranges comparison. Or maybe it should be cumquats to burnt prunes ?
........In the past, the rich suburban schools did NOT have to pay for security guards and metal detectors like the school did in the INNER cities.
.....isn't Maryland the state where the college football team is named the TWERPS ??????

Okay, you ASSume where I live has a "wealthy suburban school district", but in reality, it has a wide mix of income levels.

Another neighboring county only spends 2/3 of what B'more spends and still out performs them. That county has a significantly lower income average than mine, has a much higher minority population, higher crime, has security guards and metal detectors...

So much for your "apples and oranges"...

And the MD college mascot is a "Terrapin"... He is named "Testudo". Rumor has it that if a virgin ever graduates UMD, Testudo will sprout wings and fly away... Last I checked, he was still there...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I noticed that there were no comments about my 2nd paragraph which puts EVERYTHING into the correct perspective and is completely NOT debatable.

You mean this fallacy?

"We all read that today's modern married couple has to have BOTH people with full-time jobs to even be considered in the US middle class. And recently the news media is talking about the house shortage and how rental units have their prices jacked up. A modern couple can NOT afford the DOWN PAYMENT on a home because the lack of NEW housing starts, which has driven the down payment to be in excess of what MOST middle-class citizens can POSSIBLY save up."

When we bought in our "wealthy suburban neighborhood", almost every single couple we knew both worked... I was considered the outlier, since my wife and I decided when we had kids, she would stay at home.

And new housing starts are only down a bit since the start of Covid and the VERY recent supply chain problems...

You need proof?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Also, NATO was pretty happy to allow / WELCOME Sweden and Finland into their organization. One reason is that their GNPs are high enough to be able to PAY for excellent military equipment, NOT that the US is lacking in any way in military capability. Just saying that ALL, ALL indications are that the Scandinavian countries have top economies. True that they have a VAT system as does most of Europe, but somehow they make it work for THEM. I am NOT sure HOW they do it, but I know for a fact that they have a strong middle class (and we do NOT today) and they DO find a way to make their WEALTHY class feed back WEALTH INTO their country. Many US millionaires and Corporations find ways to DODGE paying their fair share of taxes - they even push their wealth overseas to avoid taxation. And I assume there is a different mentality in the Scandinavian states about whether their government is "friend or foe". In the US the Federal government is considered to be the FOE and as such, US citizens may have less of a problem than a Scandinavian citizen may have about CHEATING their government OUT of taxes.
......It may be as simple as that. After all, in most things, ATTITUDE is everything. I also notice that Scandinavian citizens are NOT very interested in immigrating to the US.
........Ca. may be one of the few US states with a true PROGRESSIVE tax system as intended by the founding fathers, who ran away from Kings. The wealthy in Ca. are always complaining that they pay too much taxes. They want the tax burden shifted to the middle class as has been done in many US states. The middle class in Ca actually pays less of the tax burden than in most other states with flat tax / sales tax systems or states which have succumbed to the wealthy push to get the state to flatten out their PROGRESSIVE systems.

So now you're back on the Sweden band wagon? A few posts ago you were complaining about them... So confusing...

And what does NATO have to do with anything? So far, they don't meet the 2% GDP military spending threshold to be members and they'll have to rely on the US (just like every other freakin' country!)

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by lindsyburnsy

exactly right. Most tv residents are getting their “news” from one source and are being inundated with half truths and fear mongering. Now it’s taking away gas stoves. The conservatives are flooding the airwaves with this bs and all it does is cause more hatred. I thought we voted for fixing the economy, cheaper healthcare, fixing immigration and protecting our schools from gun violence. These things aren’t even on the short list.

msnbc?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Ca. may be one of the few US states with a true PROGRESSIVE tax system as intended by the founding fathers, who ran away from Kings. The wealthy in Ca. are always complaining that they pay too much taxes. They want the tax burden shifted to the middle class as has been done in many US states. The middle class in Ca actually pays less of the tax burden than in most other states with flat tax / sales tax systems or states which have succumbed to the wealthy push to get the state to flatten out their PROGRESSIVE systems.

Yes, the CA "PROGRESSIVE" tax system is causing 100's of thousands to flee every year. Those fleeing are PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE CLASS due to their REGRESSIVE tax schemes... You may think it's only the rich who are leaving, but you would be wrong...

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

When will you stop posting misinformation? Sweden and Finland are NOT part of NATO. And if Turkey has its way they never will be.

I did NOT intentionally spread misinformation. If someone IS splitting hairs ; I will add MORE CLARIFICATION to my statements. Although, it is strange that I have to clarify everything in MINUTE detain since I am NOT a PAID member of the US foreign NATO delegation. If I get PAID I will PERFECT my statements.......I could just have my STAFF proofread my statements before I send them out !!!!!
Anywho, 28 out of 30 NATO countries have signed on to ratify the entrance of Sweden and Finland into NATO. The holdouts are Hungary and Turkey (countries that have been moving away from European democracy). It is predicted that Hungary will be the LAST to ratify, but it IS predicted that they will.

And since someone will say "Where is your Flopping link". Here it is......see an article by Atlantic Council experts dated Aug 2022. That is the 1st one coming up when you google Finland and Sweden joining NATO. And there are MANY MORE such links.......I will be HAPPY to provide if people send me a check payment at my regular hourly research rate. Thanks

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

So now you're back on the Sweden band wagon? A few posts ago you were complaining about them... So confusing...

And what does NATO have to do with anything? So far, they don't meet the 2% GDP military spending threshold to be members and they'll have to rely on the US (just like every other freakin' country!)

If money or GNP determined which military was better than others, then the Ukraine would NOT be kicking the Russian backside..........and Russia knows that they have to resort to KILLING civilians that can't shoot back. What cowards!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Yes, the CA "PROGRESSIVE" tax system is causing 100's of thousands to flee every year. Those fleeing are PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE CLASS due to their REGRESSIVE tax schemes... You may think it's only the rich who are leaving, but you would be wrong...

Only the rich that can afford to leave Ca.are leaving. They just sell their BIG homes at a BIG profit and move to Oregon or Florida where the homes are VERY affordable to the rich. ......NOT so much for the majority of Floridians that HAVE to rent and MOST will NEVER be able to make the down payment in today's high home price market - and also they are making relatively LOW wages because the REAL middle class (of yesterday) has been OUTSOURCED to CHINA.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Yes, the CA "PROGRESSIVE" tax system is causing 100's of thousands to flee every year. Those fleeing are PRIMARILY THE MIDDLE CLASS due to their REGRESSIVE tax schemes... You may think it's only the rich who are leaving, but you would be wrong...

I hope that many TOTV readers realize the OBVIOUS misstatement in this post. It is saying that California has BOTH a progressive and a regressive tax system at the SAME time. That is impossible ......and as the OLD saying goes........"make up MY mind".

[swooner]

Originally Posted by Byte1

This "Fair Tax" is an excellent idea, ONLY if they do away with the Federal Income tax. This makes it fair for everyone, not just the wealthy carrying the load for everyone else.

The wealthy carrying the load for everyone else? Are you serious?