[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Why is my name in your quote?

Because you are a sweatshop owner, and make Nike shoes with all those other countries!!

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

If I were fortunate enough to have children or grand children, I would love him or her the same as I loved her or him. My approval of their choices is not required for my love. That's just the way I am.

I completely agree. I wish more people felt the way we do.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Because you are a sweatshop owner, and make Nike shoes with all those other countries!!

Sorry now have my wife making my sneakers and all of our friends. She works hard but if we leave the A/C on is she working in a sweatshop? Asking for a friend.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Zenmama18

How about if your daughter/granddaughter loses out on a rowing scholarship to Laurie Laughlin's daughter? Or loses a gymnastics scholarship to the girlfriend of a football recruit? The point is that a talented athlete will have other choices for scholarships.

Maybe! Maybe not! Point is, letting athletes ( surgically altered or simply identifying as) compete as other than their genetic code stipulates, is throwing in a ringer. It is wrong.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

In Sweden, MOST (not all) people pay only local tax which ranges between 29.08 and 35.15 per cent depending on municipality, on their annual income. In addition earners above a certain income threshold set by the Tax Agency also pay 20 per cent state tax.

The Swedish tax system includes a so-called basic deduction, a sum that is exempt from the taxable income. The sum differs depending on whether a person is under or over 65, see link above.

So, if you make less than the basic deduction you pay no taxes, sort of like here.

And for the VAT, the standard VAT rate for goods and services in Sweden is 25 per cent, but there are reduced rates of 12 per cent for foodstuffs and 6 percent for books, newspapers, passenger transport within Sweden.

So, lets take the high road, and say citizens in Sweden pay 55% (35% local and 20% state). On top some pay as much as 25% VAT. Kind of a "sales" tax which is sort of like sales tax here. Which runs depending on state between 8% and 12%(?) not sure.

Now, Federal tax rate goes from 0% to 35%, state tax rates vary, CA is highest at 12%, then 9000 local jurisdictions have local income tax up to 3%. So, add those up and your get 50% income tax max for US Citizens. (Let's not quibble over the 40,000 pages of Federal tax code and all the possible infinite variety of marginal rates).

Two things pop out in Sweden you pay more VATG than we pay in sales tax. Agreed.

Second using the highest rates, in the US and Sweden, in Sweden you would pay 55% income tax, and in the US you pay 50%. For that 5% you get Universal healthcare - well, not just you EVERYONE. You (everyone) also gets unemployment compensation, which benefit consists of two parts: a basic unemployment insurance and a voluntary income related benefit. If you retire you are covered by their state run pension plan, which unlike private pension plans in the US which trend to go bankrupt leaving workers holding the bag.

Anyway it goes on and on. The bottom line, Sweden pays MORE taxes, but if you include Heath Insurance in the US, we actually pay a LOT more than they do. And it covers everyone, not like here with 30 million Americans uninsured for healthcare, and vastly more under insured because of massive deductibles and not covered issues. And let's not go into how much better their healthcare outcomes are.

I am not sure what you point of bring up Sweden, but they are far better off than US citizen both in what they pay, and what they get for what they pay.

At least that is my humble opinion.

That was an impressive analysis of Sweden's tax system and hints at the country's philosophy. I know that Sweden beats the US in qualities like UPWARD MOBILITY. The Nordic countries place in the top 5 or 10 of all countries for various qualities of life. The US places below 20th and often below 30th in world lists. (do NOT just believe me, but check for yourself) The US was the top country in the world after WW2. But, due to various causes, has dropped steadily thereafter! Personally, my favorite issues for problems are unrestrained population growth and lack of nationalized health care........but, there are many othet problems.
.........Blaming shoe advertizers and a tiny % of the population like GENDER FLUID people, seems, to me, to be a "blame game" type distraction that allows people to MISS the real cause of their problems (besides aging).

