Invested in the markets?

[Stumper]

I agree Stumper. People need to quit listening to the main stream news media (Fox included) and start doing REAL research! Then and only then will the real truth come out. I had some decent deductions and a very moderate income last year and still gave the gooberment 4400 bucks. I'm thankful that I have a good tax guy....who btw, doesn't like the flat tax plan. He says too many making money under the table for that....ie Chinese restaurant owners. Pay attention to how they run the register if you visit any of those but the small business owner just about has to cheat if they expect to make any kind of money. Pay attention to furniture rental stores too. Those places almost always carry two books....one for new furniture and one for returns that have been re-rented.

I fully intend to not pay any more taxes. I am sick of it. Sick of working my *** off my whole life to get ahead, not taking vacations, not being home to help raise my kids, not having the time to do even the simplest task around my house because of my work load (and hiring someone else to do it - with no deductions of course) and then being milked like a cow and made out to be one of the "bad" people that Osama and his commie brothers puke about on national TV. You know the types, the ones that feed off the backs of the poor!! I have created more jobs by myself than Obama has ever created, but no more. I'm all done with the crap! They can milk someone else - if they catch them before they leave the country..

 

[Cranky]

I fully intend to not pay any more taxes. I am sick of it. Sick of working my *** off my whole life to get ahead, not taking vacations, not being home to help raise my kids, not having the time to do even the simplest task around my house because of my work load (and hiring someone else to do it - with no deductions of course) and then being milked like a cow and made out to be one of the "bad" people that Osama and his commie brothers puke about on national TV. You know the types, the ones that feed off the backs of the poor!! I have created more jobs by myself than Obama has ever created, but no more. I'm all done with the crap! They can milk someone else - if they catch them before they leave the country..

I hear ya. I'm in the same mode and a buddy of mine sold off all of his businesses and went into early retirement because of the same reason. He said if the business atmosphere got better later on, he might get back into the game. You probably know who I'm talking about. Also, I lost my GP because of fear of what lies ahead. She said she was done with all the goobermental and insurance red tape. I've been going to a lot of doctors lately (for me and my wife) and I always ask them about what they they think is ahead as far as regulations etc go and they are all ready to move on to a new career! Even the liberal doctors are reluctant to comment on it and just get that 'I don't know what to think about it' look on their face.....

 

[Finallygotmine]

I too own a business. ten years ago I was poor. Now I pay more in taxes than I made in an entire year. This administration has waged class warfare and you can see the results of such things when you look to what is going on in England.
If you don't believe the wealthy pay the taxes and take the risk, just start to inquire what it takes to start a business. Contact your local government agencies that regulate whatever business you think could earn you a living and look into what the ACTUAL costs are in running, maintaining and meeting your local and federal regulations. Make sure you check to find out how much it costs for, rent, labor, electricity, water, gas, personal property taxes, unemployment insurance, workman's comp insurance, vehicle payments, vehicle insurance, building insurance, general liability insurance, hiring a book keeper, accountant, getting your taxes done, property taxes, Paying FICA and Social Security match, miscellaneous required filing fees, (state) advertising, plowing, equipment maintenance, Franchise fees (I pay 6%), telephone, internet, banking fees, credit card fees, bounced check fees, and then if your a swell guy, you belong to the various local associations such as the Chamber of commerce, the Lions club or maybe the Rotary. I haven't even mentioned your Cost of Goods to produce a product. Usually between 30 an 50 percent of income. Not to mention we are used as a cash collection device by the government because we have to collect sales tax and send it to the state and put up with all their BS. They are always asking for more info. My accountant has to fill out various forms a month so they can collect statistics on how the economy is doing which just costs me more money. Some cities have a city sales tax, some counties have a county sales tax, various licenses just to be in business.

