Comments for The Tumbler http://www.therocksinmyhead.com Wherein I polish the Rocks in my Head Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:07:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Olbermann on a rant by Brian http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/olbermann-on-a-rant/#comment-136 Brian Wed, 28 May 2008 05:47:14 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=68#comment-136 I'm afraid I have to totally disagree with him. I’m afraid I have to totally disagree with him.

]]> Comment on Beer and Taxes by A http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/beer-and-taxes/#comment-135 A Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:07:01 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=65#comment-135 It may approximate the income tax system, assuming the couple guys at the top don't know how to shield their money. However, it completely ignores the Social Security/Medicare tax system, which eats huge amounts of money, and overtaxes the poor. Because unlike income tax, you are taxed on your first dollar UP TO a max amount in Social Security. So if you make over the max, it is social security tax free. And Medicare is a flat tax, which I pay for something that the politicos, the insurance companies, and the drug companies will destroy by the time I get there. So you have to add the fact that the bottom 5 guys need to pay a 6 dollar cover charge to sit in the bar, the next three pay 6.50 to sit in the bar, and the top two pay 7 bucks for the vip lounge. Not to mention those top guys, yeah, they have income to burn that they are investing. And money made from investments is taxed at a way lower rate. And ONLY when you sell, so you can make money for years and if you don't sell the stock you don't pay on the gain. So the bottom five are paying 15 dollars for their fish and chips, the next three 12, and the top two 8, but the top two are paying 8 in 2025 dollars so it is more like 3. Taxes are necessary. Taxes are unfair. Two facts of life. If we could just get over ourselves and actually TALK about these two facts, we could try and make them the least unfair to the folks that can least afford it and concentrate on what is really necessary. My vote for cost cutting is the farm bill (a few billion in subsidies for corn while it is at record highs anyone?) -A It may approximate the income tax system, assuming the couple guys at the top don’t know how to shield their money. However, it completely ignores the Social Security/Medicare tax system, which eats huge amounts of money, and overtaxes the poor. Because unlike income tax, you are taxed on your first dollar UP TO a max amount in Social Security. So if you make over the max, it is social security tax free. And Medicare is a flat tax, which I pay for something that the politicos, the insurance companies, and the drug companies will destroy by the time I get there.

So you have to add the fact that the bottom 5 guys need to pay a 6 dollar cover charge to sit in the bar, the next three pay 6.50 to sit in the bar, and the top two pay 7 bucks for the vip lounge.

Not to mention those top guys, yeah, they have income to burn that they are investing. And money made from investments is taxed at a way lower rate. And ONLY when you sell, so you can make money for years and if you don’t sell the stock you don’t pay on the gain. So the bottom five are paying 15 dollars for their fish and chips, the next three 12, and the top two 8, but the top two are paying 8 in 2025 dollars so it is more like 3.

Taxes are necessary. Taxes are unfair. Two facts of life. If we could just get over ourselves and actually TALK about these two facts, we could try and make them the least unfair to the folks that can least afford it and concentrate on what is really necessary.

My vote for cost cutting is the farm bill (a few billion in subsidies for corn while it is at record highs anyone?)

-A

]]> Comment on Beer and Taxes by chewymom http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/beer-and-taxes/#comment-134 chewymom Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:07:43 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=65#comment-134 Okay, I'll admit I don't know a ton about how our tax scale works exactly, but don't you think in the example that's probably a little wacky that the 10th guy is paying $59?? I mean, in our real tax system, he'd be off donating a bunch of beer, or putting it into his retirement beer fund to drink after he turned 65 so that he really only paid about $25 out of pocket to the bartender. And then in the second scenario, they're only splitting 9 beers, because the 10th guy didn't show up, remember? Maybe I'm one of those people who doesn't understand, so no explanation is possible. Or maybe the scenario is flawed...? Okay, I’ll admit I don’t know a ton about how our tax scale works exactly, but don’t you think in the example that’s probably a little wacky that the 10th guy is paying $59?? I mean, in our real tax system, he’d be off donating a bunch of beer, or putting it into his retirement beer fund to drink after he turned 65 so that he really only paid about $25 out of pocket to the bartender.

And then in the second scenario, they’re only splitting 9 beers, because the 10th guy didn’t show up, remember?

Maybe I’m one of those people who doesn’t understand, so no explanation is possible. Or maybe the scenario is flawed…?

]]> Comment on Beer and Taxes by Glenn http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/beer-and-taxes/#comment-133 Glenn Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:38:59 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=65#comment-133 Sadly, the beer story explains our screwed up American tax system very well. And... I would vote for a flat tax w/little hesitation. Sadly, the beer story explains our screwed up American tax system very well. And… I would vote for a flat tax w/little hesitation.

