"Let's stomp on Constitutional Amendments" thread

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/08/2013 07:39:26 PM · #527

One would assume that if the rich put "more" into it they would, likewise, get "more" out of it. I think the assumption is the rich can take care of themselves. Social security was never meant as a progressive, redistribution scheme. One gets out what one puts in, theoretically.

I can agree with you though that social security should be considered as self-contained. However, because of the baby-boom generation we know the system is not going to be able to meet its social security obligations at some point. Either the government says that's ok (ie. benefits are reduced) or the government pays for it (ie. the debt goes up or we raise taxes).

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

10/08/2013 09:01:59 PM · #528

//www.marketwatch.com/story/exposing-the-social-security-solvency-hype-2013-06-12

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

10/08/2013 10:40:01 PM · #529

seeing where this conversation has gone I just want to throw out the 9 - 9 -9 plan....That is 9% income...9% sales and 9% corporate tax...no deductions. There would be increased revenue

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/08/2013 10:56:24 PM · #530

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

seeing where this conversation has gone I just want to throw out the 9 - 9 -9 plan....That is 9% income...9% sales and 9% corporate tax...no deductions. There would be increased revenue

You're in favor of taxing corporations 9% on the cash that comes over the transom? That's what "no deductions" means, ya know? 9% on gross income. Just as one example, I don't think there's any grocery store that makes even a 9% profit on total sales. I'd love to see that one in action :-)

Message edited by author 2013-10-08 22:57:17.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/09/2013 03:34:45 AM · #531

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Just as one example, I don't think there's any grocery store that makes even a 9% profit on total sales. I'd love to see that one in action :-)

A few years ago I know the big grocery chains cleared between 7 and 4 percent profit on their gross; A 9% tax on the gross would be a massive multiplier of taxation on guys like them; and builders, who make a few percent on the stuff that passes through their hands would be in the same boat. It would be pretty inflationary.

10/09/2013 01:38:36 PM · #532

House and Senate gyms considered essential and not shut down. phew! Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed...

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/09/2013 02:10:18 PM · #533

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

House and Senate gyms considered essential and not shut down. phew! Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed...

All work and no play - ya know. Frankly, I think they all need to take a break and fly away to an exotic island for a team building seminar. I'll spring for the one-way tickets.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/09/2013 03:02:51 PM · #534

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Frankly, I think they all need to take a break and fly away to an exotic island for a team building seminar. I'll spring for the one-way tickets.

I suggest The Maldives ... or the Juno satellite is swinging by Earth today on its way to Jupiter -- maybe it can pick up a few passengers. FWIW NPR reports that in accordance with "the laws of orbital mechanics, Juno will arrive at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, whether the government has re-opened or not ..."

And John Hockenberry has just suggested sending them to the otherwise-closed research station in Antarctica to huddle together like penguins ...

Message edited by author 2013-10-09 15:08:43.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

10/09/2013 03:15:43 PM · #535

Originally posted by GeneralE:

And John Hockenberry has just suggested sending them to the otherwise-closed research station in Antarctica to huddle together like penguins ...

Yes! Then... "Release the Leopard Seals!" >:)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

10/09/2013 05:10:27 PM · #536

Can't say I'm super-duper thrilled about Yellen as the choice for the Fed. I think we should be prepared for the government to suckle at the teat of quantitative easing for some time in the future. I'd have preferred someone with a little more backbone and willingness to make the hard choice.

Message edited by author 2013-10-09 17:10:59.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/10/2013 10:30:22 AM · #537

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

... I think we should be prepared for the government to suckle at the teat of quantitative easing for some time in the future. I'd have preferred someone with a little more backbone and willingness to make the hard choice.

While I fully agree that drastic cuts are needed, I can hear the collective howls of indignation from all concerned if indeed this was the approach taken.

My father never purchased anything he could not pay for in cash or that he could not repair... guess who didn't have any new fangled things in their house eh?

Seriously though, I have always strived to pay cash for most things including cars and paid homes within 10 years... sure helped keep me away from fancy toys and bars.

As I look at a great number of people and view their buying habits, I am reminded of something my dad used to say: " Pretty hard to pay as you go when you are still paying for where you been at"

Makes perfect sense don't it.

Ray

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/10/2013 10:57:11 AM · #538

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
... I think we should be prepared for the government to suckle at the teat of quantitative easing for some time in the future. I'd have preferred someone with a little more backbone and willingness to make the hard choice.

While I fully agree that drastic cuts are needed, I can hear the collective howls of indignation from all concerned if indeed this was the approach taken.