Now, I could go to the bank tomorrow and get financing to open another location. The money is there, and available, don't believe what you hear that banks are not lending. But, I would hit my head on two of obama's ceilings, I might reach that magical next tax bracket and I might hit the 50 employee thresh hold which might make me provide healthcare on top of all the above.
Why on earth would I want to do that?? Give even more money to a government that pisses money away with total disregard to where it comes from? No thanks, I'm pretty comfortable where I am now. not rich, but comfortable.
If you believe the wealthy just sit on their money and don't invest it, Then how do you know they are wealthy? wouldn't they just be regular joes living in a regular house and driving a regular car? No, they do invest it in fancy cars, homes, motorcycles, boats, parties and lots of wasteful stuff too, but it all provides jobs.
Don't even get me started on the "corporate tax". A corporation is a piece of paper with words on it. The employees of the corporation should pay taxes, not the corporation itself. We are taxing pieces of paper!!! Don't forget, those evil corporations give those evil profits to those evil shareholders. YUP, that would be you if you owned shares, and that would be your retirement account. So, if you own stock, YOU are an evil shareholder not paying enough taxes. Think of all those evil teachers unions and police unions invested in Exxon Mobile and BP and Microsoft and GE for their pension funds. I guess what comes around goes around. Go after the "rich and wealth" and you actually hurt yourself.

Rant over

 

[Cranky]

I too own a business. ten years ago I was poor. Now I pay more in taxes than I made in an entire year. This administration has waged class warfare and you can see the results of such things when you look to what is going on in England.
If you don't believe the wealthy pay the taxes and take the risk, just start to inquire what it takes to start a business. Contact your local government agencies that regulate whatever business you think could earn you a living and look into what the ACTUAL costs are in running, maintaining and meeting your local and federal regulations. Make sure you check to find out how much it costs for, rent, labor, electricity, water, gas, personal property taxes, unemployment insurance, workman's comp insurance, vehicle payments, vehicle insurance, building insurance, general liability insurance, hiring a book keeper, accountant, getting your taxes done, property taxes, Paying FICA and Social Security match, miscellaneous required filing fees, (state) advertising, plowing, equipment maintenance, Franchise fees (I pay 6%), telephone, internet, banking fees, credit card fees, bounced check fees, and then if your a swell guy, you belong to the various local associations such as the Chamber of commerce, the Lions club or maybe the Rotary. I haven't even mentioned your Cost of Goods to produce a product. Usually between 30 an 50 percent of income. Not to mention we are used as a cash collection device by the government because we have to collect sales tax and send it to the state and put up with all their BS. They are always asking for more info. My accountant has to fill out various forms a month so they can collect statistics on how the economy is doing which just costs me more money. Some cities have a city sales tax, some counties have a county sales tax, various licenses just to be in business.

Now, I could go to the bank tomorrow and get financing to open another location. The money is there, and available, don't believe what you hear that banks are not lending. But, I would hit my head on two of obama's ceilings, I might reach that magical next tax bracket and I might hit the 50 employee thresh hold which might make me provide healthcare on top of all the above.
Why on earth would I want to do that?? Give even more money to a government that pisses money away with total disregard to where it comes from? No thanks, I'm pretty comfortable where I am now. not rich, but comfortable.
If you believe the wealthy just sit on their money and don't invest it, Then how do you know they are wealthy? wouldn't they just be regular joes living in a regular house and driving a regular car? No, they do invest it in fancy cars, homes, motorcycles, boats, parties and lots of wasteful stuff too, but it all provides jobs.
Don't even get me started on the "corporate tax". A corporation is a piece of paper with words on it. The employees of the corporation should pay taxes, not the corporation itself. We are taxing pieces of paper!!! Don't forget, those evil corporations give those evil profits to those evil shareholders. YUP, that would be you if you owned shares, and that would be your retirement account. So, if you own stock, YOU are an evil shareholder not paying enough taxes. Think of all those evil teachers unions and police unions invested in Exxon Mobile and BP and Microsoft and GE for their pension funds. I guess what comes around goes around. Go after the "rich and wealth" and you actually hurt yourself.

