"Taxes"...whew. lot's can be said about taxation, but there are

[rasputin1952]

realities involved.

I like a Fire Department that responds when there is a fire; I think they should get to the fire on decent roads, and I like the notion that we have PD's that respond to criminal activity. Tangible items that we can see everyday...the EMS that is transporting an accident victim or heart attack victim to a hospital.

Then there are intangible items, like the Navy's "Stealth Ship", the one being given away after costing billions to produce. The nuclear warheads that are being built. "Gee-Whiz" technology that rarely works, and is prone to human error and creates pain and death.


I am in NE, I almost got shot because the "Farmers Table" for the AM Coffee Klatch complained about "welfare mothers", (some here get about $350 + some food stamp help to bring up some kids into adulthood). But, when I asked when the last time the $127,000 check sent to the farmer was returned to the government, you'd have thought I was about to be crucified and burned.

Perspective. How many thieves are out there, how many "Bernie Maddoff's" have paid taxes? It is a question of ensuring the money is spent well, intelligently and openly. What benefits society as op-posed to destroying it? I want my neighbors protected, I want people that can have jobs that don't use up 60 hours a week to make sure food goes on the table.

No one "likes" paying taxes, but I pay mine, and I'm OK with that...my neighbor had his life saved by an EMS team that got there in time to keep his cardiac arrest under control until he go to the hospital...the taxes I sent in saved that man's life, as did the taxes of others. Hell...I don't really even like the guy, he's one of those "get off my lawn types"...but when he was down and out, I mowed his lawn, I took care of some things that were needed for him. I'm about as far from wealthy as a human can get...but I have a heart...and a soul.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this...and please, perform one random act of kindness today.

[PVnRT]

1. The macho-man culture of the GOP

has convinced a great number of people that the only "worthy" thing to spend money on is the military - everything else is effeminate and wasting "their money."

If this country went one year doing exactly what the GOP intelligentsia want, they would never win an election again.

[ejpoeta]

2. on a show i was watching yesterday was it (?) I heard it put very succintly on taxes.....

the dems view is that government is necessary and taxes are necessary.... republicans view taxes as a punishment. don't remember who said it.... maybe it was on charlie rose. hmm. but it sounds about right to me. but who are the first ones screaming and crying when THEIR fire station is closed or the officers that patrol their streets are cut. that's like batavia, ny where people are fuming over the closure of the batavia ambulance. how many of the people in that town are republicans whining about taxes!!! btw... i live about 15 minute drive from batavia, so....

[GeorgeGist]

3. Do you mind paying profits?

On average every American (man, woman or child) spends about $15,000/per on profits. For which, by definition, the spender gets nothing in return.

[rasputin1952]

4. I'm sorry, I don't get the correlation, what do you mean by

"profits"?

If there is a "profit", by definition, something has been gained...:shrug: