Congratulations to all Americans!

[splitimageview]

Back to the topic at hand:

from CNN:

As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are trying to pass final legislation that would make major changes in the country’s health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that legislation, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
Mar 19-21 2010
Favor 39%
Oppose 59%
No opinion 2%

(IF OPPOSE) Do you oppose that legislation because you think its approach toward health care is too liberal, or because you think it is not liberal enough?
Mar 19-21 2010
Favor (from Question 20) 39%
Oppose, too liberal 43%
Oppose, not liberal enough 13%
No opinion 5%

From what you know of that legislation, do you think you and your family would, in general, be better off, worse off or about the same if it becomes law?
Mar 19-21 2010
Better off 19%
Worse off 47%
About the same 33%
No opinion *

From what you know of that legislation, do you think the federal budget deficit will go up, go down, or stay the same if it becomes law?
Mar 19-21 2010
Go up 70%
Go down 12%
Stay the same 17%
No opinion 1%

In your view, does the Democratic party's health care proposal create too much government involvement in the nation's health care system, not enough government involvement, or about the right amount?
Mar 19-21 2010
Too much 56%
Not enough 16%
About the right amount 28%
No opinion *


So there you have it. (Since they used the word 'liberal' here, I guess CNN was trying to tilt the results...but wait, CNN is liberal too! Heh he.)

 

[antiquark]

No, he didn't act any-wingish. He did his best to disassociate himself from any leftist radicals (Bill Ayers to name one.)

I'd like to know which leftist radical program he brought into law.

He was on center right on many issues, just for sound bites, like going thru the budget line by line to get rid of waste, controlling earmarks, etc. Because we were spending just too much, you see, the previous administration was reckless with spending...he was really running against Bush. Of course, he's now set an all time spending record. So much for that promise...

He has a few tricks up his sleeve to control spending. Ending the Iraq war will free up $10 billon per year (remember McCain said the US would be in Iraq for 100 years?). Also rolling back "tax relief for the rich" will save billions of dollars.

Also, Obama inherited the Great Recession from Bush. Maybe the conservative thing to do would be to strangle the economy and let the people suffer (remember the Great Depression). The liberal thing to do is run a deficit so people don't end up starving to death in tent villages. Is that radical left thinking?

 

[Olsen]

Neither of course. 🙂 Give me Reagan, again please.



Explain.

1)
Statistics of USA's debt/fortune situation points to that 'the sh*t started with Reagan'. The bill isn't paid in 5 generations.

2)
Israel dictates what USA shall do.

Particularly the last weeks events have been particularly humiliating for USA. First of all; USA is forced to support Israel even if they disregard international law and UN resolutions. - Had the old Sovjet Union disregarded so many UN resolutions as Israel the globe would have been just ashes by now.

Israel behaves like a spoiled child towards USA knowing that just any sitting US administration is in their hands. Any US administration that does not, uncritically, supports Israel is out of office.

3)
Had any of the states of the Union been economically supported by the Federal Government to the extent that Israel is, you would all be happy. Israel is bankrupt. USA pays Israel's bills. - The US tax payers, that is.

Or money you have to borrow from China. What a mess....

How do you get out of that grip?

 

[splitimageview]

I'd like to know which leftist radical program he brought into law.

So far, leftist laws, and radicals in his cabinet and filling his 'czar' posts. Luckily some have been ousted for their radical-ness, including one self-avowed Truther/Communist who was the so-called 'Green Jobs' Czar.

He has a few tricks up his sleeve to control spending. Ending the Iraq war will free up $10 billon per year (remember McCain said the US would be in Iraq for 100 years?). Also rolling back "tax relief for the rich" will save billions of dollars.

Well the Iraq war was won, due to the surge which he opposed, so costs are going down on that naturally, no trickery required. I seem to recall him promising to close Gitmo (not done), I recall him saying we would have terrorists brought before courts (he tried, but it ain't gonna happen.)

Also, Obama inherited the Great Recession from Bush. Maybe the conservative thing to do would be to strangle the economy and let the people suffer (remember the Great Depression). The liberal thing to do is run a deficit so people don't end up starving to death in tent villages. Is that radical left thinking?