Rant over

This site needs a 'thanks' button!! My wife and I sold our business in the mid 90's when things were actually fairly easy because we got tired of dealing with the public.....and the city, the county, the state and the fed. There are so many that just have no idea to what really happens in this country because they are hooked by the main stream news media. The only news channels I listen to anymore are the business news channels and keep an ear to the stock markets. I take a risk each time I buy a stock or trade an option and they want to raise my capital gains taxes now but ya know, there's not too many jobs where I can sit in my ac office and make money (or lose it) and not have to worry about all that other crap anymore. What I hate is when the IRS see's the top line at the start of a new year where I sold a losing stock that I bought 3 years ago and they try and say I made a profit then I have to prove them wrong. Morons!! I hate the IRS! The last time that happened it cost me 1500 bucks to hire a tax lawyer to show them they were the ones that were forked up. I think they do it on purpose :sad2:

 

[MoparMuscleGuy]

Pulled out of the market about 2 years ago. Sitting in cash and gold. Selling all my gold at 2000.00 bucks an oz. Taking that money and putting it in real estate. Looking at ocean front condos an houses for rental/investment income.

 

[dave5237]

Hi guys. Maybe my car will be worth something when i retire. I keep saving and the government keeps taking. I am starting to believe there is no retirement in the future. Its a sad thing. I feel even more sorry for my kids future. Cant do much but push on.

 

[Finallygotmine]

Pulled out of the market about 2 years ago. Sitting in cash and gold. Selling all my gold at 2000.00 bucks an oz. Taking that money and putting it in real estate. Looking at ocean front condos an houses for rental/investment income.

I would lean in the rental direction. My son is looking to buy a place right now and they want to know how many aspirin he has taken in his lifetime. OK not really, but to get a loan after the financial debacle, takes an almost perfect situation to get a loan. right property, right down payment and they even want to know where the down payment came from, WITH documentation. So, Lot's of people will be renting for quite a while,

 

[Finallygotmine]

Hi guys. Maybe my car will be worth something when i retire. I keep saving and the government keeps taking. I am starting to believe there is no retirement in the future. Its a sad thing. I feel even more sorry for my kids future. Cant do much but push on.

Hopefully we can get the socialists out of office in the next election. If not, with what this person in the white house is doing right now, don't be surprised if our cars are legislated right out of existence!! This guy wants the CAFE fuel standards doubled!! That means that ALL gas guzzlers could be taken off the roads. Cash for clunkers ring any bells?? If that happens, these cars wont be worth anything.

Ever hear of the loss of freedom?

 

[Endangered Species]

Hopefully we can get the socialists out of office in the next election. If not, with what this person in the white house is doing right now, don't be surprised if our cars are legislated right out of existence!! This guy wants the CAFE fuel standards doubled!! That means that ALL gas guzzlers could be taken off the roads. Cash for clunkers ring any bells?? If that happens, these cars wont be worth anything.

Ever hear of the loss of freedom?

You're exactly right! The people making these standards probably never owned a car. This isn't going to stop! It's not like New automobiles are not expensive enough, What the diesel trucks went up something like $7000.00 when they had to meet the new standards a few years ago.
As you said Cash for Clunkers cost us billions and wiped out most of the good used cars so now used cars.... these people are BAD NEWS!

We better watch or someone may think we belong to the Tea Party. You know the same Tea Party who is responsible for the downgrade. :icon_rolleyes:

I guess I'll continue to cling to my Bible and guns; after all I am in Pennsylvania

 

[Finallygotmine]

You're exactly right! The people making these standards probably never owned a car. This isn't going to stop! It's not like New automobiles are not expensive enough, What the diesel trucks went up something like $7000.00 when they had to meet the new standards a few years ago.
As you said Cash for Clunkers cost us billions and wiped out most of the good used cars so now used cars.... these people are BAD NEWS!