My father never purchased anything he could not pay for in cash or that he could not repair... guess who didn't have any new fangled things in their house eh?

Seriously though, I have always strived to pay cash for most things including cars and paid homes within 10 years... sure helped keep me away from fancy toys and bars.

As I look at a great number of people and view their buying habits, I am reminded of something my dad used to say: " Pretty hard to pay as you go when you are still paying for where you been at"

Makes perfect sense don't it.

Ray

We share these habits. I owe no-one.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/10/2013 01:25:10 PM · #539

Originally posted by Cory:

I owe no-one.

Correction: I believe your share of the national debt is in the thousands. :P

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

10/10/2013 01:43:50 PM · #540

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Cory:
I owe no-one.

Correction: I believe your share of the national debt is in the thousands. :P

And if it'd do a damned bit of good I'd pay what I 'owe'.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/10/2013 02:01:40 PM · #541

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Cory:
I owe no-one.

Correction: I believe your share of the national debt is in the thousands. :P

And if it'd do a damned bit of good I'd pay what I 'owe'.

There's a line on Form 1040 you can use to make a "voluntary" payment toward reducing the national debt.

I wonder how many of those conservatives who say the debt is the biggest problem we face have ever used it ...

Judith Polakoff

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/10/2013 03:51:54 PM · #542

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It's not illegal to invest the Social Security Trust Fund assets in Treasury securities. In fact, it makes sense to do so, if you think about it. But the government since 1969 and the introduction of the Unified Budget (which I think was introduced to mask the deficit caused by the Vietnam War) has been playing games with whether those funds are considered on-budget or off-budget. There's a fascinating history here.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

10/10/2013 06:09:01 PM · #543

Cracks in the ice. I'm curious if we manage to put this off for six or eight weeks if there would be actual "negotiation" on the budget. Not Obamacare. Not the debt limit. I'm talking taxes and cuts. Odds on that?

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/10/2013 06:15:13 PM · #544

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Not likely to happen... both parties are too entrenched and no one wants to make any concessions that will have a negative impact on whatever group they represent.

Ray

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/10/2013 06:19:53 PM · #545

Well, we'll see everybody in December then. Judith? Paul? Can you guys make it, say, the 5th?

Message edited by author 2013-10-10 18:20:09.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/10/2013 07:27:52 PM · #546

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Remember the threat of sequestration ? The bill that was so bad and cut so much stuff so randomly that it was going to force the two sides to come together ? Well It looks like that is as close to a negotiation as we will be likely to come. "The continuing resolution that the White House and congressional Democrats have agreed to funds the government at sequestration levels. " In short the hack and slash reduction of the Federal Government that was supposed to scare them into behaving is now the best possible plan.
Given that the Republican strategy for the last few years has been to oppose Obama in every action he takes, and Obama so often caves to big money, staying opposed to him is a very tiring dance.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

10/10/2013 08:07:38 PM · #547

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Unfortunately SS funds collected are shoved (illegally?) into the operating funds and replaced with interest-bearing T-bills, which is why it's possible SS could run out of assets to pay with until this is cleared up.

It's actually a legal REQUIREMENT for SS funds to be invested in U.S. securities backed by the "full faith and credit" of the federal government.

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Cracks in the ice. I'm curious if we manage to put this off for six or eight weeks if there would be actual "negotiation" on the budget.

The only cracks have been within the Republican party. Today's short term debt limit "offer" was precisely nothing. According to Re. John Fleming, "All we're doing is saying the president hasn't come toward us, we'll just move the deadline out and offer it again. We haven't changed our position, only the timeline." As long as the House continues to insist on getting something in return for upholding the Constitution they swore to uphold, which states that the debt is non-negotiable, this will go nowhere.

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

10/10/2013 08:18:24 PM · #548

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Cory:
I owe no-one.

Correction: I believe your share of the national debt is in the thousands. :P

And if it'd do a damned bit of good I'd pay what I 'owe'.

There's a line on Form 1040 you can use to make a "voluntary" payment toward reducing the national debt.

I wonder how many of those conservatives who say the debt is the biggest problem we face have ever used it ...

Have you???????

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

10/10/2013 08:19:35 PM · #549

Since there seems to be a bit of a pause.... here are a couple of questions.

If you think the Federal government is too big, and "non-essential", who would you cut, and why? How would you propose replacing those services, if at all? What should those Americans who have been doing those jobs do instead? In other words, where should America grow its labor force?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III