Thats All I Can Stands...

[Sphincter Boy]

Last year, when I made less than 10,000 (as a full time CFI and A&P--averaging 65 billed hours a week)--I didn't even get tax money back!

You made less than $10 grand and expect somehting back? You didn't pay anything in **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** taxes. Thats the problem with you people. I haven't checked the IRS website lately, but I would think that you are in a group of taxpayers that pay less than 1% of the into the federal treasury.

 

[FlyFlyFly]

Last year, when I made less than 10,000 (as a full time CFI and A&P--averaging 65 billed hours a week)--

You need to reexamine how you bill. You are only averaging $2.95 per hour!

If you really worked 3,380 hours last year, and you really only made $10,000, then you have problems that require professional attention, and there is probably no government policy or program I can imagine that would help you.

 

[Astra Guy]

Believe me guys, I am not in anyone's corner. I do tend to think independently. I know there are many problems in this country but what are the choices?

Let's think about this a little bit. What percentage of the world's population is American? What percentage of the world's total economic benefits come back to Americans?

While each of us had no input into the gene pool we came from we are <1% of the world's population and reap >50% of the economic rewards. Why does this matter? Spend some time in England, France, Germany, Italy, Russia or any other country of your choice, work amongst the local populace, reaping their rewards, living in the home that you could afford and come back and complain about your situation. I think you would not. You would be so happy to come home again and get your lousy paying job back you would swim the Atlantic or Pacific to make it back. But then again you might find that pretty little French thing that could change your mind!

It is a lousy choice sometimes, in our land, to put people in office that are not in touch with us little people. Relatively speaking, it is, in most cases, much better than the alternatives. Does that mean we can't bitch about it? Heck no.....but at the same time realize we are very, very fortunate.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I'll quicly defend my statement above: I quit that job, in large part because of pay. My billing was fine ($35 an hour CFI, $65 for A&P), the problem was a snake of an owner who somehow translated that into me taking home the measley number I posted. For the record: I've "chatted" with the local Dept. of Labor about the situation.

I still think I deserved to get a similar percentage of what I did pay in taxes (and have paid in taxes since I was old enough to work). I got no percentage back--and that just didn't strike me as right. I didn't think I would get thousands of dollars back (even though it was through taking an excessive amount of my paycheck for taxes that led to part of the problem above), but once percent or so would have helped.

There's more to meets the eye here guys, but my experience still stands. I got screwed, while the guy who screwed me got a car and a boat (and had money left over).

For some of our country, poverty level is a goal. These are the folks who need help, not just people who pay the most in taxes.

Dan

 

[bart]

I am sorry you did not get a refund. Perhaps if you paid more in taxes, you would have. In the meantime, you are welcome. I am glad you enjoyed living in this country while somone else paid your fair share.

Then when they got a break, you bitched about why they didn't pay you out of their refund. When you are paying $10,000 a year in taxes, let me know. Then I will take your complaint seriously.

 

[flying4life]

Not that there aren't enough opinions here yet, but personally, I don't think taxing more to the "rich" is the right idea either. Last I checked we want people to try to excell, go for more, do better. "Be all you can be!" If we continue to take more from those who have "More to give" where's the incentive to work harder? There becomes a point where you don't want to make just that much more or you go into that next bracket and then you lose.... I think we should give more back to the rich if they show that they invest into our economy.
Then the question is what is defined as investing and is that also just more control over your money?(if you're the rich guy) Also, most people would be surprised as to what the government defines as rich.

We live in an awesome place. There are many problems in this world, but we are fortunate. Just an observation here, but we are a selfish nation. "What's in it for me?", and "Someone else is to blame for my trouble." Our society is teaching our children that we're not responsible for our actions good or bad, and at the same time if something bad happens to us we can sue someone and get rich. There's no such thing as an accident anymore. You want to fix something, get rid of the lawsuits. "Insurance", is really just all of us pitching in to recover someones "loss." I think we should give Judges the right to evaluate the validity of a lawsuit, and if deemed unjustified, the plaintif pays. Just a thought...

 

[Birdstrike]

Yeah, but

One other point: if I'm thinking twice about supporting Bush again, then the party must be worse off then it knows, because I'm normally to the right of Archie Bunker on polictics.

Or maybe I'm finally old enough to see through "supply side" BS when I see and hear it. Another rich guy like Kerry or Edwards isn't going to cut it, either though.Dan, I feel your pain and you had some excellent points.

My pie in the sky solution: Pay as you go, pure in simple. You want spending? Fine, set taxes at a level directly proportionate to spending.

A yearly balanced budget, no exception. That would cut out a load of unneeded "discretionary spending". Even though the bulk of the fed budget goes to entitlements, set taxes (sales, corporate, income, everything) at a level that equals spending to insure enough revenue. That would take brass ones. though, and it won't happen.

 

[vossdr1]

I was out of work and got a very good flying job in August last year. The return of my hard earned tax money was a big help with our family.

I agree with the concern over the export of jobs.

Remember that there were many factors that contributed to the downturn in the economy. Everyone seems to forget the effects that the previous administration has on the present economy. The deleterious long term effects of the last administration's fiscal policy coupled with terrorism and war are all contributing factors.

Look closely at the war. Al-Qaida is fighting us in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. military is engaged in operations there. All other reasons for war in Afghanistan and Iraq aside, the administration has put the military in a position where it is fighting the terrorists-instead of the terrorists dictating where and when they will strike the U.S. populous. The military is protecting the homeland by fighting the fight over there.