]]> Comment on Christopher Hitchens speaks the truth by Glenn http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/chrisopher-hitchens-speaks-the-truth/#comment-130 Glenn Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:51:23 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=63#comment-130 Oops! Hitchens disses on your home boy as well: http://www.slate.com//id/2188414 Oops! Hitchens disses on your home boy as well:

http://www.slate.com//id/2188414

]]> Comment on I’m the sole IT (Information Technology) guy at my workplace . . . by Steve http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/im-the-sole-it-information-technology-guy-at-my-workplace/#comment-128 Steve Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:03:16 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=64#comment-128 Hey, Don't I get a HT for that? ssteve Hey,
Don’t I get a HT for that?
ssteve

]]> Comment on Religion in the Public Square . . . by Steve http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-127 Steve Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:35:36 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-127 @Brian, You stated: However, I do believe that all governments are appointed by God to practice according to Romans 13 and that they will be held accountable for how they do this. What I disagree with is that you can interpret Romans 13 as providing a yardstick of accountability for governments. Coincidentally, how will God hold these governments accountable? Will the US government stand before the throne of judgment one day? Will He overthrow the democracy in the US and replace it with a Christian Theocracy. That would be judgment indeed! Grace and Peace, Steve @Brian,

You stated:
However, I do believe that all governments are appointed by God to practice according to Romans 13 and that they will be held accountable for how they do this.

What I disagree with is that you can interpret Romans 13 as providing a yardstick of accountability for governments. Coincidentally, how will God hold these governments accountable? Will the US government stand before the throne of judgment one day? Will He overthrow the democracy in the US and replace it with a Christian Theocracy. That would be judgment indeed!

Grace and Peace,

Steve

]]> Comment on Christopher Hitchens speaks the truth by Glenn http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/chrisopher-hitchens-speaks-the-truth/#comment-126 Glenn Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:12 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/?p=63#comment-126 He certainly has a way with words! He certainly has a way with words!

]]> Comment on Religion in the Public Square . . . by Glenn http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-120 Glenn Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:09:15 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-120 Scott, since we spoke at church today, I went abck to Thabiti's blog at Pure church, and I would love for you to interact with a post of Thabiti's. As a black pastor, converted from Islam, Thabiti has a perspective that neither of us can really grok. http://purechurch.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-drama-rama.html please read the meta dialog as well. and... as I said today, finish the "audacious" Obama book & I will read it next. (but be warned, I'm finally reading McCullough's "John Adams" - its going to be hard to top) Scott, since we spoke at church today, I went abck to Thabiti’s blog at Pure church, and I would love for you to interact with a post of Thabiti’s. As a black pastor, converted from Islam, Thabiti has a perspective that neither of us can really grok.

http://purechurch.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-drama-rama.html

please read the meta dialog as well. and… as I said today, finish the “audacious” Obama book & I will read it next. (but be warned, I’m finally reading McCullough’s “John Adams” - its going to be hard to top)

]]> Comment on Religion in the Public Square . . . by Glenn http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-119 Glenn Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:15:28 +0000 http://www.therocksinmyhead.com/religion-in-the-public-square/#comment-119 @Steve - Perhaps I should have said that Obama believes in the "Democratic Party at the expense of truth". Representative Democracy might well be the best government on earth (at least this fallen, unredeemed earth). So, I am not espoousing some other form of Government. Obama says he is a Christian - I cannot but take him at his word on that. But he remains the most liberal Senator by just about any measurement (and not just that "single issue" that we are supposed to ignore). Obama like the rest of the Democratic Party believes that government can & should "fix" the nation's many problems. I think he honestly believes that he does have the answers. I am a little more pessimistic that ANY government this side of the New Heavens & New Earth will ever come close to that. @Scott - Obama's favorite verses seem to be the Sermon on the Mount - that section seems to be are all he mentions. I would agree with Brian's paragraph above regarding "which Christianity..." @Steve - Perhaps I should have said that Obama believes in the “Democratic Party at the expense of truth”. Representative Democracy might well be the best government on earth (at least this fallen, unredeemed earth). So, I am not espoousing some other form of Government.

Obama says he is a Christian - I cannot but take him at his word on that. But he remains the most liberal Senator by just about any measurement (and not just that “single issue” that we are supposed to ignore).

Obama like the rest of the Democratic Party believes that government can & should “fix” the nation’s many problems. I think he honestly believes that he does have the answers. I am a little more pessimistic that ANY government this side of the New Heavens & New Earth will ever come close to that.

@Scott - Obama’s favorite verses seem to be the Sermon on the Mount - that section seems to be are all he mentions. I would agree with Brian’s paragraph above regarding “which Christianity…”

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