We better watch or someone may think we belong to the Tea Party. You know the same Tea Party who is responsible for the downgrade. :icon_rolleyes:

I guess I'll continue to cling to my Bible and guns; after all I am in Pennsylvania

Can I get an Amen!? Just picked up a S&W 40 auto yesterday to add to the collection. be getting a 5.56 pretty soon. Got a business? better get armed.

Tea anyone?

 

[scotts74birds]

It's artificially low due to panic! I am a sniper, or bottom-feeder on my purchases. I FEED on panic! I find very stable companies and invest in them when things scare others. I bought a ****-load of Ford at $3.10! It went to 18 avg, but now all are scared, and down to 10. So I bought another shitload!!! Right now the markets are uncertain, and they HATE that! Ford aint going away! My other that has paid well through the last 5 years...Pepsico. Big inroads into the soft drink, and snack-food industry that the new consumer base in the far-east is discovering.

 

[zdillinger]

It's artificially low due to panic! I am a sniper, or bottom-feeder on my purchases. I FEED on panic! I find very stable companies and invest in them when things scare others. I bought a ****-load of Ford at $3.10! It went to 18 avg, but now all are scared, and down to 10. So I bought another shitload!!! Right now the markets are uncertain, and they HATE that! Ford aint going away! My other that has paid well through the last 5 years...Pepsico. Big inroads into the soft drink, and snack-food industry that the new consumer base in the far-east is discovering.

scotts74birds has the right attitude. This isn't doom and gloom, end of the world, dogs and cats living together type stuff we got here. This isn't fundamental problems with the market; it's lack of sanity from certain fringe members of a political party. Threatening a voluntary default instead of solving the problem, causing a downgrade in our credit rating, just got get some lame political agenda pushed? You gotta be f#$%$# kidding me. But, then again, I don't come to car forums for political discussions, so I guess I'll stop now.

 

[Cranky]

It's artificially low due to panic! I am a sniper, or bottom-feeder on my purchases. I FEED on panic! I find very stable companies and invest in them when things scare others. I bought a ****-load of Ford at $3.10! It went to 18 avg, but now all are scared, and down to 10. So I bought another shitload!!! Right now the markets are uncertain, and they HATE that! Ford aint going away! My other that has paid well through the last 5 years...Pepsico. Big inroads into the soft drink, and snack-food industry that the new consumer base in the far-east is discovering.

Yup, don't be buyin until everyone else is cryin!

scotts74birds has the right attitude. This isn't doom and gloom, end of the world, dogs and cats living together type stuff we got here. This isn't fundamental problems with the market; it's lack of sanity from certain fringe members of a political party. Threatening a voluntary default instead of solving the problem, causing a downgrade in our credit rating, just got get some lame political agenda pushed? You gotta be f#$%$# kidding me. But, then again, I don't come to car forums for political discussions, so I guess I'll stop now.

Keeping up with politics can be a full time job if you really want to know about every single politician that can have an effect on your life. It's a pita but to know what's really happening, you have to do that because the main stream news media has their own agenda too but if we yell loud enough hopefully, they will hear how pissed off we are and change their freakin ways....

 

[zdillinger]

Yup, don't be buyin until everyone else is cryin!

Keeping up with politics can be a full time job if you really want to know about every single politician that can have an effect on your life. It's a pita but to know what's really happening, you have to do that because the main stream news media has their own agenda too but if we yell loud enough hopefully, they will hear how pissed off we are and change their freakin ways....

Until very recently, keeping up with politics WAS my full time job I was a legislative staffer and political operative here in Michigan for the last 10 years. So I've seen the "mad as hell" argument from both sides, the politicians side and the everyday citizens side. The problem with blaming politicians for everything is that while literally half of them (from both parties; no party has a monopoly on stupidity) have no idea whats going on outside of their own base and don't care, the other half do try hard, but get so many complaints from every conceivable view point that you can't really decipher "the will of the people", which in my experience, there is no such thing.

