What are your real problems?

[Ton Loc]

Skip down to last two paragraphs if you want to skip the whine/rant part.

Here’s the thing. My daily schedule works like this.

5:30 - I wake up. Tired – I get myself and family ready and get to work.
7:00 - Work and check the threads at soonerfans.com and argue about nothing with strangers
5:30 - Get home
6:00 - Feed family, clean up, kids in bed, and holy crap its
9:00 - Get ready for tomorrow. Drink a beer or something stronger. Talk to/argue with wife
10:00-12:00 – Worry about Bills, Pay Bills, then TV, Internet, Video Games, or Sleep
12:30 Hopefully asleep

Repeat x 5 until Weekend

Spend weekend on football, housework, yard work, cars, kid’s activities, helping family.
Sunday night comes. I’m exhausted and annoyed that Monday is only a few short hours away.

This is my life. It’s been this way for the better part of 15 years.
I’m good, but where do I fit in the politics, election stuff, and the general disdain for society that seem to be so damn popular. I just don’t see the benefit or have enough care and yet I suppose I should feel some responsibility to know and learn about what’s going on.

I write all this because year after year and election after election my life stays basically the same regardless of who is in office. In reality, I know it is the people similar to me who get the **** done everyday and keep this country moving.

So what are your real problems? Why the effort, the hate, the arguing in support of or against people who know nothing and/or do very little in support of the people who continue to keep this country moving?

Thank you and God Bless America.

[TUSooner]

Eliminate the SF.com time and you're good to go!

Actually, this is golden:


Why the effort, the hate, the arguing in support of or against people who know nothing and/or do very little in support of the people who continue to keep this country moving?

Why indeed. All is vanity.

[The]

Unexpected erections.

[SunnySooner]

As a military family, the people in office have a pretty big impact on our lives. They decide who/when/where we're going to fight with or against, they decide how much $$$ the military gets (which affects everything from pay raises/bonuses to the availability of civilian support staff), what my healthcare/benefits looks like (i.e. they forced us all into an HMO because the traditional coverage we used to have was too expensive), etc. You get the idea. So we pay pretty close attention to the elections, and try to support candidates who are military-friendly. Bill Clinton, for example, was a popular president, but his military budget cuts had several negative impacts on me and my family.

But I see your point. Everyday Joe probably doesn't have as much of a vested interest, unless he's concerned about how much of his check he gives to Uncle Sam. Or, is worried about other big-picture issues, like the environment, welfare, Social Security, etc.

The thing is, you can putter along and not care, not voting, etc., and you'll probably be fine. But I keep thinking about the quote that says for evil to prevail, it requires good men to do nothing, something like that. Food for thought.

[49r]

The hate is all some of the folks around here have left. Without it there is nothing in their lives. So we humor them and egg on their little rants every day. I consider it a public service to humanity. The South Oval, making lives better!

[olevetonahill]

Skip down to last two paragraphs if you want to skip the whine/rant part.

Here’s the thing. My daily schedule works like this.

5:30 - I wake up. Tired – I get myself and family ready and get to work.Make yer wife do this part/COLOR]
7:00 - Work and check the threads at soonerfans.com and argue about nothing with strangers,[COLOR="DarkRed"]Sounds like a good day
5:30 - Get home, Heres where ya prop yer feet up and Yell fer yer wife to Bring you a beer
6:00 - Feed family, clean up, kids in bed, and holy crap its See right here yer losing 3 hours of Yer time, Again Make yer wife do this shat
9:00 - Get ready for tomorrow. Drink a beer or something stronger. Talk to/argue with wifeThis Definately should have been done around 5:30
10:00-12:00 – Worry about Bills, Pay Bills, then TV, Internet, Video Games, or Sleep
12:30 Hopefully asleep Now see, If ya followed MY advice , The stuff from 10 til 12 would already be done. and ya would have an extry 2 hours sleep. Now dont you feel stupid?

Repeat x 5 until Weekend

Spend weekend on football, housework, yard work, cars, kid’s activities, helping family.
Sunday night comes. I’m exhausted and annoyed that Monday is only a few short hours away.

This is my life. It’s been this way for the better part of 15 years.
I’m good, but where do I fit in the politics, election stuff, and the general disdain for society that seem to be so damn popular. I just don’t see the benefit or have enough care and yet I suppose I should feel some responsibility to know and learn about what’s going on.