Yes, he did get into office after the mortgage meltdown, which was NOT caused by Bush, rather, Congress (Obama included.)

In fact, Bush wanted to fix Fannie/Freddie and proposed ideas way back in '03 but the Dems killed it. No question Bush went with Congress far too often, spending far too much, but the solution to that is not to spend MORE.

One never seems to read about how much MORE income the treasury had during the Bush years, due to the Bush tax cuts. In fact, the tax cuts resulted in the highest tax revenues in US history. This is what we need now: lower taxes, no tax on cap gains, and lower corporate taxes.

Too bad he didn't keep the reins on spending.

 

[dfoo]

Well the Iraq war was won, due to the surge which he opposed, so costs are going down on that naturally, no trickery required. I seem to recall him promising to close Gitmo (not done), I recall him saying we would have terrorists brought before courts (he tried, but it ain't gonna happen.)

You are seriously delusional. What color is the sky in your world?

 

[Olsen]

I think that we have given 'digitalintrigue' so much pepper here that we owe to invite him to Europe. To show him all the sights to see and all the potholes to avoid.

The flight ticket is cheap. Just a little above 1,000 $.

But be prepared for some shocks. Like the cost of a cup of coffee at Champs Elysees, Paris. And: It's about time that an American re-liberate the bar at Hotel Ritz, Paris. Like Hemingway once did. With the weak dollar, the Americans are far between in this bar.

Or a pint of beer in Oslo. You will think the waiter is joking. Or how to find a parking lot for your car in Knightsbridge, London among the Ferrari's of Russian oligarchs and Saudi Arabian playboys.

But you will find that Europe has some darker sides too. Like a Saturday night in East end Glasgow. Or the dirt poor farmlands of the Baltics. Or Belfast, Northern Ireland. You will not believe what you see is true.

The beaches of Costa Del Sol, Spain, will look familiar. The girls bathe topless. Bring sunglasses. You will find rich people in poor countries. And poor people in rich countries. Political parties ranging from brown shirts to red flags. And crime. Ranging from the Mafia in Sicily to simple pick pockets in Stockholm.

Bring a parlour. There are some 20 different languages in Western Europe only. French and German are among the easy ones. Try Russian, with a different alphabet and gramatics like a mine field.

See a football match. Like Glasgow Rangers meeting Celtic. Or Or a European Cup match. Like Barcelona v Arsenal. See bullfighting in Spain. Or a kick boxing match in Helsinki, Finland.

Scenery?

The Apls. Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The Mediterranian coast. From Salerno to Gibraltar. -And in all modesty: The Norwegian coast. Take this ferry up along our coast:http://www.hurtigruten.com/norway/

Are you coming?

I could go on...

Make the trip this summer!

 

[antiquark]

So far, leftist laws,

Which laws? You mean, his campaign promises?

Well the Iraq war was won, due to the surge which he opposed,

McCain made the 100 year comment a year after the surge begun, even he didn't think it would work.

Anyways, the war was won in 2003:

Yes, he did get into office after the mortgage meltdown, which was NOT caused by Bush, rather, Congress (Obama included.)

Congressional Democrats caused the recession? Please.

One never seems to read about how much MORE income the treasury had during the Bush years, due to the Bush tax cuts. In fact, the tax cuts resulted in the highest tax revenues in US history.

Please see deficit chart below:

This is what we need now: lower taxes, no tax on cap gains, and lower corporate taxes.

That's the Republican philosophy: cut taxes when times are good! Cut taxes when times are bad! Cut taxes in between! Their tax policy really is a one-note song. Why should anyone listen to a Republican's opinion on taxes? It isn't nuanced in the least. It's always the same answer: cut taxes!

Hey, I just wrote a song about Republican philosophy! (Sung to the tune of "Oh My Darling, Clementine")

Lower taxes, lower taxes,
Lower taxes, all the time!
Market goes up, market goes down,
Lower taxes, all the time!

 

[parsec1]

So far, leftist laws, and radicals in his cabinet and filling his 'czar' posts. Luckily some have been ousted for their radical-ness, including one self-avowed Truther/Communist who was the so-called 'Green Jobs' Czar.



