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Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
27,606 posts, read 14,594,858 times
Reputation: 9169
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Valley Native
Public education was fine when it was localized, basic, and not so costly. You claim it created the middle class, but it has become so ridiculously expensive that the amount of taxes taken from us to subsidize it are wearing down the middle class. As it stands, I have to put away extra money every pay period just so I can pay the damn property taxes in September. Nearly 70% of the property tax bill is school tax alone, which is in the thousands of dollars, and I'm not getting anything out of it except a reduced account balance! I'm just thankful that our property tax rates are on the low side compared to many states back east, otherwise I'd never be able to afford it. Consider the states like NY & MA, which you cited as ranking high in education, but they're paying an enormous amount of taxes to support it. Even the education taxes we pay in AZ are high considering how "poorly" we always rank on a national level.
You're not going to sway anyone over to your side. You might be ok with poor or middle class kids not getting any education, but the majority aren't
I paid into SS/medicare for MANY DECADES, over half a million DOLLARS, so the "younger generation" isnt paying squat towards my PAID IN FULL BY ME SS/Medicare "benefits"..and, of course we are paying taxes TWICE on this money, another totally BS aspect of our retirement savings accounts..
I dont know why younger people thing that SS/Medicare is a "benefit" or "entitlement", when most boomers paid tons of money into this "savings/retirement" account, to use when we got older..Its not our fault the scumbag politicians have illegally used the billions we contributed as their personal "petty cash" fund over the years..
The average boomer will only pay in 2/3 of what they will receive. That 1/3 is being paid by the younger generation whether you want to hear it or not. It’s your entitlement that I’m paying for and will probably never receive myself frankly. So enjoy it
I paid into SS/medicare for MANY DECADES, over half a million DOLLARS, so the "younger generation" isnt paying squat towards my PAID IN FULL BY ME SS/Medicare "benefits"..and, of course we are paying taxes TWICE on this money, another totally BS aspect of our retirement savings accounts..
I dont know why younger people thing that SS/Medicare is a "benefit" or "entitlement", when most boomers paid tons of money into this "savings/retirement" account, to use when we got older..Its not our fault the scumbag politicians have illegally used the billions we contributed as their personal "petty cash" fund over the years..
It's reminds me of a Ponzi scheme.
I expect to get shafted, as I'm under 50.
I think the gov't will:
Raise the payments/ witholding.
Reduce the payout / benefits
Raise the age of eligibilty
The average boomer will only pay in 2/3 of what they will receive. That 1/3 is being paid by the younger generation whether you want to hear it or not. It’s your entitlement that I’m paying for and will probably never receive myself frankly. So enjoy it
Seriously...it is not an "entitlement". It was supposed to be a "safety net" to provide for retirees/elderly in their later years. There are MANY studies out there that state we are getting a negative return on the money "invested" in SS because of the politicians raiding the trust. If the Government had even halfway competently managed that trust, there would be plenty of money in it.
I agree it most likely isn't going to be there for most of GenX and definitely not for GenY/Millenials if our elected employees don't fix the program. If I had been able to take the money I have been taxed for Social Security thus far and was able to put that in a private investment account at even a 5% return, I would be retiring a millionaire on that. But that is not how that system was set up. This, along with other Government Programs, should be glaring examples of why Socialistic practices NEVER work. Greed and power take over and the general populace (i.e. sheep) get fleeced. Again.
Anyway...that is a WHOLE other discussion and WE need to wake up to the fact that it is NOT an "Entitlement". The Govt reached in and legally taxed/took more money over and above Income tax and then stole that money from its' intended purpose. I know that SS is not a "sexy" conversation but there really should be more outrage regarding this issue. If someone came into your house, broke into your safe and stole all your money...you would be pissed. That is exactly what our Government has done to EVERY American that has paid into Social Security.
I love the growth here and excited to see us get larger and be a true big city in that 5th position we hold in the country
I hate the growth and remember when things were easier and less crowded. We are just going to be come LA. Too much traffic and snowbirds are staying longer or permanently now.
______
I understand the worry in a growing city but you shouldn't want us to be held back or be stagnant like many East coast cities are right now. I do hope we continue to grow and things only get better.
I am still blown away whenever I drive through Tempe or central/downtown Phoenix and remember how much of a different world it was when I moved out here in 2007 for school. Then I go back East to New England and my town has a Starbucks and a new CVS LOL
Seriously...it is not an "entitlement". It was supposed to be a "safety net" to provide for retirees/elderly in their later years. There are MANY studies out there that state we are getting a negative return on the money "invested" in SS because of the politicians raiding the trust. If the Government had even halfway competently managed that trust, there would be plenty of money in it.
I agree it most likely isn't going to be there for most of GenX and definitely not for GenY/Millenials if our elected employees don't fix the program. If I had been able to take the money I have been taxed for Social Security thus far and was able to put that in a private investment account at even a 5% return, I would be retiring a millionaire on that. But that is not how that system was set up. This, along with other Government Programs, should be glaring examples of why Socialistic practices NEVER work. Greed and power take over and the general populace (i.e. sheep) get fleeced. Again.