I write all this because year after year and election after election my life stays basically the same regardless of who is in office. In reality, I know it is the people similar to me who get the **** done everyday and keep this country moving.

So what are your real problems? Why the effort, the hate, the arguing in support of or against people who know nothing and/or do very little in support of the people who continue to keep this country moving?

Thank you and God Bless America.


I dont understand the whole arguing Politics on a message board either,Ya aint gonna change anybodies mind about carp.And if ya prove yer point some one else will just take a sentence of what yer trying to say and twist it to mean something entirely dif. than what you intended , then say See how stupid you are? yer to easy .:rolleyes:

[saucysoonergal]

I dont understand the whole arguing Politics on a message board either,Ya aint gonna change anybodies mind about carp.And if ya prove yer point some one else will just take a sentence of what yer trying to say and twist it to mean something entirely dif. than what you intended , then say See how stupid you are? yer to easy .:rolleyes:

Truer words have never been spoken.

[soonerbrat]

i don't have any real problems. I have a nice house, a nice car, a good job, food in the kitchen and awesome kids. Yeah, mo' money would be nice...i'd like to be able to take more vacations and buy some extra extras, but i'm alright.


oh, and i'm cute, too and I have great hair.

[soonerchk]

I swear, I quit reading here and FB last night. All the D people act like the world is ending, and all the R people act like America has been saved from teh Death Star. Nothing in my world changed after the last election, and I really doubt all that much will change as a result of this one.

[soonerbrat]

the only thing that really changed in my world so far is that I can't use flex to pay for OTC items next year. And when they start charging me tax on what my company pays for my health insurance, that'll really hurt

[Pricetag]

Why the effort, the hate, the arguing in support of or against people who know nothing and/or do very little in support of the people who continue to keep this country moving?

Thank you and God Bless America.
Because there simply aren't enough spectator sports outlets for this kind of mentality. We need more sports!

[soonerchk]

Because there simply aren't enough spectator sports outlets for this kind of mentality. We need more sports!

We should all become soccer fans. They seem to play all the effing time, and they have riots.

[texaspokieokie]

my only problem is being waaaayyyy too old.

(i know, it's better than being ded)

[The]

Because there simply aren't enough spectator sports outlets for this kind of mentality. We need more sports!
Sexual Olympics.

[soonerscuba]

Due to estate taxes, I can only afford the GS series Lexus as opposed to the LS. The trunk of the LS is larger than that of the GS and now I have to make two trips to dispose of this pile of dead hookers. Thanks a lot, bin Laden.

[3rdgensooner]

Loud talkers

[WildBlueSooner]

Jet fuel has increased and now I cannot fly as often as I want...plus the other day I locked the keys to my Ferrari in my helicopter, I had to take a limo instead of driving myself...damn!

Not to mention, hookers have gone up in price, so no longer can I get 12 hookers tonight like I used to, which is a shame, cause I hosted some killer parties in my mansion.

Speaking of my mansion, I dont think I will be expanding it this year like I normally do. They are really starting to crack down on hiring illegal immigrants...geez!

With the cost of drugs, booze, hookers, and everything else going on I dont see what a person is supposed to do for enjoyment.

Rant over!

[soonerbrat]

Loud talkers

close talkers, too.

[SoonerStormchaser]

My problem? I'm halfway across the world from my hawt wife trying to help my brethren kill a bunch of pissed of people with sand in their va**nas who seem to want to kill me cause of my nationality when their holy scripture says I am a "person of the book," so they massacred a bunch of my fellow countrymen...and I am gonna miss the holidays.

Other than that, I'm doing awesome...how bout you?

Edit: 8000th post mother****ers!

[stoops the eternal pimp]

I had the bacon cheeseburger toaster last night from sonic with large onion rings....

My farts are so distinctive today that I can't blame em on anyone else

[Veritas]

Due to estate taxes, I can only afford the GS series Lexus as opposed to the LS. The trunk of the LS is larger than that of the GS and now I have to make two trips to dispose of this pile of dead hookers. Thanks a lot, bin Laden.

Here's a true story. Because I'm progressively taxed, rather than investing several thousand dollars into the local flight school and moving on to my instrument rating I had to write a big fat ****ing check to the IRS.

My flight instructor would have earned about $2000 from teaching me. The flight school would have earned about $1000, and they'd have had one of their rental planes in the air generating 40 hours worth of revenue.