Until enough people agree on one course of action (dont tell me the extremely small minority that is the Tea Party represents anything other than the interests of the few people who control it, not that I'm knocking those who believe in it or Republicans in general, since everyone has good ideas and the right to share those ideas), then make it a priority, then organize a true political movement with a backing of the majority of the citizens, nothing will happen. It has nothing to do with what a vocal minority believes. Problems are solved by compromise and working together, not by stubbornly sticking with a plan that you know won't work and has no chance of passing.

I agree we spend too much money and that we need to cut back. The staggering debt we owe to foreign nations is an embarrassment. Don't mess with the right to carry arms, support those who need help, stop overtaxing those who really create jobs (small business owners) and those who actually make things, tax the hell out of those who don't make things other than fakakta financial products (bank CEOs, hedge fund managers, etc.) and bigger problems. Stop wasting money on pointless wars and police actions around the world, defend our citizens first and make sure people have enough to eat. I don't understand why a government can't do these things.

People should talk more and argue less. Look for areas of common ground, not areas of disagreement. If you can talk together you can work together.

Sorry for the rant. Back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

 

[Cranky]

I don't call that a rant....but a damn good statement!

 

[Finallygotmine]

I don't call that a rant....but a damn good statement!

Agree, Why can't we get a candidate to make a speech like that.

 

[Cranky]

Agree, Why can't we get a candidate to make a speech like that.

And mean it!

 

[zdillinger]

And mean it!

Amen to that. You'll hear similar statements on the campaign trail, but usually its just empty talk ad platitudes for the crowd. I'd never get elected to anything higher than dogcatcher because I don't speak down to crowds and tell them what they want to hear. I say it like I think it is. That's not to say that I'm inflexible or unwilling to learn.

Very few things makes me more angry than to hear leaders get attacked for "flip-flopping" or "waffling". I'd rather have a leader who can have an opinion, learn something new about the issue and then change his mind. It is only flip-flopping or waffling when the answer changes depending on who's listening. Inflexiblity is not good leadership, it is nothing more than a selfish attempt to look good for the voters and, really, an insult to the intelligence of all voters, i.e. the leader knows more than you about everything and always will, nothing you say will change him. What a load of horsecrap.

 

[Endangered Species]

Until very recently, keeping up with politics WAS my full time job I was a legislative staffer and political operative here in Michigan for the last 10 years. So I've seen the "mad as hell" argument from both sides, the politicians side and the everyday citizens side. The problem with blaming politicians for everything is that while literally half of them (from both parties; no party has a monopoly on stupidity) have no idea whats going on outside of their own base and don't care, the other half do try hard, but get so many complaints from every conceivable view point that you can't really decipher "the will of the people", which in my experience, there is no such thing.

Until enough people agree on one course of action (dont tell me the extremely small minority that is the Tea Party represents anything other than the interests of the few people who control it, not that I'm knocking those who believe in it or Republicans in general, since everyone has good ideas and the right to share those ideas), then make it a priority, then organize a true political movement with a backing of the majority of the citizens, nothing will happen. It has nothing to do with what a vocal minority believes. Problems are solved by compromise and working together, not by stubbornly sticking with a plan that you know won't work and has no chance of passing.

I agree we spend too much money and that we need to cut back. The staggering debt we owe to foreign nations is an embarrassment. Don't mess with the right to carry arms, support those who need help, stop overtaxing those who really create jobs (small business owners) and those who actually make things, tax the hell out of those who don't make things other than fakakta financial products (bank CEOs, hedge fund managers, etc.) and bigger problems. Stop wasting money on pointless wars and police actions around the world, defend our citizens first and make sure people have enough to eat. I don't understand why a government can't do these things.

People should talk more and argue less. Look for areas of common ground, not areas of disagreement. If you can talk together you can work together.