Well the Iraq war was won, due to the surge which he opposed, so costs are going down on that naturally, no trickery required. I seem to recall him promising to close Gitmo (not done), I recall him saying we would have terrorists brought before courts (he tried, but it ain't gonna happen.)



Yes, he did get into office after the mortgage meltdown, which was NOT caused by Bush, rather, Congress (Obama included.)

In fact, Bush wanted to fix Fannie/Freddie and proposed ideas way back in '03 but the Dems killed it. No question Bush went with Congress far too often, spending far too much, but the solution to that is not to spend MORE.

One never seems to read about how much MORE income the treasury had during the Bush years, due to the Bush tax cuts. In fact, the tax cuts resulted in the highest tax revenues in US history. This is what we need now: lower taxes, no tax on cap gains, and lower corporate taxes.

Too bad he didn't keep the reins on spending.

I never thought I would get so angry on this forum as to call somebody a CLOWN.
Iraq war WON ???? My two sons both 'in country' or ' in theatre 'as we Brits say would violently disagree with you. Both Royal Marines (following their fathers 'footsteps ) would 'take issue' with you should you ever suggest such drivel to them face to face.

As far as the Bush years of the highest tax revenue its a pity he didn't use the money to provide decent healthcare to his own citizens rather than use it to kill so many citizens throughout the rest of the world !!!!!

 

[Olsen]

I never thought I would get so angry on this forum as to call somebody a CLOWN.!!!!!

Don't do that. Let's keep this civilized. We have all the right to have different opinions. Let's rather use our effort to try to change people's opinions.

 

[splitimageview]

Heh, I knew that would cause a ruckus. 🙂

Yes, I'm going to France in July. Can't wait! And since the dollar is low, everyone should come visit the US. I'll provide the Shiner Bock.

Yes, quark, you should read up on how Congress kept saying there was no problem with Fannie/Freddie. See references to Chris Dodd and Bawney Fwank, above. There are youtube videos galore, and their own words convict them.

The roots of this recession goes all the way back to Clinton years, as a matter of fact.

But this gets pretty far off topic.

Latest news:

"When we pass the bill, we'll find out what is in it." - Pelosi

Well, what have we found?

There is no way in the bill to enforce the individual mandate. HAHAH!

Great work, gentlemen (and women.)

If you don't buy your Obama-ordered insurance from one of the evil insurance companies, you'll get penalized.

"The penalty is assessed through the Code and accounted for as an additional amount of Federal tax owed. However, it is not subject to the enforcement provisions of subtitle F of the Code. The use of liens and seizures otherwise authorized for collection of taxes does not apply to the collection of this penalty. Non-compliance with the personal responsibility requirement to have health coverage is not subject to criminal or civil penalties under the Code and interest does not accrue for failure to pay such assessments in a timely manner."

“Subtitle F of the Code” is the part of the tax code which gives the IRS the authority to assess and collect taxes.

So, no reason to buy insurance until after you get sick, since there is no such thing as pre-existing conditions, and there is no way for the IRS to collect any penalties when you don't buy.

I guess this is what happens when politicians don't read the bills until after they are passed. This came from the 'Joint Committee on Taxation', dated March 21.

Gives one a lot of confidence giving up control of one's health, doesn't it?

 

[splitimageview]

I never thought I would get so angry on this forum as to call somebody a CLOWN.
Iraq war WON ???? My two sons both 'in country' or ' in theatre 'as we Brits say would violently disagree with you. Both Royal Marines (following their fathers 'footsteps ) would 'take issue' with you should you ever suggest such drivel to them face to face.

Michael Yon has been an embedded reporter in Iraq for years. He has more credibility than probably any independent person on earth when it comes to Iraq:

"A fair-minded person could say with reasonable certainty that the war has ended." - July 14, 2008.

Iraq Sovereignty Day, June 30, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sylOqmW6NoU "US Forces cannot carry out combat operations without approval from Baghdad."

People were claiming the war won as far back as 2007.


You won't see this stuff on the mainstream news, as it doesn't fit their narrative.

 

[Olsen]

A guy in Sweden just won 214 million SEK at the Swedish public lottery tonight (30 millon $). One guy saved from socialism....