This is a unique story because of the specific circumstances; but it's consistent at least from my experience. Because I'm heavily taxed, money that would go towards businesses that themselves employ lots of "little guys" don't see revenue that they would otherwise.

So who do progressive taxes really hurt here? Not me. I can wait a couple of months for my IFR training because as in scuba's snide fable, we're effectively talking about trim packages. But my instructor who makes $30,000 or so a year, he could really use that $2,000 sooner rather than later. He's the one that suffers, not me.

[Ton Loc]

My problem? I'm halfway across the world from my hawt wife trying to help my brethren kill a bunch of pissed of people with sand in their va**nas who seem to want to kill me cause of my nationality when their holy scripture says I am a "person of the book," so they massacred a bunch of my fellow countrymen...and I am gonna miss the holidays.

Other than that, I'm doing awesome...how bout you?

Edit: 8000th post mother****ers!

Now that's a real problem. Thank you to the people in the service. :)

Is there anyone I could have voted for yesterday that would have really helped you?

Edit: Also, while I have no sandy vagina'd people shooting at me. My place of business has constantly reminded me how much my insurance was going to up and how much they would have to pay to keep the same coverage. Next year $10 a month and $5 more to see a specialist. Oh, they didn't pick up any of the difference. I guess that's a problem caused by the government.

Sure, there are others...

[Frozen Sooner]

Here's a true story. Because I'm progressively taxed, rather than investing several thousand dollars into the local flight school and moving on to my instrument rating I had to write a big fat ****ing check to the IRS.

My flight instructor would have earned about $2000 from teaching me. The flight school would have earned about $1000, and they'd have had one of their rental planes in the air generating 40 hours worth of revenue.

This is a unique story because of the specific circumstances; but it's consistent at least from my experience. Because I'm heavily taxed, money that would go towards businesses that themselves employ lots of "little guys" don't see revenue that they would otherwise.

So who do progressive taxes really hurt here? Not me. I can wait a couple of months for my IFR training because as in scuba's snide fable, we're effectively talking about trim packages. But my instructor who makes $30,000 or so a year, he could really use that $2,000 sooner rather than later. He's the one that suffers, not me.

Of course, that flight instructor who only makes $30,000 per year isn't hit with the same tax rate as a guy who makes $100,000 per year, so he's not paying an extra $2,000 in taxes either.

[Veritas]

Of course, that flight instructor who only makes $30,000 per year isn't hit with the same tax rate as a guy who makes $100,000 per year, so he's not paying an extra $2,000 in taxes either.
I'm having a dumb day and I'm not clear on your point. Can you explain for the stupid Husker?

[royalfan5]

My problems mostly revolve around farmers and ranchers, and the fact that I hate cleaning my apartment.

[Frozen Sooner]

I'm having a dumb day and I'm not clear on your point. Can you explain for the stupid Husker?

Sure. Just using hypothetical numbers, let's say that flight instructor's effective tax rate is 15%--he's near the bottom of the progressive taxation scale. So right now, he's paying $4500 per year in taxes on his $30,000 in income. He has $25500 in take-home pay.

Now let's say that we move to a "flat tax" of 25%. You're giving him another $2,000, bumping his income to $32,000, $8,000 of which he pays in taxes. He now has a take-home pay of $24,000. He's worse off, even though he putatively made more because you had an extra $2000 to spend.

Let's even make that flat tax lower. Let's make it 20%. So he's going to pay $6400 of his $32000 income in taxes: now he's got $25600 in take home. So he's got an extra $100. Not THAT great of a deal, particularly considering how speculative it actually is that you'd spend your $2000 tax break on extra flight lessons from him. I guess there's other people out there that might, though.

Of course, these numbers are hypotheticals, but they run counter to the point that a flat tax would necessarily be good for this guy because he's going to make an extra $2000 from you. It also ignores the effect of fixed costs on actual wealth: that guy is already paying way more than you are as a percentage of his annual income just to keep a roof over his head and food in his belly. Obviously, there's numbers you can plug it to make things look better or worse for the flight instructor-however, I don't think there's any way to deny that, at least for the guy making $30k per year, any non-progressive tax scale isn't going to increase the guy's tax burden and still bring in anywhere near the revenue that the current tax system does. I'm sure someone's going to bring up Laffer Theory at some point here, but most people who do don't seem to understand that there's two sides to the Laffer curve.

