http://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
Go ahead. Take a look. Take a long hard look at your country, my fellow USA citizens.
The first link shows our country's debt compared to other notable countries on our little planet. The second link shows a myriad of national debt statistics, and keeps pace with real time as our debt grows. There are other links you can use to check your states debt figures too.
Don't be afraid. Look. It isn't going away. Don't stick your head in the sand, you can do it...........LOOK!!!
Decide what you, what we as a country full of able-bodied citizens (and a bunch of illegals) can do to end this horror. Ignoring it won't make it go away.
Perhaps it is time we stand up for ourselves.
Interesting conversation the other day: part-way through the pleasantries of birthday greetings and introductions for a mutual friend it became clear that the other couple in the room had very different viewpoints than I do. They really believe the rich pay no taxes or not enough taxes. They seemed of the opinion that the lower/poorer/middle-classes pay the majority of the taxes. Wrong. All they need to do is open their eyes and look at actual tax statistics to realize the extremely wealthy are paying the majority of the tax base in this country. Yes, they are. That's the fact. The percentage is immaterial, the wealthy ARE paying the majority of the tax base. Perhaps this couple would be happier if we all paid a flat tax of say 15%? That would include the working poor as I call them, the poverty level folks, the middle class, and the wealthy. EVERYONE would pay the same rate. I wonder how quickly those who think the rich pay no taxes would run for the old tax system?!?!
Allow me to illustrate the example. If you make $1,000,000.00 and pay 15% that would be $150,000.00 paid in taxes. If you make $10,000.00 with your part-time job and no benefits, your 15% would be $1,500.00. Now, would that be a more equitable system to those who think the rich aren't paying taxes, or paying their fair share? Can you imagine a person making $10,000.00/year being asked to cough up $1,500.00? Right now, they won't owe that in tax with the current system because of deductions and exemptions. So, if some of you want it "fair," there it is. Flat tax, no deductions, no exemptions and everyone pays their fair share. Doesn't look so sweet when you start to look at the numbers on the lower end of the pay scale after all, does it?
I work in the tax industry, private sector and I see what people pay. I see the numbers, the percentages. I see who gets tax credits, who misses out on them, etc. I can tell you that many credits etc phase out for the "wealthy" so that when people say the rich get all the breaks, that is incorrect.
And, furthermore, why do so many begrudge someone the money he or she has worked hard to earn? We all have the opportunity to make ourselves, to start our own businesses and work hard and earn lots of money. If you want a good example of starting with no breaks and making herself into a person of fame, wealth, and respect, look at Oprah. A household word now, you know who she is without my listing her last name. We all have that opportunity in this country.
Here is an excellent site to look at who is paying what in taxes:
http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.html
Notice the figures from 2009 (most recent year listed): The top 1% (income taxpayers) paid 36.73% of the taxes paid into the federal government. Surely no one believes that is fair? 1% footing 36.73% of the taxes paid. Wow, some of us lower-end folks don't know how good we have it!!!
Instead of sitting around whining about those who have made something of themselves, wanting to punish them for doing well, expecting them to share it with us, why don't we make our own money?? Get off our proverbial derrieres and exemplify the American Dream!!! (and if you don't want to work so hard, maybe we could get cheap labor with all those illegals!! I say that tongue in cheek, but if they want to live here illegally, let's treat them as illegals and take away their freebies. They surely didn't work hard for their government handouts, but so many, it seems to me, would rather complain about wealthy hard-working Americans than those who are here mooching off all of our tax dollars. I'm thinking........let's put those illegals to work and if they don't want to work, they can go back to their countries of origin. No more handouts!)
If you want to live here, live the American Dream, do it as a USA citizen and work. If you want a true chance at wealth, pay attention to the American Dream. Remember a certain document that says something to the effect of....."life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." That document didn't guarantee happiness or wealth. It says we are entitled to life, to liberty, and to the PURSUIT of happiness. It isn't rocket science.
Again, I encourage you to check out the national debt and ask yourself, what can you, what can we do about it?
