Texas Governor Reaffirms States’ Rights Under 10th Amendment!!!!

[Lorizael]

1. Paves roads? I take it you are referring to roads in Vancouver.

2. Builds schools? I can't recall the last school built. They have closed down about 20 percent of the local schools.

4. Provides for who? My mom's parents are both supported by the income my grandfather made as a logger. Ditto my dad's folks for his pension as a cement truck driver.

2. Social Security. Something that I won't see, or my parents won't qualify for and my grandparents worked hard in their life so that they don't have to rely upon.

4. Disability, which I can't collect as I am 'employable'. Technically another term for anyone who can get themselves declared unemployable.

5. Road improvements and construction for urban communities, where I don't live unfortunately.

Do you seriously think your heavily biased anecdotal evidence is worth anything in a debate?

3. Defends my country? I live in Canada. We couldn't even defend ourselves from a concerted invasion by anybody.

Your location field says San Antonio and we're talking about an American issue. Don't be a douche.

1. Health care expenditures. This includes abortion, and all manner of elective procedures.

Yeah. No. I think you should be more worried about uninsured ER visits than abortions if we're talking price tag here.

3. Welfare. For able-bodied people who choose not to work, particularly seasonal workers on the off season.

Yes. That is what welfare is for. Yup. Definitely.

6. Education for urban communities.

Are urban communities somehow less deserving than non-urban communities? Also, bull****. High-revenue suburban population centers are the places that get the most education spending.

Because you make more and your withholding has went up? You need to get a better accountant.

Nope. I'm gonna go with the fact that I only received tax cuts under the Bush administration and, given my current salary, I'm only going to receive tax cuts in the Obama administration, too.

(I'd like to point out that I've been somewhat hypocritical here because I've been using my anecdotal evidence when talking about the tax burden. This is not fair. So, seriously, we all know that under the Bush tax cuts and the Obama tax cuts all us young, relatively low-wage workers are better off. You can claim otherwise, of course, but I believe it's already been proven that you're a liar and that you don't even deny that.)

[Ben Kenobi]

Do you seriously think your heavily biased anecdotal evidence is worth anything in a debate?

Question asked, question answered. You asked about my personal experience, and I answered all of your questions, one by one. If you want to actually deal with my argument you might want to go back to my original post which said nothing about anecdotes.

Your location field says San Antonio and we're talking about an American issue. Don't be a douche.

Honestly, I would be honoured to pay my taxes to America if it meant I could get US citizenship. I wish I could do that right now, as you folks are the ones taking on the burden of defense.

Yeah. No. I think you should be more worried about uninsured ER visits than abortions if we're talking price tag here.

For one, they aren't funded in the US, so it's a complaint that only applies to Canada.

Are urban communities somehow less deserving than non-urban communities? Also, bull****. High-revenue suburban population centers are the places that get the most education spending.

They also are the ones that pay the most out, so it's fair.

Nope. I'm gonna go with the fact that I only received tax cuts under the Bush administration and, given my current salary, I'm only going to receive tax cuts in the Obama administration, too.

Receiving higher tax refunds means you need a better accountant.

(I'd like to point out that I've been somewhat hypocritical here because I've been using my anecdotal evidence when talking about the tax burden. This is not fair. So, seriously, we all know that under the Bush tax cuts and the Obama tax cuts all us young, relatively low-wage workers are better off. You can claim otherwise, of course, but I believe it's already been proven that you're a liar and that you don't even deny that.)

Where did I even say you were better or worse off vis-a-vis Obama? All I stated is that if you are getting more back in a tax refund that's a sign you need a better accountant. It's your money, all that means is that you are giving the government a higher loan. What matters is not the refund but the overall amount you pay including withholding.

[Lorizael]

Question asked, question answered. You asked about my personal experience, and I answered all of your questions, one by one.

No I didn't. Liar.

They also are the ones that pay the most out, so it's fair.

Fair to whom? Is it fair to poor students who grow up in poor districts that have no tax revenue and have to rely on unmotivated, unfunded teachers with out of date resources?

Where did I even say you were better or worse off vis-a-vis Obama? ... What matters is not the refund but the overall amount you pay including withholding.

**** the refund bit.

If, as you say, what matters is the overall amount you pay, don't you think that might play into whether or not you're better off, since that's directly related to how much more money you have?

Under Bush's budgets, my income bracket received tax cuts, so I paid less. Under Obama's budget, my income bracket is going to receive a tax cut, so I'm going to be paying less. These two statements are true for almost every American on this site (this is a guess on my part, but I don't think I'm wrong) and a plurality of taxpayers in the United States (this is undeniably true). Again, you can try to say otherwise, but that goes back to the you being a liar thing.

[Ben Kenobi]

Fair to whom? Is it fair to poor students who grow up in poor districts that have no tax revenue and have to rely on unmotivated, unfunded teachers with out of date resources?

First off, teachers are professionals. It's their job to do the best job they can regardless of the resources available. Fewer resources are not an excuse for lack of motivation.

Secondly, wrt to the quality of education, you don't need very many toys. You shouldn't need 'brand new resources'. Any teacher worth her salt should be able to get by on very few. I hav run tutorials and have tutored many students. I have an 'old school' method that works. Individualised attention, a blackboard and pen. Total cost, an hour to rent a room.