[Cornfed]

It depends on wether the flat tax would assume the income for all Federal assest taxes.
What about his 401K, SS?

[The]

I have a problem with this:
http://www.adolfservices.com/images/Gallery/exterior.jpg

Not a shop.

[picasso]

The hate is all some of the folks around here have left. Without it there is nothing in their lives. So we humor them and egg on their little rants every day. I consider it a public service to humanity. The South Oval, making lives better!

There's only a handful of folks here who actually post and start the crap.
I've ignored it in the last few years but sometimes it's good therapy to smack it up a little.
Personally I don't give a **** where your politics lie. ;)

[Frozen Sooner]

It depends on wether the flat tax would assume the income for all Federal assest taxes.
What about his 401K, SS?

What about them? If it's a "flat tax" then he wouldn't have a 401(k). No loopholes.

Social Security isn't a "tax".

[Ike]

I'm sure someone's going to bring up Laffer Theory at some point here, but most people who do don't seem to understand that there's two sides to the Laffer curve.

The Laffer curve is pretty much a canard. Firstly, it only relates to govt revenue vs tax rate (which is not necessarily the thing we want to be maximizing), and secondly, only the endpoints are known. Nobody has any idea what the hell is going on in the middle of it. And if someone tells you they do know whats going on in the middle of it, they probably have no idea what they are talking about.

[Frozen Sooner]

The Laffer curve is pretty much a canard. Firstly, it only relates to govt revenue vs tax rate (which is not necessarily the thing we want to be maximizing), and secondly, only the endpoints are known. Nobody has any idea what the hell is going on in the middle of it. And if someone tells you they do know whats going on in the middle of it, they probably have no idea what they are talking about.

Yeah, I know. That was mainly in response to the predictable (and semi-moronic) "Tax revenues always go up when tax rates go down!" mantra that gets repeated ad nauseam. However, do me the favor of assuming that when I say "there's two sides to the Laffer Curve" I do, in fact, know what I'm talking about. ;) While I don't pretend to know what that point is, there's definitely a point where decreased tax rates lead to lower tax revenue. Logically, there has to be.

[Mississippi Sooner]

Finding pants that fit. Apparently, a guy with a 34" waist isn't supposed to have long legs.

[Ike]

Yeah, I know. That was mainly in response to the predictable (and semi-moronic) "Tax revenues always go up when tax rates go down!" mantra that gets repeated ad nauseam. However, do me the favor of assuming that when I say "there's two sides to the Laffer Curve" I do, in fact, know what I'm talking about. ;) While I don't pretend to know what that point is, there's definitely a point where decreased tax rates lead to lower tax revenue. Logically, there has to be.
I don't pretend to think you don't know what you are talking about with the laffer curve, and I wasn't trying to indict your statement that there are two sides to it. There may be 4927 'sides' to the laffer curve. Nobody knows.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ksI5H-K89vw/R6cj4j0szvI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/fthndTZLuhU/s400/laffuer-curve.png

[Frozen Sooner]

I don't pretend to think you don't know what you are talking about with the laffer curve, and I wasn't trying to indict your statement that there are two sides to it. There may be 4927 'sides' to the laffer curve. Nobody knows.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ksI5H-K89vw/R6cj4j0szvI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/fthndTZLuhU/s400/laffuer-curve.png

Heh.

Never trust an economic theory that can be completely summed up on a cocktail napkin at a party. :D

[texaspokieokie]

close talkers, too.

also, low talkers.

[Leroy Lizard]

Heh.

Never trust an economic theory that can be completely summed up on a cocktail napkin at a party. :D

Ernest Rutherford said that he didn't trust any theory that couldn't be explained to a barmaid.

So in that sense, the Laffer curve is good stuff.

[Ton Loc]

Finding pants that fit. Apparently, a guy with a 34" waist isn't supposed to have long legs.

I used to have that problem, but I just decided it was best solved by growing a bigger waist.

[Cornfed]

What about them? If it's a "flat tax" then he wouldn't have a 401(k). No loopholes.

Social Security isn't a "tax".

I was under the impression that if a flat tax was implemented it would be able to fund SS and make payments into it unneccessary.

So would 401 Ks be taxed and then rolled over into something like a Roth?

[sooner59]

I have less than $2.00 in my checking account and no cash. Since I am going to College Station this weekend, this kinda sucks.