Sorry for the rant. Back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

Compromise is great but isn't that how we got into this mess? Isn't that were 2000 page bills with bad legislation that no one can or will read, piggy back bills and pork barrel spending came from. Like the stupid *** light bulb law and 150 million dollars spent on an airport in Johnstown Pa that gets maybe 18 flights a week all to Dulles in Washington.

Compromise is great when everyone has common sense. But as we all know the government is the opposite of common sense.
Compromise is great when both parties do NOT have an agenda other than what is good for the country or the state, not big corporations and banks the unions or Acorn.

One thing that everyone seems to forget is the fact that the government speaks out both sides of there mouth. They say what you want to hear and do what they originally planed. Not to mention it seems that the Government over the past 60 years has stepped all over the constitution.
The reason the Tea Party is so adamant about the not raising the debt ceiling and not raising taxes is because we know damn well the more money and power we give the government the more the government will spend and limit our freedoms no matter what they tell us to our face. A year from now Washington will be asking to raise the ceiling again if they don't cap it now... anyone want to bet?

 

[zdillinger]

Compromise is great but isn't that how we got into this mess? Isn't that were 2000 page bills with bad legislation that no one can or will read, piggy back bills and pork barrel spending came from. Like the stupid *** light bulb law and 150 million dollars spent on an airport in Johnstown Pa that gets maybe 18 flights a week all to Dulles in Washington.

Compromise is great when everyone has common sense. But as we all know the government is the opposite of common sense.
Compromise is great when both parties do NOT have an agenda other than what is good for the country or the state, not big corporations and banks the unions or Acorn.

One thing that everyone seems to forget is the fact that the government speaks out both sides of there mouth. They say what you want to hear and do what they originally planed. Not to mention it seems that the Government over the past 60 years has stepped all over the constitution.
The reason the Tea Party is so adamant about the not raising the debt ceiling and not raising taxes is because we know damn well the more money and power we give the government the more the government will spend and limit our freedoms no matter what they tell us to our face. A year from now Washington will be asking to raise the ceiling again if they don't cap it now... anyone want to bet?

Compromise hasn't been a part of this government since the 1780s, no doubt. I just did address the issue of talking out both sides of the mouth. I'm as mad as you, but the problem is that no one, outside of the members of the Tea Party that is, takes the Tea Party seriously. And that is for a reason: not even the Republicans want you guys to have any serious credibility. The Tea Party was started as an offshoot of the GOP, really the extreme right wing, to make moderately-right wing candidates appear centrist to help them get elected. Actually, its a very smart tactic. But the Tea Party really is nothing more than a vocal minority that is controlled by the same old leadership. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Do you really think that the Speaker of the House lost control of members of his own caucus? If you do, then I've got some lovely oceanfront property in the Phoenix area I'd like to show you. As a political staffer, I have more knowledge of government than your average freshman Congressman and I bet most of us here do too. Freshman members of Congress are about as useless as goose crap on a pump handle; they don't even know where the bathrooms are until their second or third term. To say that they have any power in Washington is laughable at best.

I don't disagree with the sentiments of the Tea Party (less spending, less debt), but picket signs and irrelevant rallies won't do the trick. You need to work to build true consensus, especially with those who you don't agree with, to move this nation forward. Stop the yelling, the pointless angry tactics, and focus on real, meaningful policies. Continuing to polarize this nation with irrational action and thought is like masturbation: kinda fun while you're doing it but in the end you're only f^$#$% yourself.

Oh, about the 2000 page bills: Government is complicated, it requires a lot of writing to make things happen. I've read huge budget bills in my line of work and I understand them, have to 'cause its my job. The problem isn't how complicated or large the bills are; its that the legislators get a free pass on reading them before voting on them. If they read them, no one would have an argument about the length. Bills can't be dumbed down for the average Congress-critter, or citizen for that matter, to read them in 5 minutes. My job is to read the bills and understand them; maybe the legislators should read them too.