Finally, have you sent your concerns to the administration, your congressman, your senator, or Birdstrike, the Republican party? They will listen. It may not change immediately, but if enough express dissatisfaction, especially in an election year, you will see a change.

 

[bart]

Look closely at the war. Al-Qaida is fighting us in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. military is engaged in operations there. All other reasons for war in Afghanistan and Iraq aside, the administration has put the military in a position where it is fighting the terrorists-instead of the terrorists dictating where and when they will strike the U.S. populous. The military is protecting the homeland by fighting the fight over there.

Amen brother, AMEN. The proof is in the results, Al Qaeda may not have been in Iraq, but they are now, we have the initiative and have CHOSEN the battlefield where we can focus combat power to send them to Allah.

Find 'em, Fix 'em, Kill 'em.

Or wait for them to do it again and again, and just one more time and then it will be OK to launch a cruise missile, provided France says it is.

This just in from WWW.Debka.com:

Deadly poison found in Baghdad: 7-pound block cyanide salt discovered by US troops in Baghdad late January, according to Fox News. Toxic substance found in safe house used by Abu Musab Zarqawi whom DEBKA-Net-Weekly exposed last year as al Qaeda’s WMD specialist, its key link with Saddam Hussein and current controller of anti-US terror terrorist cells in Iraq. New intelligence indicates he also attempted to produce ricin in large quantities in northern Iraq.

 

[Dubya]

For Richer and poorer

Man I am so tired of the game. Play the poor against the rich. It is a lame argument that only catches the ignorant and uninformed. Just check out the numbers. Its available to anyone willing to take the time to check it out at the IRS website.
Over 90% of taxes paid to the federal gov. are paid by the top 50% of wage earners. Theres a link at Rushs' site. Check it out.

 

[A Squared]

Uhhhh, Dan,

Youre story isn't quite adding up there. If you really worked what you said you worked, then as has already been pointed out, thats 3380 hours in a year. At the rates you quote, even if we assume the least favorable combination of those pay rates at 65 hours a week (56 hours of CFI'ing and 9 hours of wrenching) that's still $2545 a week, or $132,340.00 in a year. So you grossed $132,000, but after withholding your take home was only $10,000 a year .... hmmmmm no wonder you're pissed off, you paid $122,000 in taxes last year.

Allright, tell us what really happened.

 

[JediNein]

Our nation's homeless and poor are far better off than other nation's 'middle' or 'upper' class.

In one case, if you weren't Sad-**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** you had no freedom, no food, and by not doing whatever sad-**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** said you would loose food, water, electricity, and most likely be fed feet-first into a shredder.

In another case, if you weren't male, first-born, you were most likely killed. There is no second child. And that country is soon to be, if not already, considered a world power.

In another case, if a guy rapes you, then claims innocence, and refuses a DNA test, you are allowed to have the child, live for a year to get the child appropriately taken care of, then are buried to your waist in sand and stoned to death.

In another, the only way to have food on a steady basis is to join a terrorist training camp and learn how to be a suicide bomber. Then you have to go kill yourself.

In another, actually once considered to be a world power, if you b*tched about the government you were hauled off in the middle of the night, typically not seen again.

In another, border officials don't care about your leaving the country, but they will brutally kill you if you try to sneak into their country. They don't like your passing through to reach your real destination.

If our homeless truly wanted to change their lifestyle, there are numerous programs available at no charge to them. However, most of those programs require some hard work and possibly some disappointment. One very successful program in LA teaches new parents that putting food on the table is more important than letting the kids have the new $200 pair of Nikes that they will wear for 3 months before outgrowing. Even more amazing, they teach the mom that the $15 pair of Keds makes the kids just as happy.

The National Endowment for the Arts pays for far more than ugly paintings by starving artists. It helps pay for marching band competitions where kids who have spent the last 10 years practicing can show off their hard work. Those kids were not spending those 10 years turning to drugs and alcohol to kill the pain of feeling and being worthless.

Paying interest on the national debt is paying investors their returns on their bonds. It’s a way to grow rich slowly.

Some of the illegals coming in have worked their arses off to become citizens. Unfortunately, that number seems to be very low especially with the number of citizens that are predators leeching off of those illegals’ fears of being caught. Those that came in legally don’t like the illegals much, especially the ones that are begging for handouts. See California for more information. There is a large uprising from the legal immigrants against the illegals.

The only way to have personal responsibility is to make the choice to have it. Teach your kids and those kids you come in contact with by being an example. Volunteer. Pitch in on the political campaigns. Vote. Have intelligent discussions at the dinner table about current events. Pick your battles carefully and fight for the ones you do pick for all they are worth. Use “I am sorry” when needed and make an effort to not need to be sorry again. Cultural change starts in the home.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[Birdstrike]

Bah!

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...If our homeless truly wanted to change their lifestyle, there are numerous programs available at no charge to them...."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are there no prisons?

Are the workhouses full?

- Ebeneezer Scrooge

Still, good points, Jedi. There's always two sides to every story.

 

[Snakum]

"...If our homeless truly wanted to change their lifestyle, there are numerous programs available at no charge to them...."

 

[bart]

"...If our homeless truly wanted to change their lifestyle, there are numerous programs available at no charge to them...."

The downfall of these programs is they require the urban outdoorsman to quit drinking alcohol, huffing glue and paint, or smoking crack AND take a bath. That alone consigns these programs to failure.

Requiring the use of indoor bathrooms seems to make the programs all that more unattractive.