 

[remphoto]

A guy in Sweden just won 214 million SEK at the Swedish public lottery tonight (30 millon $). One guy saved from socialism....

I doubt it. He'll probably have about 2 SEK's left after taxes.😀

 

[Olsen]

I doubt it. He'll probably have about 2 SEK's left after taxes.😀

Winning the public lottery is tax free in Sweden, as elsewhere in Europe. But he will have to pay the tax on the interest of the amount if he puts the money in the bank. Say, with a 3% interest he he can collect 900,000 $ in interest per year. Of that he will have to pay 28% 'tax on financial income'. Which is lower than in USA which is more like 32 - 33%, - to what I know.

 

[splitimageview]

Instant capitalist. 🙂

He'd be in the highest tax bracket with 900k of interest/year, 35%

What if he buys property/assets/stock and sells it later? What's the tax then?

 

[Olsen]

Instant capitalist. 🙂

He'd be in the highest tax bracket with 900k of interest/year, 35%

What if he buys property/assets/stock and sells it later? What's the tax then?

Had he been here in Norway he would have had to pay 28% financial income tax plus 1,1% fortune tax on bank deposits above one million dollars. In Norway it is a point to avoid having large fortunes in just bank deposits. The tax system encourages you to invest in property or stocks.

There is no fortune tax in Sweden on bank deposits, to what I know, but a small property tax on real estate. This is calculated from 'tax values' that are far bellow sales value. While Norway have no property tax.

If invested in stocks on the Oslo Stock Exchange, the tax authorities set a value of the stocks some 30% lower than average sales value of the tax year. This creates no complaints usually, except for the tax year 2008 when these tax values seemed very hight at the end of the year. Sweden has a similar system, but somewhat higher tax values than Norway on stocks, to what I know.


But....

If you buy a Ferrari Scuderia, - that would be a fun thing to do if one won the public lottery, it would cost 300.000 €/400,000 $ in Sweden - but twice that price here in Norway due to taxes. To what I know, only Finland, Denmark and Singapore have similar high car taxes. Russia is about to implement very high car taxes too, but still far bellow us.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

So, no reason to buy insurance until after you get sick, since there is no such thing as pre-existing conditions, and there is no way for the IRS to collect any penalties when you don't buy.

They might refuse to sell it to you if you violated the law by not having the insurance already. I haven't read the law, but I could see there being a loophole in the 'no denials for pre-existing stuff' requirements for those who cheat like that.

 

[splitimageview]

Interesting. My buddy in Tromsø explained the high car prices.

So, profits on stock purchases, is that taxed yearly? In the US if the stock is bought and sold within a year, it's taxed at whatever your tax rate is; if you hold it more than a year it becomes a capital gains tax, which is a lot less (15% for 2010, but going up to 20%.)

Tax on ordinary income is going from 10/15/25/28/33/35% to 15/28/31/36/39.6% (Bush tax cuts were not permanent, unfortunately.)

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

You won't see this stuff on the mainstream news, as it doesn't fit their narrative.

That's because its a lie. If we won, why are our boys still being shot at over there...why are they there at all?! Because we haven't won, that's why.

 

[Olsen]

Interesting. My buddy in Tromsø explained the high car prices.

So, profits on stock purchases, is that taxed yearly? In the US if the stock is bought and sold within a year, it's taxed at whatever your tax rate is; if you hold it more than a year it becomes a capital gains tax, which is a lot less (15% for 2010, but going up to 20%.)

Tax on ordinary income is going from 10/15/25/28/33/35% to 15/28/31/36/39.6% (Bush tax cuts were not permanent, unfortunately.)

To trade in stocks here in Norway you have to have a 'EPS account', an account with our IRS which calculates your losses and gains and calculate your tax 'automatically'. They just send me a statement every year which I have to confirm by my signature. - You can do your tax statement by internet or even by SMS here in Norway, if it's simple enough. The rate is fixed at 28% tax on gains. But you can not deduct losses from stock trading from other income. All financial income is taxed 28% here in Norway - and Sweden. Like profits on stock sales, interest from bank deposits and stock dividends.

I find it mind boggling that 'socialistic' Norway has so low tax on financial income compared to USA. While it just might be the other way around when it comes to tax on income from work.