[Frozen Sooner]

I was under the impression that if a flat tax was implemented it would be able to fund SS and make payments into it unneccessary.

So would 401 Ks be taxed and then rolled over into something like a Roth?

Don't know what flat tax proposal you're talking about. I'm just talking a straight replacement of the income tax with a flat tax. However, if you want to fund SS with it, the numbers only go up.

I have no idea what flat taxers want to do with 401(k)s. I personally don't think a flat tax is a good idea.

[Frozen Sooner]

Ernest Rutherford said that he didn't trust any theory that couldn't be explained to a barmaid.

So in that sense, the Laffer curve is good stuff.

Wasn't the Rutherford model of the atom discarded as overly simplistic and inaccurate?

[Cornfed]

Don't know what flat tax proposal you're talking about. I'm just talking a straight replacement of the income tax with a flat tax. However, if you want to fund SS with it, the numbers only go up.

I have no idea what flat taxers want to do with 401(k)s. I personally don't think a flat tax is a good idea.

Ok, I thought the situation you were using was under the "flat tax" thats touted by everyone...lol

Anyway thanks for the discuss.....

[Frozen Sooner]

Oh, yeah, I was just talking generalities about "non-progressive" taxes, not any specific proposal.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Don't know what flat tax proposal you're talking about. I'm just talking a straight replacement of the income tax with a flat tax. However, if you want to fund SS with it, the numbers only go up.

I have no idea what flat taxers want to do with 401(k)s. I personally don't think a flat tax is a good idea.

Eliminate them. Keep them. It doesn't matter, because your taxes will remain the same under a flat tax program whether invested in a pre-tax plan like a 401k or not.

[Frozen Sooner]

Well, yeah. What's the point of a 401(k) if it's not pre-tax income and the earnings aren't tax deferred. That's what I was getting at.

[Tiptonsooner]

Here's a true story. Because I'm progressively taxed, rather than investing several thousand dollars into the local flight school and moving on to my instrument rating I had to write a big fat ****ing check to the IRS.

My flight instructor would have earned about $2000 from teaching me. The flight school would have earned about $1000, and they'd have had one of their rental planes in the air generating 40 hours worth of revenue.

This is a unique story because of the specific circumstances; but it's consistent at least from my experience. Because I'm heavily taxed, money that would go towards businesses that themselves employ lots of "little guys" don't see revenue that they would otherwise.

So who do progressive taxes really hurt here? Not me. I can wait a couple of months for my IFR training because as in scuba's snide fable, we're effectively talking about trim packages. But my instructor who makes $30,000 or so a year, he could really use that $2,000 sooner rather than later. He's the one that suffers, not me.

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^ times a million.

This is what I can't understand. I could and would reinvest locally if I didn't have to send so much to the damn Nazi IRS.

[Ike]

Wasn't the Rutherford model of the atom discarded as overly simplistic and inaccurate?


It was...but it was an important step in that it was the first to make scientists realize that an atom was likely not composed of a single particle.

It is likely that even when he proposed it, Rutheford knew it was an overly simplistic model. But he also knew it was a step in the right direction.

[Frozen Sooner]

It was...but it was an important step in that it was the first to make scientists realize that an atom was likely not composed of a single particle.

It is likely that even when he proposed it, Rutheford knew it was an overly simplistic model. But he also knew it was a step in the right direction.

The point being that "able to describe it to a bartender" isn't a real good test for accuracy. :D I mean, I can describe a single particle to a bartender as well.

Heck, I know some pretty smart bartenders. :D

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Well, yeah. What's the point of a 401(k) if it's not pre-tax income and the earnings aren't tax deferred. That's what I was getting at.

Of specifically a 401k, there isn't a benefit. But retirement plans where one can easily diversify over not just different investment options but have those options managed by professionals is, outside of the tax benefits, another benefit. Especially for financially retarded fellas like me.

[Jacie]

Wasn't the Rutherford model of the atom discarded as overly simplistic and inaccurate?

Yes, but it is still used in highschool and college chemisty intro courses to "help" kids begin to learn about atomic structure, electron shells, valence . . .

[StoopTroup]

Periodic Table stuff I learned at Tulsa University was awesome. Great Lab they had too. I learned more about Chemistry in those two classes there than all the other Chem classes I had ever taken up to that date.