If, as you say, what matters is the overall amount you pay, don't you think that might play into whether or not you're better off, since that's directly related to how much more money you have?

Then why are you happy you got the refund, if you sincerely believe that people have a duty to share? Wouldn't you be happier paying more and getting no refund?

I want you to ditch the Bush/Obama crap, which you've brought up twice. It's irrelevant to my point. I'm not discussing about whether Obama is better or worse for you then Bush. Why are you so intent to give him free advertising on this issue, when I've not brought up Bush or Obama at all?

Simple point, and that's all I was planning to say. Tax refunds mean you withheld too much. Every year at April I pay in, because I have no withholding. This is a better system then giving the state a 12 month loan of your money and then being happy when the government gives you some of your own money. At least bribery usually involves other people's money, not your own.

[Theben]

It's not like anyone is going to give a damn about these protests next week. Why get worked up about them? If it makes 'em happy, go ahead. Just remember to clean up after yourselves.

[DanS]

I think these tea parties are great.

The tax burden will increase as spending goes up. Some are trying to parse that into something good for the economy and the country.

[Theben]

After reading a bit about this at Yahoo news, all I can say is TMM has chosen some real nitwits to side with.

[DanS]

I'm siding with those nitwits too.

[Lorizael]

First off, teachers are professionals. It's their job to do the best job they can regardless of the resources available. Fewer resources are not an excuse for lack of motivation.

Sure, but that's not the reality of the situation.

Secondly, wrt to the quality of education, you don't need very many toys. You shouldn't need 'brand new resources'. Any teacher worth her salt should be able to get by on very few. I hav run tutorials and have tutored many students. I have an 'old school' method that works. Individualised attention, a blackboard and pen. Total cost, an hour to rent a room.

But wait, I thought it was more fair for rich school districts to get more money. But now you say that more money isn't necessary? Does that mean rich school districts should receive some compensations other than money for their increased tax burden if more new toys aren't important? Pats on the back, perhaps?

Then why are you happy you got the refund, if you sincerely believe that people have a duty to share? Wouldn't you be happier paying more and getting no refund?

Forget the refund stuff. You're right. Decreased tax burden is more relevant.

I want you to ditch the Bush/Obama crap, which you've brought up twice. It's irrelevant to my point. I'm not discussing about whether Obama is better or worse for you then Bush. Why are you so intent to give him free advertising on this issue, when I've not brought up Bush or Obama at all?

How am I giving Obama free advertisement when I'm stating that I got a tax break with both Obama and Bush? Perhaps I'm suggesting that, since I got a tax break either way, we shouldn't have bothered spending money on an election and I think we should have stayed with Bush?

Here's the real point: taxes are necessary for the upkeep of society, especially one as large as the United States. If you really believe that all tax that is not "necessary" is government waste then you're delusional and... wait... I'm talking to obiwan18.

****. Nevermind, I give up. I've got a novel to write and a chick to bang.

[Ramo]

There's a certain irony in that the least justifiable major chunk of the stimulus happens to be the tax cuts. And Republican hacks like Perry are demagogic over actually useful stuff like unemployment insurance.

[Theben]

I'm siding with those nitwits too.

I wouldn't put it on a resume'.

[Kidlicious]

First off, teachers are professionals. It's their job to do the best job they can regardless of the resources available. Fewer resources are not an excuse for lack of motivation.

Let's see how motivated you are when you have to pay for everything out of your own pocket.

Once again it's obvious that what you say has nothing to do with reality.

[Darius871]

What the hell are you on about now? We're not legitimate because we're not vandals?

No, it's not the lack of vandalism that's obnoxious; rather it's appropriating symbolism that isn't actually analogous. This time there's taxation with representation, unlike the real deal. If you want to have a "don't tax or spend so damned much" protest that's just fine and dandy, but it bears no relation to the Boston Tea Party. Perhaps you're smart enough to understand the distinction, but it's obvious that most of the dip****s out there today do not.

[Ben Kenobi]

Sure, but that's not the reality of the situation.

I know teachers who deliberately go into low performing districts to try to improve them. They are aware of the challenges wrt to funding. There's no excuse for performing at less then your best.

But wait, I thought it was more fair for rich school districts to get more money.

I think each district should only get out what they put in.

But now you say that more money isn't necessary?

No, it's not necessary for quality of education.

Does that mean rich school districts should receive some compensations other than money for their increased tax burden if more new toys aren't important? Pats on the back, perhaps?

Just the contrary. We shouldn't be rewarding poor districts with money that won't help them to become better. The correct assumption is that the districts who are perfoming poorly need to look beyond cash to solve their problems.

Here's the real point: taxes are necessary for the upkeep of society, especially one as large as the United States.

To a certain extent, I agree.

If you really believe that all tax that is not "necessary" is government waste

I believe it's theft.

[Ben Kenobi]

Let's see how motivated you are when you have to pay for everything out of your own pocket.

Once again it's obvious that what you say has nothing to do with reality.

There's a quote, Field of Dreams.

"Hell, I'd do it for nothing."

The only ones who really accomplish anything rather then just punching time are those folks.