[amexsbow]

Originally Posted by blueash

All you experts in a man is a man and a woman is a woman... What is a person with XXY chromosomes? What is a person with XO? What is a person with XYY? What is a person with ovotestes? What is a person who has cliteromegaly that mimics in all respects a small phallus? What is a person whose brain tells them beyond any shadow of a doubt they are a woman? You experts are so certain in your ignorance and intolerance. The genders are not as simple as you wish or your church may have taught you. It is very complex and the exceptions to your wrongheaded wisdom prove the fallacy of your beliefs.

Of course you would support forcing teachers not to teach the truth about gender identity because telling children the truth would threaten your so tightly held beliefs. There is every color of the rainbow in human expression and experience of sexuality and gender.

And any corporation that understands how the emerging picture of the complexity of gender must be boycotted. Cancel culture I believe is the term the thought police use on TV

In response to the burning question: What is a woman? As defined by science, a man (male) has an XY chromosome. A woman (female) has an XX chromosome.
Due to genetic ABNORMALITIES some mammal are born with variants, XXY, XYY.
These are again abnormalities, just like cows with two heads, and other deformities.

That was easy.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

That was an impressive analysis of Sweden's tax system and hints at the country's philosophy. I know that Sweden beats the US in qualities like UPWARD MOBILITY. The Nordic countries place in the top 5 or 10 of all countries for various qualities of life. The US places below 20th and often below 30th in world lists. (do NOT just believe me, but check for yourself) The US was the top country in the world after WW2. But, due to various causes, has dropped steadily thereafter! Personally, my favorite issues for problems are unrestrained population growth and lack of nationalized health care........but, there are many othet problems.
.........Blaming shoe advertizers and a tiny % of the population like GENDER FLUID people, seems, to me, to be a "blame game" type distraction that allows people to MISS the real cause of their problems (besides aging).

GENDER FLUID????? I can't find the fill tube. Is that located between the power brake and automatic transmission fluids???? And since pink and blue are already taken, as is green for antifreeze, what color is "gender fluid"?

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

GENDER FLUID????? I can't find the fill tube. Is that located between the power brake and automatic transmission fluids???? And since pink and blue are already taken, as is green for antifreeze, what color is "gender fluid"?

Where the fill tube is located depends on what type of trans you've got. 😏

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Sorry now have my wife making my sneakers and all of our friends. She works hard but if we leave the A/C on is she working in a sweatshop? Asking for a friend.

Tell your friend that my friend ( yes, I have one ) says, " No sweat, No sweatshop. "

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by macawlaw

I have a daughter who had a D1 volleyball full ride. I wondered how this issue would/could potentially affect her. So, I went looking for statistics. I have found a lot of opinion, but very few facts.

Here are a few facts. Multiple sources agree that .6% to .7% of American adults identify as transgender. This is fewer than 2 million American adults. Not that many.

Another fact: only 7% of high school athletes play a varsity sport in college. Less than 2% will play at D1 schools. Scholarship Stats.com states that it's 55:1 for men and 57:1 for women who play D1 after high school.

Looking at the factual statistics, very few trans individuals would make it to the D1 level.

This is a small number, and the very elite numbers are even smaller.

Lia, the trans swimmer, started a fire storm. I also saw a story about Chelsea Mitchell, a Connecticut high school runner.

Having watched volleyball for years and observing the differences between men and women and how they play, I know the physical advantage that men who have gone through puberty have over women in the sport.

What I did not know was what happens when a man transitions. What do the drugs do to him? How many years does one have to be on them in order to compete as a woman? Who makes these decisions? I wanted specifics: What does lack of testosterone do as far as strength, jumping ability, times, etc.?

I don't know because I could not find the statistics. There is a severe lack of information on these issues. How do we know what is fair when there is nothing but feelings and emotions to make a decision?

Lia won the national title, but Katie Ledecky still holds the world record. Mitchell lost to two trans girls in 2021, but beat both of them in 2020. Do these facts make a difference?