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
Go ahead. Take a look. Take a long hard look at your country, my fellow USA citizens.
The first link shows our country's debt compared to other notable countries on our little planet. The second link shows a myriad of national debt statistics, and keeps pace with real time as our debt grows. There are other links you can use to check your states debt figures too.
Don't be afraid. Look. It isn't going away. Don't stick your head in the sand, you can do it...........LOOK!!!
Decide what you, what we as a country full of able-bodied citizens (and a bunch of illegals) can do to end this horror. Ignoring it won't make it go away.
Perhaps it is time we stand up for ourselves.
Interesting conversation the other day: part-way through the pleasantries of birthday greetings and introductions for a mutual friend it became clear that the other couple in the room had very different viewpoints than I do. They really believe the rich pay no taxes or not enough taxes. They seemed of the opinion that the lower/poorer/middle-classes pay the majority of the taxes. Wrong. All they need to do is open their eyes and look at actual tax statistics to realize the extremely wealthy are paying the majority of the tax base in this country. Yes, they are. That's the fact. The percentage is immaterial, the wealthy ARE paying the majority of the tax base. Perhaps this couple would be happier if we all paid a flat tax of say 15%? That would include the working poor as I call them, the poverty level folks, the middle class, and the wealthy. EVERYONE would pay the same rate. I wonder how quickly those who think the rich pay no taxes would run for the old tax system?!?!
Allow me to illustrate the example. If you make $1,000,000.00 and pay 15% that would be $150,000.00 paid in taxes. If you make $10,000.00 with your part-time job and no benefits, your 15% would be $1,500.00. Now, would that be a more equitable system to those who think the rich aren't paying taxes, or paying their fair share? Can you imagine a person making $10,000.00/year being asked to cough up $1,500.00? Right now, they won't owe that in tax with the current system because of deductions and exemptions. So, if some of you want it "fair," there it is. Flat tax, no deductions, no exemptions and everyone pays their fair share. Doesn't look so sweet when you start to look at the numbers on the lower end of the pay scale after all, does it?
I work in the tax industry, private sector and I see what people pay. I see the numbers, the percentages. I see who gets tax credits, who misses out on them, etc. I can tell you that many credits etc phase out for the "wealthy" so that when people say the rich get all the breaks, that is incorrect.
And, furthermore, why do so many begrudge someone the money he or she has worked hard to earn? We all have the opportunity to make ourselves, to start our own businesses and work hard and earn lots of money. If you want a good example of starting with no breaks and making herself into a person of fame, wealth, and respect, look at Oprah. A household word now, you know who she is without my listing her last name. We all have that opportunity in this country.
Here is an excellent site to look at who is paying what in taxes:
http://www.ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.html
Notice the figures from 2009 (most recent year listed): The top 1% (income taxpayers) paid 36.73% of the taxes paid into the federal government. Surely no one believes that is fair? 1% footing 36.73% of the taxes paid. Wow, some of us lower-end folks don't know how good we have it!!!
Instead of sitting around whining about those who have made something of themselves, wanting to punish them for doing well, expecting them to share it with us, why don't we make our own money?? Get off our proverbial derrieres and exemplify the American Dream!!! (and if you don't want to work so hard, maybe we could get cheap labor with all those illegals!! I say that tongue in cheek, but if they want to live here illegally, let's treat them as illegals and take away their freebies. They surely didn't work hard for their government handouts, but so many, it seems to me, would rather complain about wealthy hard-working Americans than those who are here mooching off all of our tax dollars. I'm thinking........let's put those illegals to work and if they don't want to work, they can go back to their countries of origin. No more handouts!)
If you want to live here, live the American Dream, do it as a USA citizen and work. If you want a true chance at wealth, pay attention to the American Dream. Remember a certain document that says something to the effect of....."life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." That document didn't guarantee happiness or wealth. It says we are entitled to life, to liberty, and to the PURSUIT of happiness. It isn't rocket science.
Again, I encourage you to check out the national debt and ask yourself, what can you, what can we do about it?
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
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