Anyway...that is a WHOLE other discussion and WE need to wake up to the fact that it is NOT an "Entitlement". The Govt reached in and legally taxed/took more money over and above Income tax and then stole that money from its' intended purpose. I know that SS is not a "sexy" conversation but there really should be more outrage regarding this issue. If someone came into your house, broke into your safe and stole all your money...you would be pissed. That is exactly what our Government has done to EVERY American that has paid into Social Security.
completely accurate, 100% on target post..
more proof that the more government gets involved in most aspects of our life, the worse it becomes for most of us...
Gen X and Gen Y is too busy being "outraged" by the moron in the white house, to care about something SUPER CRITICAL, like how they are going to take care of them selves as they get older..
Make your kids start an IRA TODAY, no matter how little they put in it, they need to get in the habit of paying them selves FIRST, and make sure they dont plan on Socialism, Social Security, or Handouts from the Government to take care of them down the road..
My sister & I were educated in a reputable private school during most of our youth. Our parents paid for it out of their own pockets, and their household income was considered barely middle class.
You mean your parents paid some $$'s and the rest of your tuition was subsidized by (more wealthy) church members.
I'm all for education, but not public education. As a rule, private schools are far superior to even the best rated public schools.
Nope! Well funded schools (private or public) that have motivated teachers and allow motivated students to do their best will have equal results. It's as simple as that. It just so happens private schools have a higher concentration of motivated students (on average; a higher concentration of better parenting so the average test scores are higher). Nothing more, nothing less. I'm all for a system that pays for motivated students. I don't care if they are impoverished or wealthy. When schools are well funded, they will pay back the "free" education in spades so long as the kids are motivated. And that is one big IF because kids are not automatically motivated.
That all said, there is a lot of waste in nearly every big businesses and certainly in every aspect of government. When I was a kid, I had subsidized lunches, section 8 housing, and my dad didn't pay squat in taxes. Someone else ponied up my "free" education too and it paid off. I've had plenty of years where I paid in $200K in federal taxes. And that's in the late 90's and early 2000's era when money was worth a lot more. I wasn't b_tching. It would be like me saying "if you don't take enough home, get smarter or work harder and get a better paying gig". Once the kid is out of the womb, we are all involved no matter if we like it or not.
The average boomer will only pay in 2/3 of what they will receive. That 1/3 is being paid by the younger generation whether you want to hear it or not. It’s your entitlement that I’m paying for and will probably never receive myself frankly. So enjoy it
I somewhat agree with your POV. Especially when people b_tch because they want more subsidies (better healthcare,more SS raises, nursing homes (state subsidies), etc etc.
If you live long enough, expect to get more out than you put in too as the cycle continues. Let me guess, you are going to take the $$, aren't you.
You're not going to sway anyone over to your side. You might be ok with poor or middle class kids not getting any education, but the majority aren't
Don't worry. Your side already won the battle. Socialism seems to be accepted now more than ever in this country. As a result, we have an outrageously bloated public system that every taxpayer is obligated to subsidize, regardless of how much of a hardship it can be on an individual or household. I hope you're happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised
You mean your parents paid some $$'s and the rest of your tuition was subsidized by (more wealthy) church members.
Seriously? I went to a secular private school. To this day, I'm about as non religious as you can get. Even so, what's the big deal if a school is financed with private money by wealthy donors? That's certainly better than grabbing everybody's tax money and feeding the beast known as public education.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised
Nope! Well funded schools (private or public) that have motivated teachers and allow motivated students to do their best will have equal results. It's as simple as that. It just so happens private schools have a higher concentration of motivated students (on average; a higher concentration of better parenting so the average test scores are higher). Nothing more, nothing less. I'm all for a system that pays for motivated students. I don't care if they are impoverished or wealthy. When schools are well funded, they will pay back the "free" education in spades so long as the kids are motivated. And that is one big IF because kids are not automatically motivated.
That all said, there is a lot of waste in nearly every big businesses and certainly in every aspect of government. When I was a kid, I had subsidized lunches, section 8 housing, and my dad didn't pay squat in taxes. Someone else ponied up my "free" education too and it paid off. I've had plenty of years where I paid in $200K in federal taxes. And that's in the late 90's and early 2000's era when money was worth a lot more. I wasn't b_tching. It would be like me saying "if you don't take enough home, get smarter or work harder and get a better paying gig". Once the kid is out of the womb, we are all involved no matter if we like it or not.
We've had these discussions previously, and we obviously have differing viewpoints. It's fine and dandy if you don't mind handing over your money to the government. The schools are hungry for every dollar you can give them ... however, where it goes from there is anybody's guess. Ten years from now, I'll probably be living somewhere like Sun City where I can finally get some relief from paying that ridiculous school tax every year. Incidentally, it should be fully the parents' responsibility to raise & support the children which they chose to give life to, not all of society.
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Let me guess, you are going to take the $$, aren't you.