Title IX did so much for women. The argument now is that transgender women will ruin it for women such as my daughter. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. Until hard evidence is available, opinions will prevail.

Good post, thanks.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by RayMan

You embrace her, show her respect...and enjoy your game. That simple!

if God chooses to make GENDER FLUID individuals, maybe it is our job to respect that decision.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

GENDER FLUID????? I can't find the fill tube. Is that located between the power brake and automatic transmission fluids???? And since pink and blue are already taken, as is green for antifreeze, what color is "gender fluid"?

Why. it is Rainbow Colors. of course. What else could Gender Fluid be?

[amexsbow]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

In Sweden, MOST (not all) people pay only local tax which ranges between 29.08 and 35.15 per cent depending on municipality, on their annual income. In addition earners above a certain income threshold set by the Tax Agency also pay 20 per cent state tax.

The Swedish tax system includes a so-called basic deduction, a sum that is exempt from the taxable income. The sum differs depending on whether a person is under or over 65, see link above.

So, if you make less than the basic deduction you pay no taxes, sort of like here.

And for the VAT, the standard VAT rate for goods and services in Sweden is 25 per cent, but there are reduced rates of 12 per cent for foodstuffs and 6 percent for books, newspapers, passenger transport within Sweden.

So, lets take the high road, and say citizens in Sweden pay 55% (35% local and 20% state). On top some pay as much as 25% VAT. Kind of a "sales" tax which is sort of like sales tax here. Which runs depending on state between 8% and 12%(?) not sure.

Now, Federal tax rate goes from 0% to 35%, state tax rates vary, CA is highest at 12%, then 9000 local jurisdictions have local income tax up to 3%. So, add those up and your get 50% income tax max for US Citizens. (Let's not quibble over the 40,000 pages of Federal tax code and all the possible infinite variety of marginal rates).

Two things pop out in Sweden you pay more VATG than we pay in sales tax. Agreed.

Second using the highest rates, in the US and Sweden, in Sweden you would pay 55% income tax, and in the US you pay 50%. For that 5% you get Universal healthcare - well, not just you EVERYONE. You (everyone) also gets unemployment compensation, which benefit consists of two parts: a basic unemployment insurance and a voluntary income related benefit. If you retire you are covered by their state run pension plan, which unlike private pension plans in the US which trend to go bankrupt leaving workers holding the bag.

Anyway it goes on and on. The bottom line, Sweden pays MORE taxes, but if you include Heath Insurance in the US, we actually pay a LOT more than they do. And it covers everyone, not like here with 30 million Americans uninsured for healthcare, and vastly more under insured because of massive deductibles and not covered issues. And let's not go into how much better their healthcare outcomes are.

I am not sure what you point of bring up Sweden, but they are far better off than US citizen both in what they pay, and what they get for what they pay.

At least that is my humble opinion.

Here we go with the Sweden paradise argument.
Let's look at the Whole picture. Recent articles:
...But Swedes are frustrated over their universal health care, one of the main pillars of their cherished welfare state, with long waiting queues due to a shortage of nurses and available doctors in some areas...
...ASIA Nader did not know whether to worry more about being diagnosed with a hole in her heart at the age of 21, or having to wait a year for Swedish doctors to fix it...

The population of Sweden is about the same as North Carolina. It looks like an apples to oranges comparison.

As my statistics professor told the class, tell me what you want to prove and I will get you the statistics to prove it.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. But if we look about the U.S. we can see the disparity in state governments and even counties within states based on differences in governance and population demographics.

These arguments and comparisons are ridiculous, stop complaining. There are many other things happening in this world which will affect you more.
Enjoy your move to Sweden.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

I DO NOT go into public bathrooms unless it’s a single stall and I can lock the doors; it’s one less place where I don’t have to deal with them.

Are you looking?

So you're afraid to go potty?

Who is "them" that's coming after you, sport?

[Topspinmo]

Give it up, not going to make difference. Life for old people to short to sweat small stuff….