COVID 19 stats - ALLEGHENY COUNTY and beyond (Nixon, Republic: hair salon, racist)

[prnlvsxy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

when was this exactly - a tax cut for billionaires? the tax cuts of 2017 were also for middle class, business onwers (not all who are billionaires, but they ARE people that provide jobs, and create wealth or provide desired or necessary services).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/camilom.../#33bbfa583128

Taxes on the rich have been falling for decades. In 1960 the 400 richest families paid as much as 56% in taxes, by 1980 the rate had fallen to 40%. But Trump’s tax cuts – his most significant legislative victory – proved a tipping point.

Thanks to the controversial tax package the top 0.1% of US households were granted a 2.5% tax cut that pushed their rate below that of the lower 50% of US earners.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by prnlvsxy

https://www.forbes.com/sites/camilom.../#33bbfa583128

Taxes on the rich have been falling for decades. In 1960 the 400 richest families paid as much as 56% in taxes, by 1980 the rate had fallen to 40%. But Trump’s tax cuts – his most significant legislative victory – proved a tipping point.

Thanks to the controversial tax package the top 0.1% of US households were granted a 2.5% tax cut that pushed their rate below that of the lower 50% of US earners.

thanks for the good link - and not being a jerk while presenting an opposing comment!

coming from Forbes, that is a good read. (i skimmed it, but will read it thoroughly later).

HOWEVER....I want to point out two important sentences from that article:

Some critics of the new research say that the data is skewed, or even potentially wrong. However, the fact that the ultra-rich potentially pay a lower tax rate than the working class is a massive problem.

The writer says there are those out there that say "there is more to the big picture", but doesn't show that side. I understand article length limitations, and this is not a bona fide "report" as much as an op-ed piece. But that just reminds me what I've come to believe - its possible everyone uses 80% of the truth, or statistics, to shape their own narrative.

I think its important to see how that data is "skewed" (if it is).

[erieguy]

It’s interesting how billionaires and Trump are always mentioned, especially since he hasn’t even been in office for 4 years, while career politicians have acquired 100’s of millions of dollars since being in office. Tough to do on a politicians salary, to say the least, especially when many didn’t start with large amounts of money.

[szug-bot]

May 22: new infections per day, from last 12 days, starting with most distant:


8, 15, 19, 6, 31, 13, 8, 38, 17, 29, 31, 21


if i saw correctly from the Post-Gazette - just 2 deaths since the previous day's tallys. Good.

[Joe_P]

However, the fact that the ultra-rich potentially pay a lower tax rate than the working class is a massive problem.

Yep.

[szug-bot]

However, the fact that the ultra-rich potentially pay a lower tax rate than the working class is a massive problem.


but see - there is probably more to the big picture. its not as if their RATE is lower. they probably have a lot of write-offs that are meant to protect the individual - the same write-offs ANYONE can take - if you had a business lunch, business expenses, etc.

and if you are a billionaire - come on, you didn't get that way working admin for Highmark. You are probably working a lot of hours, talk to a lot of people, have a lot of decisions to make to keep a company going. and as such, people like that, regardless if they are billionairs or make 200k a year, SHOULD be entitled to reasonable write-offs.

i am not suggesting there are things that don't need to be tweaked in the tax code.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

However, the fact that the ultra-rich potentially pay a lower tax rate than the working class is a massive problem.


but see - there is probably more to the big picture. its not as if their RATE is lower. they probably have a lot of write-offs that are meant to protect the individual - the same write-offs ANYONE can take - if you had a business lunch, business expenses, etc.

and if you are a billionaire - come on, you didn't get that way working admin for Highmark. You are probably working a lot of hours, talk to a lot of people, have a lot of decisions to make to keep a company going. and as such, people like that, regardless if they are billionairs or make 200k a year, SHOULD be entitled to reasonable write-offs. Rd

i am not suggesting there are things that don't need to be tweaked in the tax code.

Bingo, and you’re no doubt talking to someone/s who has/have likely never owned a business and/or has ever had a business related write off.

Since Trump was again mentioned in another posters thread, wonder how Pelosi, Schumer, etc..., have made hundreds of millions of dollars on a politicians salary? They must have a lot of write-offs and invested very well, lol.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Bingo, and you’re no doubt talking to someone/s who has/have likely never owned a business and/or has ever had a business related write off.

Since Trump was again mentioned in another posters thread, wonder how Pelosi, Schumer, etc..., have made hundreds of millions of dollars on a politicians salary? They must have a lot of write-offs

and you know what - its funny you say that. why? i made a conscious choice that any kind of lifestyle like that was not for me. whether its being self-employed, owning a company and trying to grow it, or becoming a corporate ladder climber - nope.

some people like all or any of those things, and that's OK. you sacrifice some great things about life, possibly. but, you have potential to enjoy other things life has to offer, then.

yet i realize what it takes to be one of those people. first - some assume they are all privileged, and, well, i cant use the word here....not necessarily. there ARE very rich who are good people - they give to scholarships, they adopt children, they give back where they can.
sure, there are those that do NOT - but then, i've known poor people who were total trash, and others who would help you move, or help you paint a room for an entire weekend afternoon.....

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

and you know what - its funny you say that. why? i made a conscious choice that any kind of lifestyle like that was not for me. whether its being self-employed, owning a company and trying to grow it, or becoming a corporate ladder climber - nope.

some people like all or any of those things, and that's OK. you sacrifice some great things about life, possibly. but, you have potential to enjoy other things life has to offer, then.

yet i realize what it takes to be one of those people. first - some assume they are all privileged, and, well, i cant use the word here....not necessarily. there ARE very rich who are good people - they give to scholarships, they adopt children, they give back where they can.
sure, there are those that do NOT - but then, i've known poor people who were total trash, and others who would help you move, or help you paint a room for an entire weekend afternoon.....

It’s interesting how many always assume how people operate and “should” live their lives, when in fact, they have no idea to what they’re assuming. Trump hate has especially brought more of this entitlement and assumptions out. He could do exactly what his haters want him to do and most would still want more.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by erieguy

It’s interesting how many always assume how people operate and “should” live their lives, when in fact, they have no idea to what they’re assuming. Trump hate has especially brought more of this entitlement and assumptions out. He could do exactly what his haters want him to do and most would still want more.

and ive said it before, a few years back on this board, in more words or less:

those that accuse people of beign racist, privileged, this or that, or extol socialism, probably never worked a day underneath the sun, with the sweat soaking your back....

because if you talk to guys who are tradesmen, the MAJORITY of them are NOT socialists and more conservative politically. why? because its actual HARD EFFIN WORK , the benefits of which they EARNED and shouldnt share with some pansy ass whiny *****.